Uninstaller Roundup - Revo - Total - ZSoft & the less magnificent seven

[Steven Avery]

Hi Folks,

On "System Restore Cleanup" cyberdiva is trying to avoid too many system restores ! .
So that leads to this uninstaller roundup, with the emphasis on 3 solid in-depth programs.

Revo Uninstaller, Total Uninstaller and ZSoft Uninstaller.

And 7 more down below.  Half of the 10 are freeware.  Ok, on recount there are 11, 6 free, but we can consider FARR a special case. From the System Restore thread :

Revo Uninstaller
http://www.revouninstaller.com/  (no forum)

is very good, far, far better than Windows Add/Remove (its a shell around Add/Remove, giving additional features and better searching.) And it is what I use, although I rarely uninstall.

If you ever need to have "closest to 100%" uninstallation then you go to :

Total Uninstall - powerful installation monitor and advanced uninstaller - $30
http://www.martau.com/tu.php
Forum
http://www.martau.com/forums/
Last Freeware Version
http://www.aplusfree...ies/util/uninst.html

And the third major player.

ZSoft - freeware
http://www.zsoft.dk/...x/software_details/4
Forum
http://forum.zsoft.dk/
Zsoft Uninstaller  (10/2007)
https://www.donation...ex.php?topic=10333.0

Here are solid discussions of the three, with some other mentions.

http://forum.pirifor....php?showtopic=15858
Total Uninstall or Revo Uninstaller, Which is best (which should i keep) (Piriform Forums)

http://www.techsuppo...ram-un-installer.htm
Best Free Program Un-installer - Gizmo

http://www.lifehacke...ws_systems_on_the_g/
Clean Windows Systems on the Go with Revo Uninstaller Portable

http://www.lifehacke...ware_from_your_pc-2/
ZSoft Uninstaller Removes Crapware from Your PC

(Note the developer's informative comments at bottom, acknowledging lacks as well as new features. I'll chop 'em up.)

"Total Uninstall ... takes snapshots before and after ...the best way ... ZSoft Uninstaller can do this too ... Revo searches for leftovers .. the current version of ZSoft Uninstaller doesn't do this ...the newest beta ... does have this feature - search the desktop, start-menu, send-to menu, application data folder, 'application main folder', and registry for leftovers (if you tell it to)"

The problem with Total Uninstall (which I used awhile) and any before-and-after-snapshot style is that it can make the installation far more cumbersome.  Who wants to do that for anything but the most complicated installs ? (Maybe some sort of Visual Studio or Dreamweaver or a complicated virtual sandbox pseudo-defense system.)  Or an install that you really have doubts about.  (Does TU work very well in a simple no-snapshot mode ?  Dunno, there are a couple of reviews on onsite and here and there.) With Revo and ZSoft around for free .. most don't want to purchase a program that is only marginally better.  However, since you may only want a Total in specialty cases, the humoungous installs,  it might be good to at least have the last freeware Total version ready, or use ZSoft snapshot.

Note that ZSoft is used in both modes, so if he is truly enhancing his "clean-up after" mode, as in the comments above, ZSoft becomes a very interesting freeware alternative.  I haven't checked for any comparisons after his new release went the post-remove cleanup route.  Maybe in his forum there are some discussions.

In here I have included most of the dedicated Donationcoder uninstaller threads for a couple of years, but there are some goodies around 2005-2006, especially about Total Uninstaller.

Seven more with solid reps:

farruninstall - FarrUninstall plugin for Find and Run Robot
http://code.google.com/p/farruninstall/
FARR Uninstall Plug
https://www.donation...dex.php?topic=9246.0

MyUninstaller - Nirsoft (freeware)
http://www.nirsoft.n.../utils/myuninst.html
My Uninstaller - Donationcoder 2008/02
https://www.donation...ex.php?topic=12406.0    
Remove Item In "Add/Remove Programs" 03/2009
https://www.donation...ex.php?topic=17637.0

Absolute Uninstaller - Glarysoft - freeware
http://www.glarysoft...bsolute-uninstaller/

