Unable to uninstall netzero (multiple problems)

Question

My brother-in-law owns a Dell Dimension 2400, Windows XP Home. Still has dial-up, netzero.  For the past couple weeks, the login box from netzero says you are logged on, but the box won't go away.  He has to drag it into the corner so he can read what's underneath.  Tech help (netzero) told him to uninstall and then reinstall Netzero.  When he tries to do this, he gets a message saying 'This uninstallation requires administrative privileges to complete.  You are currently logged on with a limited account' etc. When I told him to go to user accounts, it says he's a computer administrator.  Even when he gets past this, he gets a NSIS error writing to a temporary folder.  Has up to date virus definitions, downloaded ad-aware and Spybot, ran them, but nothing has changed.  I spent 3 hours there trying different things, but it's way over my head. Anyone have any ideas?  Thanks.

NFFAA · Answer

First see if you have a restore point that predates this netzero installation and restore to that point. If you don't have a restore point then do the following. Create a restore point before you follow the steps below and identify it so you will recognize it. Then:

Click on start then click on search. Search all files and folders and documents. Type in "netzero" on the search field. Then click on each result and delete them one at a time. The deletions will go into your recycle bin. Make sure that anything you delete says netzero exactly. The search engine will give you results that has the letters n-e-t-z-e-r-o in the found column. You will get some results that won't let you delete them because they are in the recycle bin. Just go to the bin to get rid of the files you don't want. Repeat this until the search comes up empty. You will have to delete any desktop icons on the desktop. When you have gotten a couple of reboots without the netzero stuff, create a restore point and identify it so you will know that it is one without netzero, in case you have a recurrance of this problem.

Dell Dimension 4400
Windows XP Pro SP2 with all updates
Norton AV 2005

2.4Ghz P4 400fsb w/ int. sound mobo
768 PC2100 ddr sdram
15" E151fp flat panel monitor
Ati Radeon 9200 128Mb DVI, TV Out agp card
80 Gb W.D. master H.D.
60Gb W.D. secondary H.D.
Sony DRU 800A DL 16X DVD Burner
Sony DDU 1612A 16X DVD-ROM
Leadtek Winfast TV2000Xp TV tuner card
Soundblaster Live! 5.1 Digital
4 port USB 1.1
6 port firewire USB 2.0 PCI adapter card
Conextant V.92 data/fax modem
Harmon Kardon speakers
H.P. 930c Deskjet printer
H.P. 5400c Scanjet scanner
Sony TRV 330 Digital 8 HandyCam
Olympus Camedia D-390 digital camera
Panasonic PV-4523S VCR

chinggay77 · Answer

How about you try to uninstall netzero in safemode...

Neener16 · Answer

That sounds easier, I'll try that first.  Thanks to both of you.  I'll let you know if he's successful.

Neener16 · Answer

The easy solution was not successful.  The system does not recognize him as an administrator, even though under User accounts it indicates he is.  When he tries to uninstall in safe mode, he gets the message that he has to be an account admininstrator.  He did a right click and shift on the add/remove program icon to override this, but then gets the message about NSIS error writing to temporary folder etc.  I'm far from competent in computer problem solving, but it seems like there's a real problem if the system doesn't see him as an administrator, I just don't know what it is!  Even if when do the more involved solution, that problem will still remain, I think.

Windows General

Unable to uninstall netzero (multiple problems)

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