Add/Remove Programs

When you want to remove a program from your computer, it's called uninstalling. Your computer keeps a list of every program which has been installed in the Control Panel. Depending on how your computer is set up, you can bring up this list by choosing:

• Start/Settings/Control Panel/Add or Remove Programs (Windows 2000/XP)
  
• Start/Control Panel/Add or Remove Programs (Windows XP)

The list displays, assigning a line or two for each program. It shows an icon, the name of the program and an Uninstall or Remove button.

Recently I saw something brand new in this list. A program had been installed, which took up an enormous amount of white space. In fact, it took me some time to scroll to the bottom of the list!

What was the cause of this? I had to do some research, but I found this site which explains it all. Basically, every program has an icon associated with it. You can see it in your Start menu, or in the top left-hand corner of you title bar when the program is open. The icon should also show up in Add/Remove Programs list. When the icon isn't named or located correctly (i.e. according to the Windows standards!) by the program manufacturer, the immense blank space shows instead.
The link above mentions how to correct this (though it's a new skill to me!), and it doesn't take too long. And when your Add/Remove Programs list looks "normal" again, you can comfortably return to deleting programs from your computer. What a relief!