System, method, and computer program product for uninstalling computer software

A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium for uninstalling software on a computer, comprising:

• computer code for storing data descriptive of at least one change to a computer in association with installation of software, the change selected from the group consisting of a deletion of a file, an addition of a file, an alteration of a file, a deletion of a directory, an addition of a directory, and an alteration of a directory;
• computer code for receiving a first user instruction to remove the installed software from the computer, said first user instruction to remove the installed software from the computer being received via an interface;
• computer code for uninstalling the installed software by undoing the change described by the data, in response to the receipt of the first user instruction;
• computer code for receiving a second user instruction to cancel the uninstallation of the installed software on the computer;
• and
• computer code for canceling the uninstallation, in response to the receipt of the second user instruction.

A method for uninstalling a software update on a computer, comprising:

• prior to installation of a software update, storing copies of files and directories, and noting pathnames of the files and the directories;
• compressing the stored copies of the files and the directories;
• for a plurality of changes to the computer in association with the installation of the software update, storing data descriptive of the changes, the changes including deletion of files, addition of files, alteration of files, deletion of directories, addition of directories, and alteration of directories;
• receiving a first user instruction to remove the installed software from the computer;
• said first user instruction to remove the installed software update on the computer being received via an interface, the interface describing the installed software update;
• uninstalling the installed software update by undoing the changes described by the data and utilizing the compressed copies, in response to the receipt of the first user instruction;
• receiving a second user instruction to cancel the uninstallation of the installed software update on the computer;
• and
• canceling the uninstallation, in response to the receipt of the second user instruction.