How to uninstall a program whose content already deleted?

Question

I've accidentally deleted an installed program's folder in the C:\Program Files folder (it's for an Autodesk product). If I go to the Windows uninstaller tool, the program isn't listed there any more.

I tried to run the installer for that program again but it thinks the program is still there and won't let me install it.

How do I clean everything up so I can install it again?

Solution 1

The Windows Installer Cleanup utility lets you delete entries from Programs and Features (Add/Remove Programs in XP). However it's no longer available from Microsoft and has been replaced by the Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter.

You can still get the older utility elsewhere.

Solution 2

If you have already deleted the folder from the C: drive then use CCleaner to remove it from the list of installed programs, and fix your registry by running CCleaner after that. It will not show up any more.

Solution 3

Assuming you don't have any other Autodesk software installed which would need extensive reconfiguration, you could follow the steps outlined at Autodesk Support, specifically from Delete remaining Autodesk product files and folders onwards:

Warning: The following steps instruct you to delete folders at locations that would affect all installed Autodesk products. These steps assume you have previously uninstalled all Autodesk products and related peripherals and that it is safe to remove those folders.

1. In Windows Explorer, locate and delete the installation folder for each Autodesk product that was uninstalled in the previous procedures. For example:

       C:\Program Files\AutoCAD 2015
       C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2016
   

2. Delete the following folder:

       C:\Program Files\Common Files\Autodesk Shared
   

   Note: These locations may be different if your operating system is configured to store the Program Files folder on a drive other than C, or if you installed your Autodesk product to another drive and folder name.

3. Delete the following user profile folders (substitute your login name for %username%):

   Windows 7

       C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk
       C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Autodesk
       C:\Users\Public\Documents\Autodesk
       C:\ProgramData\Autodesk
   

   Windows XP

       C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\ Application Data\Autodesk
       C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Application Data\Autodesk
       C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Autodesk
   

Windows 7: Depending on your system settings, Windows Explorer may not automatically display all the subfolders under the Users folder. If you cannot find these folders, copy and paste the above folder locations into the Windows Explorer address bar.

Comments

[Zimano]

I had the same problem as OP, but strangely enough, every program except the ones whose folder I deleted showed up in the troubleshooter!