Win10 Un-install problem, Electromotive Related

[Drbraunsr]

Win10 laptop - shows (4) Electromotive programs with no publisher name.
I cannot un-install them them. Went so far as to: remove Wintec4 (Elect). I'll add it back later. Talked with Richard Clewett and he looked and couldn't do it. He guessed it to be a registry issue and I thought so too.
Purchased 'iolo' and let it clean the registry. Didn't remove the (4) programs.
'iolo' offers a tech service and I'm sure they'll seek & destroy - but it's a subscription service and I'm not one to buy it then cancel later..
The extra programs are the result of updating to new revisions and the software doesn't clean up behind itself.

Any experts that can point me in the right direction ?

Thanks in advance

[John Rogers]

Some additional info would help possibly; I don't like to assume, but since you said a laptop I am thinking they are on the "C" drive? Do you have a second drive either internal or external? I would suggest getting one and connect by USB cable and in the future install any applications on it and not "C".

I have had this happen and I use a program called "fileASSASSIN" to get rid of them. You can start the computer in "safe mode" and look in Windows File Manager to see the location(s) of where they are at. I would figure they are in their own set of sub directories so when in safe mode they should be able to delete? You can then use a registry scrubber program such as "AVS Registry Cleaner" or just delete manually? Then use the Win10 "Task Manager" to see if there are any versions of these that start a module on startup to have a background task or check with the vendor for updates, ETC.
If there are any shown in ANY of the tabs of the Task Manager delete them. Once all that is done, kill the power, unplug the LAN cable or start without using WiFi so no software can be pulled back in. Good luck.
John

[Drbraunsr]

Thanks for the input JR...
Yes, it's a laptop. Lenovo and about 5 years old.
The uninstall program lists them but shows no publisher, no version. All other listed programs have this data.
Searching the entire PC does not find/report these (4) listed files in any directory. This in itself makes no sense to me either.

[Drbraunsr]

There is no such file in the directory shown

[John Rogers]

Usually if there are "program files" and "program files (x86)" the first one is 64 bit applications and the (x86) is the place for 32 bit programs. I would look to see if you have lots of 32 bit programs and if the problem ones are the only ones, then rename the "program files (x86)" to something else such as "old program files (x86)", probably have to do it in safe mode? You have to make sure you are the computers administrator to do that and nothing else is in the 32 bit area of storage.

In the future, always look closely at where the application's installer is doing the installation and on a lap top with just the "C:" drive you don't have much choice which is why I always recommend a second drive, external for any applications and use "C:" for the operating system only.
John

[MysticLlama]

Some installers are just poorly written and don't uninstall properly.

Is it actually hurting anything?

[pmax]

Google Chrome does the same thing the last time I tried uninstalling it.

[Drbraunsr]

Resolution (edited the registry):
Agreed with Mystic - it is a poorly written program.

All my programs are in:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE> Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion

Searched for "electromotive' and there they were 4 - 5 - 6 and 7
Deleted these files
Gone
ran 'iolo mechanic' for registry issues, none listed.
Rebooted and all looks stable (hopefully). I have an image and repair disc, if needed.

Thanks to all for viewing and input.
(pmax - hope you're finding time to keep your project going forward)

Regards

[pmax]

Congrats ! I try that deletion trick and see if it gets rid of that Chrome evilware. Down to the last one, works great that Chem-dip stuff when left in there for a few weeks each but the smell, that's a different story.