The Help Desk: When uninvited programs won't go away

While you may not face that specific program, it is likely that a time will come when using the normal methods of uninstalling a program won't work. So I'm using this question to offer a course of action that may help other readers. First, try a search using Google putting both the name of the offending program and these words- -- uninstall remove -- in the search box. You are likely to find several suggestions for both automated and manual ways to get rid of that program. Try to stick with solutions offered by legitimate sites, since it's also possible to stumble across sites that suggest methods that won't work or that will make things worse. Another method is to use a program specially designed for situations like that. One such program is Perfect Uninstaller (http://www.perfectuninstaller.com/) and another is Advanced Uninstaller Pro found here (http://www.innovative-sol.com/uninstaller/).

Q: Everything you say in your recent column regarding replacing older computers with new units is correct, however there is an argument to be made for staying with older computers and avoiding change. The combination of Windows Vista or Windows 7 and existing programs and hardware can yield problems. --  Bob Konradi

A: It can be true, especially when moving from a 32-bit Windows to 64-bit Windows, that some programs and devices just won't work anymore. And, beginning with Vista and continuing with Windows 7, there has been a real move toward 64-bit versions as the standard.

With devices such as older printers and scanners, manufacturers haven't uniformly created new drivers that work with a 64-bit operating system. And some programs just won't run on that system.

It's an interesting problem since the move to 64-bits is one that will continue. At the least, those moving to new operating systems should check manufacturers' websites to see if the hardware and programs you now use are compatible. You can also go to this Microsoft Web address -- http://tinyurl.com/ygfu4et -- to check compatibility.

Once that's done, the decision is up to the user. Do you replace programs and software and make the move, or stick with your old set-up for a while longer? There's no one right answer. The important thing is to check compatibility in advance so you can make an informed decision.

Help from a reader

I saw the question about the person with a screen that was flickering in a recent column. One other thing to check is the screen saver settings. I had a similar problem where the screen would go blank and then come right back. The screen saver was starting and then stopping. When I turned off the screen saver entirely, the problem went away.

-- Alan Dunn