Vista - Could I get rid of Windows if uninstalling other applications?

I use Vista on my laptop. When I select any program to uninstall I am getting a message: "Uninstall or change an application Microsoft Windows". I am very scared that I would get rid of Windows and wouldn't be able to do anything with the laptop!

Are my concerns warranted?

What to do to be able to uninstall any program?

I need to know if when I click on continue to uninstall any program will it uninstall my Windows? Why doesn't the uninstall program say "Uninstall or change an application [Application to uninstall]"?

Can you please confirm that presently if I continue uninstalling, my Windows will be uninstalled, not the other program??

Does something like that happen to other users - is that a result of a virus attack?

What should I do to fix the problem? By the way, I did Spybot and Malwarebytes tests; didn't show any problems!


By the way, it happens when I want to uninstall each and every program - I always get message that the app to be uninstalled will be Windows! It wasn't so on my other computers and with other operating systems...

Thanks in advance for help/comments.

pumex

When it says Microsoft Windows at the end of the sentence that is windows asking you if you want to unistall or change the program.
No you will not kill windows itself.

Thanks, jp for your help.

But this place - How to uninstall a program in Windows Vista - gives instructions for uninstalling and even shows screenshows from each step. One of the pictures there clearly shows that the name of the application to be uninstalled should be listed there - not Windows! Moreover, I don't get the 2 separate options: Uninstall and Change. I get just one - Uninstall/Change.

Can you please comment on that? Thanks in advance.

I have an interesting update regarding the programs that I was trying to uninstall. Not that I want to uninstall all of them - I just wanted to do the test and see if ALL programs give the same message -"Uninstall or change an application Microsoft Windows".

So I attempted about 15 programs and in most cases I was getting the above message, BUT NOT IN ALL!

For example, with regards to MS Works, I would be able to Uninstall, Change or Repair and the message was: "Are you sure you want to uninstall Microsoft Works" - when I clicked on Uninstall button, of course.

Similar case was with: Adobe Reader 8, Roxio products (a number of them), SuperAntispyware, Symantec (one Symantec product - some kind of tech help line - was left despite using Norton_Removal_tool.exe; but I used this time Uninstall button and it did disappear!), VeriSoft, Windows Live Messenger.

I confirmed that I would be getting this faulty - in my opinion - message: "Uninstall or change an application Microsoft Windows" when I highlighted and click on Uninstall button: AVG Free 8.0, Hijack This, Malwarebytes, Firefox, Spybot.

I have more applications, of course, but didn't have time to check more of them.

I hope this update will help to find a problem or to explain if there is any problem at all.

Thanks in advance.

pumex

Is is possible to show us a screenshot of what your problem is?

Nevermind

Thanks, Sygnus

I'm unable to provide a screenshot - I use a PC to get help for that "faulty"(?) laptop, but I will describe you exactly what I'm getting there at the laptop.

Few days ago, I was trying to get rid of Norton Internet Security (NIS) that was causing problems. I noticed that when I went to Control Panel>Programs>Uninstall a program and when I highlighted (selected) the NIS and then clicking on Uninstall/Change button, I was getting the following message:

"User Account Control
Windows needs your permission to continue
Uninstall or change an application
Microsoft Windows
Details Continue Cancel
User account control...."

I was afraid that it was wrong, so I didn't continue, afraid that I would get rid of Windows - instead of NIS! In fact, I tried a couple other applications and was getting the same message - that Windows would be uninstalled.

As I mentioned in the post above, I now know that it's not totally correct; there are some programs that - strangely - give different message. I will describe that message below; here is what I'm getting when I try to uninstall Microsoft Works:

"Programs and Features
Are you sure you want to uninstall Microsoft Works?"
Yes No"

There is also other small difference. With the "Windows uninstallation" message I have on the top one button saying "Uninstall/Change". For MS Works, I get 3 buttons on the top - Uninstall, Change, Repair.

I hope this provides you enough info to decide if there is a problem. It's strange for me that the Windows would get uninstalled - is it possible that I got a virus before and even though I did F11 restore to factory settings something still sits somewhere and would create Windows removal so that I couldn't use the laptop at all?

Please help. Thanks in advance.

pumex

UAC is there to protect your system files.
It is there to stop malware attacking your computer.
It is normal, there is nothing to worry about.
You can continue to uninstall norton, it will not wipe out any files.
The only real way to get rid of windows is to reformat your computer, you can uninstall parts of windows but as far as I know you can not uninstall all of it.

Roy69 is correct about UAC, It's basically "ensuring" you want to do what is is you asking to do. Just click yes and follow the instructions.

I don't agree with a reformat as NIS can be removed without it; but its your discision.

I was not telling the op to reformat, I was saying the only way I know to get rid of windows is to reformat. The op was worrying about removing Windows by accident.

Sygnus,
you wrote:
"Roy69 is correct about UAC, It's basically "ensuring" you want to do what is is you asking to do. Just click yes and follow the instructions."

The problem is that I'm asking to uninstall "other" program (e.g., Spybot), but the message suggests that if I continue, I will uninstall Windows!

I gave you examples that it is so for certain applications, but not for all. Why is it so?

Why do I get 2 kinds of instructions for one task of "uninstall"? In my other computers it was always one type of message - that I will uninstall "that" program, not Windows. That's why I'm so uncomfortable with clicking on continue.

pumex

P.S. As I said, I already removed NIS from my laptop by using Norton_removal_tool.exe After that there was still 1 simple app from Symantec on my laptop, but I uninstalled it yesterday as I get that 2nd type of message - not that I will uninstall Windows. It worked and it was uninstalled