User Guide

6
User’s Guide 145
6McAfee UnInstaller
Un Installer
™
can be used f or many more purposes tha n simply uninstalling
old applications.
For example, UnInstaller can clean u p junk files that have built up on your
computer as you browsed the In ternet, and it c an do this cleanu p
automatically on a schedule that you specify. UnInstaller can also move
applications from one hard disk toa nother— even to anotherc omputer—and
change all references t o the application at the s am e time.
Using McAfee UnInstaller
Befo re you can start using th e powerful f eature s of UnInstaller, it will f irst
create a SmartLinks database to store information b etween files on your
comp uter (see Sm artLinks database ) . As you install UnIn staller, it will also
provide you the option to customize the way you want UnInstaller to workon
your computer (see Customization Interview).
Creating the SmartLinks database
The SmartLinks database stores information about the relationship between
fileson yourcomputer.Itstores the namesand locations ofallfiles neededby
the operating system. For each application, the SmartLinks d atabase stores
informa tion about all of the files that the applica tion needs t o run corre ctly,
including icons, dynamically lin ke d libraries (DLLs), and other executable
files , as well as operating system files that are used by the application. Th is
information m akes the Sm artLinks database a c omplete, cross-referenced
record of how executable and system files are used on your computer.
It is this information that makes using UnInstaller quick and safe. It ensures
that ap plications can be m oved, archived, deleted,and transported safely a n d
completely, and it dete rmines the files that can b e safely delet ed witho u t
damaging an application or the operating system.
The Sm artLinks database is c reated when you install UnInstaller. Because
buildingthe databasethefirsttime cantakeseveralm inutes,itiscreated inthe
background asyouprovidesomedefaultinformationin aninterviewwizard.
After UnInstaller has created the SmartLinks database for your computer,
updatingittakesmuchlesstime.Onlyrecordsforfilesthathavechangedare
updated.
UnInstaller updates the SmartLinks database in the following circum stances: