Why is it?

[jaine_parr]

I used Add/Remove Programs to remove iTunes and I still had iTunes data floating around in my computer. The configurations that were giving me trouble were not removed, so when I did a re-install, I had the same problems. It didn't fix anything. It just annoyed me. The Microsoft Uninstall clean-up tool did not work. I ended up downloading a fancy,

Comments

[smjayman]

The real problem with any program is the sloppy code execution. The installer typically does X things, and the uninstaller is set to take away the same X. But as soon as the program is installed, it runs. And many of the executables and libraries start doing "things," like making their own registry entries and temp files, etc. Then on the day you decide to run the uninstaller, those same executables and libraries don't un-register on the way out the door, or at least nowhere near completely. And that's the mess you're left with when it comes to these programs. The only real way to get rid of many of them is just what you have done.

[jaine_parr]

I had troubles with an application that had been updated to allow installation into the directory of the user's choice, instead of a default. The install script hadn't been fully updated to pick up the variable and some registry entries were created with the default location, no matter where it was actually installed. Sometimes, the application couldn't find itself.

[smjayman]

A lot of time the install and uninstall are afterthoughts. Often they are built by an intern, and sloppily at that. At AOL we used to have a dedicated team working on the installation. As costs got cut, so did that team. I'm sure you can figure out how sloppy things have gotten since.