"Jack Purvis" <dismal_dan@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:42tdjvsregdg3af6e080foo1m5ibbbt5al@4ax.com...
> It would be of interest to us all if you could exolain how
you managed
> to get rid of RA. I hope I have done so as it played
havoc with my
> system.

Specifically, the version was Real 1 Player. My machine runs
Windows Me.

Original Installation Method:
My installation method was to do it as manually as possible
and to turn off every possible option on the way in.
I tracked the installation with the uninstaller that is part
of System Suite (more below).
I then started up the program, went into every menu I could
find, and turned every option off: this was to keep my
computer under my control rather than theirs.
Running it with a firewall helps because you can stop it
from "phoning the mother ship" that way. Despite turning
options off, it still occasionally tries to go on line and
do something by itself.
I found in the past that when I let it "install updated
software," it would turn all the intrusive options on that
I'd previously set to "off." So, I try not to let it
download anything.

The usage is complicated because program content can come
from either the content site (a radio station, for example)
or a server under contract to the content provider. The
program also connects to Real itself for advertising,
"software updates," tweaks that only Real knows, etc. As far
as I'm concerned, the true purpose of Real Networks is to
"serve" the user with as much paid advertising as they can
stuff down your throat. If you love all the commercials on
AM radio, you're gonna love Real Player.

Uninstallation:
1. I uninstalled the program using the System Suite
uninstaller.
2. I cleaned out the registry with the fix utility in System
Suite three times.
3. I ran the uninstall routine within Windows (it removed
more crap).
4. I cleaned out the registry in System Suite two more
times.
5. I ran the registry fixer in System Suite.

Between the above cleanouts, I rebooted the computer to let
MS fix itself up by itself before the next step.

And then,
I searched for "Real" in Windows Search and deleted all
files and directories associated with "Real."
And today, I went into the registry by hand and found yet
four more lines for Real, and I took them out, too.
While I was at it, I found a few entries for AOL and other
mega-ISPs that I detest. I removed them, too (I thought I'd
expunged them).

Removing Real stuff is like what you do after you've eaten a
really bad meal steamed Persian cat that's not been skinned:
the meal isn't very good, and you're picking hair out from
between your teeth for a long, long time.

Regarding System Suite, it is a utility set that's an
alternative to Norton Systemworks, etc. It has many
capabilities and in my experience, runs a lot better than
the Symantec product. Many of the utilities run very well; a
few have user irritations that really got to me. The program
has been acquired by another firm, and I have been very
dissappointed by their maintenance and support: so much so
that I will abandon it for System Mechanic (plus some
freeware utilities): Iolo (the System Mechanic publisher)
still answers the phone (in California, not India), and the
product comes well-recommended.

Good luck with that dental floss.

Richard