How to Properly Reinstall a Program in Windows
You’ll need to identify the program from the list of apps installed on your computer, and then, in most cases, fully remove it before installing it again.
Why You Sometimes Need to Reinstall Software
Reinstalling a software program is one of the more basic troubleshooting steps available to any computer user after attempting to automatically repair Windows problems, but it’s often an overlooked step when trying to solve a software problem. Another quick way to get there in some versions of Windows 10 and Windows 8 is with Power User Menu, but only if you’re using a keyboard or mouse. Choose Control Panel from the menu that appears after pressing WIN+X or right-clicking on the Start button. The specifics of what happens now depends on the program you happen to be uninstalling. Some uninstallation processes require a series of confirmations (similar to what you may have seen when you first installed the program) while others may uninstall without requiring your input at all. Answer any prompts as best you can—just remember that you’re wanting to completely remove the program from your computer. By reinstalling a software title, be it a productivity tool, a game, or anything in between, you replace all the program files, registry entries, shortcuts, and other files needed to run the program. If whatever problem you’re having with the program is caused by corrupt or missing files (the most common cause of software problems), a reinstallation is very likely the solution. The proper way to reinstall a software program is to completely uninstall it and then to reinstall it from the most updated installation source you can find. Uninstalling and then reinstalling a program this way is really pretty easy, but the exact method differs a bit depending on the Windows operating system you happen to be using.
