Computer questions thread

[Billy's Little Trip]

I have an MP3 converter I downloaded that I don't want. It's on my desktop, but why can't I see it in my add/remove program area on my control panel? I want to un-install it. Can I just go to C>program files>unwanted file>delete?

I'm running XP Pro.

Thanks in advance.

[ken]

Did you install it or just download a file to your desktop?

[Billy's Little Trip]

Well, I down loaded the exe file, then launched it. It put an icon on my desktop.
But you know, now that you mention it, the icon is a shortcut icon. Why wouldn't it be the original icon? Interesting. That means the original icon must be somewhere else.

[ken]

Try going into your control panel and look for add/remove programs. It should list everything installed on your system. From there you should be able to uninstall.

[Billy's Little Trip]

As I said in my original post, I already did that. It's not listed in the add/remove program list. That's why I'm confused. Shouldn't every program I've installed be there?

Can I just go to the programs on my C drive and delete it there?

[JonPorobil]

What was the name of the program?

Some programs don't update the installed programs list, just to keep you from removing it. It's practically malware, and I hate it when they do that, but there you have it.

If you right-click on the shortcut and click "Properties," it should tell you where on your computer the executable is. It's probably buried somewhere in your "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data" folder tree. If you delete its home directory, odds are that will be close enough until the next time you reformat your hard drive.

[AJOwens]

It's normal for the desktop icon to be a shortcut.

Deleting the files from your hard drive will work, mostly. The installation may or may not have put a few files in other places (such as DLLs in your system directory), and may or may not have added some entries to your registry.

Sometimes a program will put its own uninstall EXE in the folder where it's installed. Be sure to check for one before deleting the folder files.

The truth is that even managed uninstalls often leave DLLs and registry entries behind. They cause no harm, except that over the years the accumulated crap can slow your system.

Re the Properties idea, you might have to click Find Target as well.

[Billy's Little Trip]

Yeah, it was a sneaky program and that pisses me off and why I don't want their stupid shit. "Fox Tab Audio Converter" is the name. It added Babylon tool bar and some other crap thing. I found the other two programs in my add/remove program area. But not the Audio Converter.

I was trying to find an MP3 converter for a friend and walk him through it, so I opened it too, even though I have a good one. Ugh!

I see where it is in my programs on my C drive. Just not sure if there are more pieces elsewhere.

[AJOwens]

. . . Just not sure if there are more pieces elsewhere.

If there are, they probably won't be a problem, unless they're meant to be a problem and have been tucked away in devious places like your startup folder or your services. But in that case there would likely be complaints on the web, and I didn't see any for this program.

If you're really worried about it, you could use Start > Search > For Files and Folders to look for files with the installation date. Some of them may be identifable as belonging to the program.

[Billy's Little Trip]

Thanks. Yeah, I just deleted the program files and restarted. Seems to be ok.
I just thought it was odd that it wouldn't be on the list in the add/remove program area. I felt like, just when I have computer pretty much figured out, something like this happens that goes against what I "thought" I knew, lol.

[HeuristicsInc]

I recommend "Lame" for mp3 conversion. Winlame, I think? It doesn't have these shenanigans.
-bill

[king_arthur]

Sometimes these things show up as Start - (program category) - Uninstall rather than under the control panel uninstall stuff... I realize you've already moved on, but just for future reference...

Charles

[Billy's Little Trip]

I recommend "Lame" for mp3 conversion. Winlame, I think? It doesn't have these shenanigans.
-bill

Well, the one I have now is pretty lame. Why would I get Winlame? Two lames don't make a right. ehh ohh

I use Alto Gold 5.20. It was free and it works great. Been using it for about 3 years.

@King. Thanks. But yeah, I got'er done.

[ken]

I hate to admit this, but for songfight stuff, I just mix down to mp3 in Cubase. You can select your output format and I just choose mp3.

[Billy's Little Trip]

My cubase MP3 mix down *only goes to something like 136(?) bps. Also, I like to have my original mix down to be a wav file saved for future use.

Edit: *Correction, the low MP3 bps is for mono. I just looked, it does goes to 320 bps in stereo, which is more than adequate.

[signboy]

you will actually get a better sound by letting cubase put
the raw audio in mp3, rather than making it mixdown
a wav, and converting with something else. cubase has one of
the best algorithms around, and it's one less step in the process.

[Billy's Little Trip]

I don't see why it would be better or worse, then again, what the eff do I know, lol. Maybe I'll start doing that.