Does it seem like your computer is starting to slow down or get sluggish? Do you have programs, shareware, executable files, e-books, or games that you no longer need or use? Are they taking up much needed space and memory on your computer? Well, the good news is that it's very easy and painless to get them off your computer! All you need to do is uninstall or remove (different from delete *) them.

The example we are going to do is for Microsoft Office (YOU MUST HAVE THE CD OR DISK TO DO THIS ) which has many components, for example EXCEL, that you might not use and you can uninstall them.

Click on START
Move Pointer to SETTINGS
Move Pointer to CONTROL PANEL and Click
Move Pointer to Add/Remove Programs
Double Click
Under the TAB INSTALL/UNINSTALL you will see a list of software programs that are currently installed on your computer.
Scroll down to Microsoft Office
Click on Microsoft Office

DON'T WORRY, YOU ARE NOT TAKING ANYTHING OFF YET!

Click on ADD/REMOVE
You will get a prompt telling you to insert the CD or Disk (You can put this in before hand). Insert the CD or Disk.
Click OK
Your screen will go through a setup and search process and then prompt you, Click on ADD/REMOVE

DON'T WORRY, YOU ARE NOT TAKING ANYTHING OFF YET!

Now you will see the Microsoft Office Maintenance Box appear.
See the check marks under options? (If something is not checked, it is NOT installed).
Click on the box next to EXCEL to remove the check mark.
Click CONTINUE
You will get a Confirm Component Removal.
Continue answering the prompts to complete your uninstall.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ONLY EXCEL has been uninstalled and you can re-install it anytime you have a need for it-YOU MUST HAVE THE CD OR DISK TO DO THIS.

To re-install just follow the steps you just went through.

Now, I know what you are thinking. You went through the steps BUT the program, e-book, game, etc. that you want to uninstall was not found in the ADD/REMOVE list.

I have a solution for those too!

Click on START
Move Pointer to PROGRAMS
Move Pointer to item in this list that you want to uninstall.
Look in the small pop-up menu for UNINSTALL
Click on UNINSTALL

TIP: Don't do what so many others have done.
DO NOT go into the program and DELETE all the * functions *, including uninstall! Chances are the program will still be on your computer BUT NOW you have no way to UNINSTALL it!

WARNING, WARNING:
Deleting a program instead of uninstalling it can * sometimes * render your computer useless! DO NOT uninstall a program if you DO NOT have the CD or Disk to re-install UNLESS you KNOW YOU WILL NEVER want to use that program again! Deleting an icon will only remove the icon NOT the program!

Next month we'll be back with S stands for SAVE in D-BUST Your Computer.

Smiles, not Piles,
Janet L. Hall

Janet L. Hall is a Professional Organizer, Speaker, and Author and owner of OverHall Consulting. Janet is based out of Southern Maryland and can be reached at 410-586-9440, 800-687-3040, or e-mail her at overhall@chesapeake.net. She has extensively researched organizing and timemanagement techniques and developed "The 5 W's of Organizing, a TEASER, and a "TICKLE"?". Janet can "OverHall" your office, home, and computer clutter. She has written two booklets, writes for several internet magazines, conducts teleclasses, and has a monthly newsletter, OverHall IT! To find out more about her services and products, please visit her web site at http://www.overhall.com

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