Removal of all traces of RealPlayer is simple and complete with a
freeware utility called RegCleaner. It is available for download from:
http://www.jv16.org/

I have used RegCleaner for several years with no problems at all.
The interface is intuitive and the results are always what I want done.
Before I found RegCleaner I had to hack for hours in the registry to
find all the hidden registry "keys".  This was tedious and sometimes
effective -- and always scary.

I, too, downloaded a recent version of RealPlayer and it took control
of my computer, a "no no" around here.  I tried to flush it with no
success.  I ran RegCleaner.  It found everything and obliterated
RealPlayer to the big bit bucket in the sky; no more problems from
RealPlayer.

I also had trouble with a McAfee antivirus package that refused to let
me uninstall it.  It kept calling a URL no longer in service to update
itself, a true pain.  RegCleaner uninstalled and eliminated all
evidence of the bugger.

If this sounds like a rave review, it is.  Why Microsoft didn't build
something like RegCleaner into the operating system is beyond me.
Just wanted to share ...

Bill Finch