How to do a completely clean install ?

I need to completely wipe max from my windows7 system - to cut a long story short I have some settings that are causing it to crash on startup. Normally when you uninstall and reinstall Max t remembers all your settings even after a clean install. For example if you have file preferences to search drive D: it remembers that, it even remembers "recent files". I have even tried deleting the entire Cycling74 folder and cleaning out the registry but to no avail - max remembers on new install. Where are all these things stored and how do I wipe them out - especially the "file preferences" - I have just bought a 12 month student max license and its extermely frustrating ! I foolishly set my fiile preferences to search all of my drives including subfolders - now I cant get it to start - the logo comes on and then just vanishes after about 3 mins. I dont want to have to reinstall windows but its looking like the only way !