Installed Program Cannot Be Uninstalled

Question

Yesterday I installed a program on my Windows 10 computer. When I open the "Programs & Features" link on Control Panel that programs does NOT appear in the list. Likewise when I go to Settings>Apps there is nothing in the list that corresponds to that program. Since I know where it got installed I proceeded to remove it from that location. My preferred method of choice was to first move the main directory for the program's executable files from "c:\Programs Files" to a directory that I created for that purpose. I also knew that there we data files for this program located in c:\ProgramData, so I also moved that main directory to my newly created directory.

Then as expected this did NOT do anything to remove the Icon's (?shortcuts) from the Start Menu so I went ahead and selected one of them. To my surprise the program was launched and seems to function correctly. If I right-click on said Icon and then select uninstall I'm taken to the "Programs & Features" page of the Control Panel which provides NO entry for uninstalling. However, if I right-click and select "Open file location" it opens File Explorer in the sub-directory of my newly created directory where the program is now located.

This is all very strange to me but I do think there should be a way to properly remove such a program and apparently that is unknown to me. Please explain how it should be done?

Answer 1

Please perform the following steps: (for any error messages or codes please post images or share links using one drive, drop box, or google drive)

1) open administrative powershell (PS) and type or copy and paste:

sfc /scannow
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic
get-computerrestorepoint

2) Run the Microsoft install and uninstaller troubleshooter:

https://download.microsoft.com/download/7/E/9/7E9188C0-2511-4B01-8B4E-0A641EC2F600/MicrosoftProgram_Install_and_Uninstall.meta.diagcab

3) If there is a system restore point that predates the installation consider performing a system restore:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/4588-system-restore-windows-10-a.html

4) Run the Adobe uninstall tool:

https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html
https://swupmf.adobe.com/webfeed/CleanerTool/win/AdobeCreativeCloudCleanerTool.exe

.
.
.
.
.

Please remember to vote and to mark the replies as answers if they help.

On the bottom of each post there is:

Propose as answer = answered the question

On the left side of each post there is /\ with a number: click = a helpful post
.
.
.
.
.

Answer 2

It appears that the Adobe "install" just copies the program and doesn't provide an uninstall feature. This thread mentions an older version, but that is all I could find.

https://community.adobe.com/t5/camera-raw-discussions/unable-to-remove-dng-converter-9-5-1-595-from-windows-10/m-p/10733062

Try the cleaner tool that Docs-4663 mentioned, or just delete the "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe DNG Converter" folder.

This is an Adobe issue, not a Windows problem.