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How to Uninstall Filesharing Software

This article applies to: Students

To stop uploading, you must do one of the following:

  • Completely remove the filesharing software from your computer (recommended). See directions below.
  • Locate and change the options that control uploading in the particular application you are using. This is risky - even after you have disabled uploading for a filesharing application, a software update or other mechanism may reset your preferences to resume uploading, and it could result in high Network-Based Billing NUBB charges and/or a DMCA notice.
  • Disconnect the computer from the network.

Don't guess if uploading has really stopped. Check your network usage at nubb.cornell.edu.

How to Remove Filesharing Software

Windows 10

  1. Go to the Control Panel
    1. Click the windows button and type “control panel”.
    2. Click “Control Panel”
  2. Open “Programs and Features”
  3. Select the program you want to uninstall
  4. Start the removal process
    1. Above the list of programs, either click Uninstall or Uninstall/Change (the name of the button depends on the program selected).
  5. If prompted, click OK.
  6. Follow the on-screen instructions specific to each program.

Notes:

  • If you get an error saying that an instance of the program you want to remove is in use, end the task.
  • If prompted by the Remove Shared File window, click No to All.

To manually end a task:

  1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete.
  2. Select task manager.
  3. In 8, if available, in the lower-left corner of the window, click More details.
  4. View the programs that are currently running.
  5. Select the Processes tab.
  6. From the list, select the program you want to close.
  7. Choose to end the task.
  8. Click End task.

Windows 8

To uninstall a program:

  1. Go to the Control Panel.
    1. On the Start screen, type control panel.
    2. Click the Control Panel tile.
  2. View the list of programs.
    • Under Programs, click Uninstall a program.
  3. Select the program you want to uninstall.
  4. Start the removal process.
    • Above the list of programs, either click Uninstall or Uninstall/Change (the name of the button depends on the program selected).
  5. If prompted, click OK.
  6. Follow the on-screen instructions specific to each program.

Notes:

  • If you get an error saying that an instance of the program you want to remove is in use, end the task.
  • If prompted by the Remove Shared File window, click No to All.

To manually end a task:

  1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete.
  2. Select task manager.
  3. In 8, if available, in the lower-left corner of the window, click More details.
  4. View the programs that are currently running.
  5. Select the Processes tab.
  6. From the list, select the program you want to close.
  7. Choose to end the task.
  8. Click End task.

Windows 7

Use the Programs window in the Control Panel to remove (uninstall) these programs – just as you would remove any program from your Windows system.

  1. Turn off all filesharing programs and all of their components.
  2. Go to your computer’s Control Panel. You can go to it from your computer's Start logo.
  3. Double click on the Programs icon.
  4. Locate the P2P software you are removing on the list of installed programs. Click once to highlight the software. At the top of the list of programs, select Uninstall.

    Follow the prompts on the screen to completely remove the software and its components.

    Some peer-to-peer filesharing programs have companion programs that are not automatically removed. If you have more than one program to remove, click No if prompted to reboot your computer. Then repeat these steps until you have removed all filesharing programs.

  5. Make sure you reboot the system when you are finished.

Mac

  1. Quit all filesharing programs.
  2. Locate the folder containing the P2P software that you want to remove. It is usually in the Applications folder.
  3. Double-click the P2P program's folder to examine its contents.
  4. Some Macintosh-compatible P2P programs come with an "uninstall" program. If you see an "Uninstall" or "Uninstaller" program, run it to remove the P2P software.

    If you do not see such a program, go back to the Applications folder, and move the P2P program's folder into the trash.

  5. Empty your computer's trash folder.
  6. Go to the Apple menu and select Restart to reboot your computer.

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