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Remove software not listed in Programs & Features
Hello,
How do you remove software when it is not included in the Control Panel > Programs & Features folder?
For example, the screenshot below shows something called "FlexNet Connect Common Software Manager" which apparently is clandestinely installed on your system with Dragon NaturallySpeaking (Nuance) voice recognition software. It occasionally pops up and I'd like to just get rid of it.
Questions:
• How can an "app" be running (and listed in the Task Manager) but not displayed in Program & Features?
• Is it okay to just find the app in the Program Files, Program Files (x86), and/or ProgramData and delete whatever folders are there?
• I use Everything (Search Utility). Can I just delete all the files/folders which turn up there when searched for "FlexNet", etc?
• What other/better methods are available to accomplish the same objective.
By the way, I have a Malwarebytes account but I guess it does not consider something like this software as being malicious.
Thanks
How do you remove software when it is not included in the Control Panel > Programs & Features folder?
For example, the screenshot below shows something called "FlexNet Connect Common Software Manager" which apparently is clandestinely installed on your system with Dragon NaturallySpeaking (Nuance) voice recognition software. It occasionally pops up and I'd like to just get rid of it.
Questions:
• How can an "app" be running (and listed in the Task Manager) but not displayed in Program & Features?
• Is it okay to just find the app in the Program Files, Program Files (x86), and/or ProgramData and delete whatever folders are there?
• I use Everything (Search Utility). Can I just delete all the files/folders which turn up there when searched for "FlexNet", etc?
• What other/better methods are available to accomplish the same objective.
By the way, I have a Malwarebytes account but I guess it does not consider something like this software as being malicious.
Thanks
SOLUTION
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I generally agree with what David is saying above. I was addressing only the one single program and you should be able to remove it.
What caught my eye on your screenshot was the logo next to this application, which is the logo/image for InstallShield. A quick Google search for this software shows that its part of InstallShield, something they have to help developers let you know when a new version is available. I found this article:
http://superuser.com/quest
See more information here along with the uninstaller:
https://flexeracommunity.f
http://superuser.com/quest
See more information here along with the uninstaller:
https://flexeracommunity.f
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Hi MASQ,
I didn't see your post until after I hit submit, but your "doesn't seem to work reliably on newer versions of the software" surprises me. I use a lot of Nuance software on a lot of computers, and it always installs it, but I've had no problems removing it from all systems, including the latest W10. Can you give me examples of where it hasn't worked reliably for you? Thanks, Joe
I didn't see your post until after I hit submit, but your "doesn't seem to work reliably on newer versions of the software" surprises me. I use a lot of Nuance software on a lot of computers, and it always installs it, but I've had no problems removing it from all systems, including the latest W10. Can you give me examples of where it hasn't worked reliably for you? Thanks, Joe
Hi Joe, Dragon Legal 15 - for some reason only around half the machines uninstalled CCSM cleanly with the installshield fix - the rest seemed to part-uninstall and I had to chase out the last bits with Autoruns - could well be me though :)
> Dragon Legal 15
Ah, that's interesting! The last Dragon Legal I bought is 11 — haven't had a need to upgrade after that. It may not be you — they may have gotten trickier with it. I do have the latest versions of OmniPage (Ultimate, aka 19), PaperPort (14.5/Patch1), and Power PDF Advanced (2.0), and the uninstaller works fine on all of those. Thanks for the heads-up. Regards, Joe
Ah, that's interesting! The last Dragon Legal I bought is 11 — haven't had a need to upgrade after that. It may not be you — they may have gotten trickier with it. I do have the latest versions of OmniPage (Ultimate, aka 19), PaperPort (14.5/Patch1), and Power PDF Advanced (2.0), and the uninstaller works fine on all of those. Thanks for the heads-up. Regards, Joe
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SOLUTION
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ASKER
Thanks for the helpful input.
You're welcome — happy to help!
Now find your startup manager (Task Manager for Windows 10) and remove the program from start up.
Now you can delete the folders that house the program.