How can I uninstall hidden Windows components?

John Savill

June 6, 2001

1 Min Read
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A. When you start the Add/Remove Programs Control Panel applet and select Add/Remove Windows components, the system doesn't display all of the components because Windows doesn't want them uninstalled. However, you can change which components the system displays. Perform the following steps:

  1. Open the sysoc.inf file located in the %systemroot%inf folder.

  2. Go to the [Components] section.

  3. Locate the entry you want to make uninstallable and remove the word "hide." For example, for MSN Messenger Service, change the line

    msmsgs=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hide,7

    to

    msmsgs=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,,7

  4. Save the sysoc.inf file.

About the Author

John Savill

John Savill

https://savilltech.net

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