Best Windows Uninstaller?

2003-07-21 12:46:00

Like the title says...

What´s your favourite uninstaller?

I need to test 4 or 5 big applications pretty soon for a project, and I don´t want to mess up my system beyond control. So I am looking for the most reliable and effective uninstaller, to get rid of the applications I finally discard after testing them.

Any advice?

Best Windows Uninstaller?

Reply #1 – 2003-07-21 13:06:20

  Ashampoo UnInstaller Suite ($39.99, free trial version).
Add/Remove Plus! 2003 Mobile Kit (free trial version).

Actually, I use Jv16PowerTools 1.3 though it's a bit more complicated but like that I can really control what is done. Note that Jv16PowerTools 1.4 was released a few days ago but is no longer freeware (30 days free trial).

Hope this helps.

Best Windows Uninstaller?

Reply #2 – 2003-07-21 13:28:46

If you use Windows XP the best uninstaller is built within the OS: system restore points. They usually get created automatically whenever something gets installed, but you can also create them manually.

I have used ghost, driveimage, powermagic ezrestore, and must admit M$ System Restore is very convenient. I would not do without it (I actually went back to WinXP after using Win2003 only because of that feature)

Best Windows Uninstaller?

Reply #3 – 2003-07-22 09:39:37

I have found what seem to be two free alternatives:

InstallRite 2.5: http://www.epsilonsquared.com/

Total Uninstall 2.33: http://www.geocities.com/ggmartau/

Does anybody have any experience with these tools? They seem quite effective...

Best Windows Uninstaller?

Reply #4 – 2003-07-22 11:25:31

How about Roxio GoBack? It can even restore the whole system even if your Windows' important system file is corrupted.

Best Windows Uninstaller?

Reply #5 – 2003-07-22 11:30:10

Well...

You are all probably going to say that I am very demanding and picky, and that I shouldn´t ask for too much, but...

My ideal situation would be:

1- Install everything I need to test.
2- Test everything to my heart´s content.
3- Get rid of what I don´t want to keep, and just that, not going back to what my system was like several days ago... I might be doing something else in the mean time that I would not like to lose.

Of course the GoBack idea sounds interesting. How would that be different from using, let´s say, Ghost, and simply restoring my main partition? Does it keep something more? Less? The same?

Best Windows Uninstaller?

Reply #6 – 2003-07-22 16:09:29

1. Save the Windows registry, system.ini, win.ini, and autoexec.bat so that you can restore them after uninstalling the programs!

2. Run the equivelant of System File Checker for your version of Windows so that you can easily find any changed files that may or will need to be restored with the originals if they are available, such as .DLL files. Example: msvcrt.dll

3. Use an installation watching program that lists what files are installed, and what is written into the Windows registry. You will have to launch the installed program at least once so that any configuration files, etc., that it dumps outside of its main program folder are logged into the installation watching program.

A specialized uninstaller really isn't needed and in some instances can cause too much confusion, at least the ones I've tried weren't nearly as good as they claimed to be. If you make certain to backup the Windows registry beforehand, and then manually remove any left-over files the uninstall program leaves behind or can't remove you'll be fine.

Best Windows Uninstaller?

Reply #7 – 2003-07-22 16:31:33

This is a totally different approach, but how about running those applications in a VMware virtual machine ? The virtual machine is completely separated from the rest of your system.

You can download an evaluation version from the website.

Even if this method is not what you want, I recommend giving VMware a try anyway, just to play with it. The technology is very cool!

[span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%']If only it weren't so damn expensive...[/span]

Best Windows Uninstaller?

Reply #8 – 2003-07-22 16:33:41

I know VMWare, and I have used it in a previous job. However, I don´t have the licence personally...

Agreed, though: it is very cool!

Best Windows Uninstaller?

Reply #9 – 2003-07-23 13:14:10

- backup your system with a partition imager
- Test the Stuff
- overwrite the Bullshit with imaged System if you have finished your work.

Best Windows Uninstaller?

Reply #10 – 2003-07-23 21:51:38

@Lego -  You got it!