There are two ways to remove an application from your computer's hard disk. You can launch the application's uninstall program (if the software authors have been good enough to provide one) or you can delete the folder which contains the program's files. A well-written uninstall program will remove every trace of the unwanted application. The other approach is the software equivalent of assault with an iron bar and the results can be rather messy.
The problem is that when Win95 apps are installed, they often trespass far beyond their own folder. They might deposit code modules in the Windows system directory, or write settings to the win.ini file. And -- in the case of ThunderByte and McAfee's VirusScan program to name but two -- they might add a start-up option to the Start button's context menu (accessible by right-clicking the Start button). Deleting the ThunderByte folder, as Cam discovered, will not remove this menu item.
So what's the solution? The quickest way to fix things is to reinstall ThunderByte and then use its uninstall program to remove it. But if you're the hands-on type and you want to find out more about Windows 95's internal organs, you can grab a scalpel and do some minor surgery.
First, use a text editor such as Notepad to edit win.ini (you will find this file in your Windows folder). Locate the section named [TBAVWIN], delete it, then save and exit win.ini. Next, use the Win95 Find function to round up any stray copies of a file called anti-vir.dat. Delete all these files.
Now to the registry. Choose Run? from the Start menu and type regedit. This launches the Registry Editor. Drill down to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell and select TBAV for Windows 95. The value for this key is displayed in the right-hand pane, and this is the text you see when you right-click the Start button. Press the <Delete> key and you will no longer be troubled by the redundant "TBScan for Viruses" item on the Start button's context menu.
Unfortunately, that's not the only ThunderByte remnant that lurks in the registry. To nail the others you will need to use the Registry Editor's Find function and remove the references one by one. A more elegant solution is to use a registry cleaner such as Norton Registry Tracker, which is available as part of Norton Utilities v2 (Symantec: (02) 9879 6577). This utility scours the registry for orphaned entries and will remove them all if you wish.
- Neville Clarkson