TeamViewer installation

Allan Milton

Hi there, I would like some advice recently encountered on my friend’s PC. This computer is used solely to operate a golf simulator. Since installing that system two years ago we have used TeamViewer Free to interact with the supplier on fault finding. Last Wednesday we were attempting to do this but when selecting the TeamViewer icon on the homepage we received a prompt advising “this program has been moved or altered.” I knew this coouldn’t be the case as my friend would not know how to do that and wouldn’t even try. I searched the C Drive in both Program folders but could find nothing for TeamViewer. I then proceeded to do a fresh download but when trying to install it a prompt advised that “there is a 32bit version that needs to be uninstalled. “ Again I searched the PC in Settings Installed Apps and found nothing. I then opened Control Panel Programs and Features and found TeamViewer dated June 2026. I uninstalled that and rebooted the PC but when again trying a new install received the prompt about the 32 bit version. Is there some other way to try to locate this? To get around the problem the contact at the supplier suggested downloading TeamViewer Quick Support and this enabled him access to resolve the program issue that needed attention. I realise this is long winded and may require some additional detail but would appreciate any assistance. The PC is running on Windows 11. Regards Allan

Geoff Walker

@Allan Milton : Your detail level is excellent, thanks!

Windows is famous for not completely uninstalling programs. By far the best way to deal with that particular problem is to use an "uninstaller utility". IMHO, the best one is Revo Uninstaller, and it has a free version. Google "revo uninstaller free download", and download it ONLY from the company website. Set it for the deepest level of search once it completes the basic pass. It will remove all traces of a program, even the most obscure registry entries. You must confirm the deletion of all those traces; don't be afraid, it's OK to delete everything that it finds!

If Team Viewer was installed normally, it should have appeared in the Apps list. A program that's missing is usually due to one of these three reasons:
1. It wasn't actually "installed" but is just running out of Downloads
2. It was installed for a different user's account, i.e., installed as a "per-user" application on another profile
3. It might be listed under a different name

If the program has intentionally been hidden, with just an icon on the home page (which sounds likely, given the licensing situation described below), then you won't find it unless you click the "Hidden items" box in the View tab of File Explorer.

But, there's a handy alternative:
1. Press the Windows Key + R to open the "Run" dialog box.
2. Type "shell:AppsFolder" and press Enter
3. A new "virtual" folder window will pop up that should list EVERY** program, including hidden ones
4. Right-click on the program icon for things you can do

By the way, based on your description, it sounds like the golf simulator was installed by a commercial vendor of the product. You said that you have been using Team Viewer for two years to interact with that vendor for support. The free Team Viewer license forbids either end of the connection from using the program for commercial purposes. It sounds like the golf simulator vendor installed the free version of Team Viewer, is that correct? If so, Team Viewer Sales needs to call the golf simulator vendor, since they are violating the license terms. If YOU installed it (unlikely, based on your description), you're fine, but the vendor side must still have a paid license.

The free Team Viewer includes a "commercial use" algorithm that looks for cases like this, but I suspect that the golf simulator vendor may not be a large enough company to trigger the algorithm (e.g., still using Gmail and a residential-class internet connection, etc.). I don't work for Team Viewer, so it's not my problem. And it's not your or your friend's problem. And neither of you may want to rat on the vendor, so we're done!

I have no clue what caused the original "move or altered" problem. Windows is a beast.

** EVERY except hidden system files, background malware, portable .exe files running without being installed, or standard folders that have been manually hidden.