To permanently delete QuickBooks from your system, you need to follow a few steps. Before proceeding, please note that deleting QuickBooks will remove all company data and settings associated with the software. Make sure to create a backup of your company file before deleting QuickBooks to avoid any data loss.
Here is a step-by-step guide to permanently delete QuickBooks:
1. Close QuickBooks: Before initiating the deletion process, ensure that QuickBooks is closed properly.
2. Uninstall QuickBooks: To uninstall QuickBooks from your computer, follow these steps:
A. On Windows, go to the Control Panel by clicking on the Start menu and searching for “Control Panel.”
B. In the Control Panel, select “Programs” or “Programs and Features” (depending on your version of Windows).
C. Locate QuickBooks in the list of installed programs and select it.
D. Click on the “Uninstall” or “Remove” button and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation process.
3. Delete QuickBooks Files: After uninstalling the software, you may want to delete any remaining QuickBooks files from your computer. These files can include the company file, installation files, and other associated data. To do this:
A. Open the File Explorer (Windows key + E) and navigate to the folder where QuickBooks was installed. The default installation path is usually “C:\Program Files\Intuit\QuickBooks.”
B. Delete the entire QuickBooks folder, including all subfolders and files.
C. Additionally, you can search for any remaining QuickBooks files by using the search function in File Explorer. Look for files with extensions like .QBW, .QBB, .QBM, .QBO, etc. Delete these files as well.
4. Remove QuickBooks Registry Entries: Deleting QuickBooks files alone may not remove all traces of the software from your system. To remove QuickBooks registry entries:
A. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
B. Type “regedit” and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
C. In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following location: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Intuit\QuickBooks (or HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Intuit\QuickBooks for system-wide settings).
D. Right-click on the QuickBooks folder and select “Delete” to remove it.
E. Additionally, you can search for any remaining QuickBooks-related entries by using the search function in the Registry Editor. Delete these entries if found, but exercise caution and make sure to back up the registry before making any changes.
5. Restart your computer: After performing the above steps, it is recommended to restart your computer to ensure any remaining QuickBooks processes or services are completely terminated.
By following these steps, you should be able to permanently delete QuickBooks from your system. Remember to back up your company file and any important data before proceeding. If you need to reinstall QuickBooks in the future, you will need to download and install it again from the official Intuit website or your original installation media.
Please note that these instructions are based on the Windows operating system. If you are using a different operating system, the steps may vary slightly.