# Windows 98 Add/Remove programs **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 13, 2004, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-98-add-remove-programs/274546 "2004-11-13T06:57:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-98-add-remove-programs/274546/1 "2004-11-13T06:57:15Z")
So my mother-in-law had to uninstall Norton Antivirus and Liveupdate from her computer and she was having some problems so I came to her house to help. She tried herself, and I’m not sure how she did it, but when I got to her house, the main programs were removed and most or all of what was left were useless left over files I just put into the recycle bin and then emptied out. Anyway, due to the way she went about uninstalling the programs (I’m guessing) Norton Antivirus and Internet Protection are still listed in the Add/Remove programs even though they’re no longer on her computer. I even downloaded and used a free registry cleaner. Now, all Norton and Symantec files, links, and registry keys are totally gone from her system but for some reason, while Liveupdate is no longer on the Add/Remove list, the Norton programs still are. How can they be removed from the list? Is there way to remove them, or rebuild the list so that they no longer show up? I know that nothing bad will happen if the references aren’t removed, but still, any help is appreciated. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-98-add-remove-programs/274546/2 "2004-11-13T07:37:02Z")
If all you want to do is delete them, get MS’s ‘Tweak UI’. It allows you do remove Add/Remove Program entries, and adjust other nifty features. (For example, disabling that annoying autoplay on CD insert). I’d an explanation on why I don’t have a link, but it’s long and boring so you’ll have to find it yourself. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-98-add-remove-programs/274546/3 "2004-11-13T07:55:35Z")
You can just edit the registry to remove them: [http://support.microsoft.com/kb/247501](http://support.microsoft.com/kb/247501) The usual disclaimers about registry editing apply. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-98-add-remove-programs/274546/4 "2004-11-13T08:05:22Z")
[Spybot S&D](http://www.safer-networking.org/en/home/index.html) will also do the job for you. (Look in the Tools menu). ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-98-add-remove-programs/274546/5 "2004-11-13T08:15:22Z")
Tweak UI is a handy little tool. Why MS failed to include that with the OS is beyond me. [http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file\_description/0,fid,2803,00.asp](http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,2803,00.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-98-add-remove-programs/274546/6 "2004-11-13T09:02:32Z")
Thanks for your help. I’m checking out the links. She does allready have Spybot, but due to the other suggestions, she may not need it for this. We’ll see. Anyway, thanks for the help.