Solved Program Not Running and can't be uninstalled

I had a slight hiccup with my laptop and one particular program has not returned as is was previously. The program (Stardock Fences) was working OK but didn't work after the hiccup . I reinstalled it, but still no response. I tried, several times, to uninstall it but it doesn't appear on installed applications list. I tried to delete the folder, but it won't delete, saying there is a file still in use - but I can't find any running file for it. Any suggestions as to how to uninstall it so that I can reinstall it again? Thanks

Kashegan said:

I had a slight hiccup with my laptop and one particular program has not returned as is was previously. The program (Stardock Fences) was working OK but didn't work after the hiccup . I reinstalled it, but still no response. I tried, several times, to uninstall it but it doesn't appear on installed applications list. I tried to delete the folder, but it won't delete, saying there is a file still in use - but I can't find any running file for it. Any suggestions as to how to uninstall it so that I can reinstall it again? Thanks

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Have you rebooted after the uninstall?
Usually .Dlls remain in use and locked sometimes after an uninstall.
You do not mention the name of the locked file, so it is just speculation.

Stardock has a great forum. Here is the Fences section:


There is a particular process for the removal and testing of Fences.

Also, saying Hiccup, does not help us help you. What happened?

Can't help with your problem, but here's ten points just for filling out your computer specs.

Kashegan said:

I had a slight hiccup with my laptop and one particular program has not returned as is was previously. The program (Stardock Fences) was working OK but didn't work after the hiccup . I reinstalled it, but still no response. I tried, several times, to uninstall it but it doesn't appear on installed applications list. I tried to delete the folder, but it won't delete, saying there is a file still in use - but I can't find any running file for it. Any suggestions as to how to uninstall it so that I can reinstall it again? Thanks

Click to expand...

Delete each file individually until you find the one in use and you'll find out which process is causing the hangup. You'll also need to delete any related folders in %ProgramData and %users/AppData. It's probably servicehost.exe, most likely an update service for the application. To delete the service open a command prompt as admin and type SC Delete [service name]. To remove it from the list of programs and features, open regedit as admin, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall and delete the entire folder for that application.

a bug for your ear - Using Revo Uninstaller Free to uninstall apps can cleanly uninstall a progrem and all remnants of it. After uninstall, check advanced scan. Then click the scan button. When scan finishes be sure to choose to remove all the leftovers Revo finds. I consider it the #1 app on my system.

antspants said:

Stardock has a great forum. Here is the Fences section:

Fences - Stardock Forums

Stardock Forums

forums.stardock.com

There is a particular process for the removal and testing of Fences.

Also, saying Hiccup, does not help us help you. What happened?

Click to expand...

I can'r really determine what happened. I switched on the laptop, after a few days away, and it wouldn't boot up. I restarted it and it booted up and reported an update had been installed, but several programs were missing or didn't work.

DJNelson said:

Delete each file individually until you find the one in use and you'll find out which process is causing the hangup. You'll also need to delete any related folders in %ProgramData and %users/AppData. It's probably servicehost.exe, most likely an update service for the application. To delete the service open a command prompt as admin and type SC Delete [service name]. To remove it from the list of programs and features, open regedit as admin, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall and delete the entire folder for that application.

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Have tried this suggestion, but every file I try to delete generates the "file in use" message.

I'm somewhat guessing that it won't uninstall because it's registered a shell extension/context menu and Fences.exe is still running at boot, despite not showing in Programs & Features.

Open a command prompt as admin;

Try running this command, copied from the Fences registry entries;


Make sure you include the quotes so that the spaces aren't an issue - if you've already deleted uninstall.xml that command will probably fail.
Either way, next you can try unregistering the DLL that provides the context menu and then attempt to delete everything before a reinstall.


You should get a success message like this;


There are some more DLLs you might need to take care of the same way;

C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock\Fences\SdCrashReporter64.dll
C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock\Fences\SdAppServices_x64.dll
C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock\Fences\FencesMenu64.dll <done
C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock\Fences\Detour64.dll
C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock\Fences\DesktopDock64.dll
C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock\Fences\BugSplatRc64.dll
C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock\Fences\BugSplat64.dll

Now use task manager to make sure Fences.exe isn't running (and kill it if it is)

That should allow you to delete everything.

Kashegan said:

The program (Stardock Fences) was working OK but didn't work after the hiccup

Click to expand...

Check the startup items in Task Manager. Is Fences Enabled?

Kashegan said:

Have tried this suggestion, but every file I try to delete generates the "file in use" message.

Click to expand...

Have you reinstalled Fences before you attempt the removal?

Reinstall Fences
Go to Startup apps and disable Fences from starting
Reboot
Go to task scheduler and delete all the tasks for Fences
Uninstall Fences.

OR

Reinstall Fences
Follow the Fences purging and re-installing guide, but you will need to reinstall Fences before you start, if you haven’t already:

Thanks for everyone's help. I found another program installation that was causing issues, but it gave an indication of the location of the issue. I traced THAT problem to an antivirus program (that I didn't know was running) which was quarantining a file in the installation. Once I restored the quarantined file and stopped the anti virus program the installation progressed. After that, the Fences installation also progressed. So the problem is solved. But I still don't know how the 'odd' antivirus program came to be installed and running.