Safarp - Open Source - Freeware (2005) - lite, fast
http://wistinga.online.fr/safarp/
Forum - http://wistinga.sourceforge.net/forums/  some activity 2007-2008

Advanced Uninstaller Pro - $40
http://www.innovativ...ninstaller/index.htm
Forum
http://www.innovativ...7f4f&showforum=4

Your Uninstaller - $40 (bundle deal some like)
http://www.ursoftwar...product/uninstaller/
Your Unistaller 2008 just released.
https://www.donation...ex.php?topic=11254.0

Uninstall Tool - $25
http://www.crystalid..._page&name=utool

Smarty Uninstaller - $20
http://www.winnertweak.com/uninstaller/

================================================================

As I rethought this, I made my own decision (sort of a recommendation).  Everyone should consider having two programs handy.  One like Revo for the basic uninstall situation.  Revo is the unqualified leader, ZSoft is just trying now to be right there in the mix, and a bunch of others are definitely very good, with their own style and advantages, if you are using them and happy -- clap your hands. You can stick with them fine.  Even Windows Add/Remove alone is .. usually .. sometimes .. ok.  Most of this is not mission critical.

And in the back holster we have the snapshot program. 
Which generally is either :
 
  Total Uninstall $30
  Total Uninstall Last Free Version
  ZSoft

(Putting aside some possible techie possibilities that are less automated like RegShot, that might be helpful, at least for visibility.  And  probably for some people the two programs will be one.  ZSoft being the only one, perhaps, with both snapshot for the toughies .. and post-dinner cleanup for the regular .. a feature which many like .. and also free.)

You may use this snapshot install-uninstall once every few months, or never, but when you get that humoungous program that you are taking on a demo, or that problematic program that you want to try out .. the one that is known to leave hundreds of registry entries and little .dlls everywhere .. then you load up TU or ZSoft !

So we have successfully bifurcated the uninstalling suggestions !

Shalom,
Steven Avery

[edbro]

I used to use the freeware ver of Total Uninstall for years but recently switched to Zsoft. Zsoft seems to be faster. But, unless I am missing it, Zsoft doesn't seem to be able to hande software installs that require a reboot. Total Uninstall does this. For this reason, I will probably switch back.

I have never looked at what the Pro ver of Total Uninstall adds. The freeware version seems to do what I need.

I also tried Ashampoo Uninstaller but didn't care for it. I forget all the reasons why but I do remember that it stayed resident in memory waiting for an install to monitor. I don't need another system tray app for that, I'd rather launch the utility when I need it.

[mouser]

Ashampoo Uninstaller is pretty nice, and has nice features for tracking changes, though i find it a bit overwhelming with so many features:
http://www2.ashampoo...product_2_0903__.htm

I also see something on their site called Ashampoo Magical Uninstall.. no idea what that is or why they need 2 uninstaller tools 
http://www2.ashampoo...uct_2_0803___USD.htm

[cyberdiva]

On "System Restore Cleanup" cyberdiva is trying to avoid too many system restores ! .
So that leads to this uninstaller roundup, with the emphasis on 3 solid in-depth programs.

-Steven Avery (April 02, 2009, 12:13 PM)

Hey, thanks very much, Steven!  I'm happy to report that after reading your very helpful assessment, I've installed Revo.  Haven't used it yet, but at least I haven't done another System Restore, either! 

[edbro]

Another related thought on this issue:
I do a lot of trying new software and I don't keep most of them. A good sandbox program will allow you to install into a sandbox and after deleting the sandbox, the system is back to its original state.

I use Returnil, which runs the system partition in a sandbox in virtual memory. No matter what I do to my system partition, I am back to original state upon a reboot. The only software that this doesn't work for are those that require a reboot to install. ( this also allows me to run without antivirus or firewall)

Removing a sandbox is the best uninstall tool there is.

[Steven Avery]

Hi Folks,

  Mouser, I just couldn't get myself to include the Ashampoo products .  Sometimes they are technically good, but you never really now what version is what, what will be tomorrow, where is the support.  I used their defrag tool for awhile, which had a minor name change ($10 program at the time) -- it was funny, like Magic to Magical -- and the defragger was helpful at the time, about 4 years back.   However in most cases I can't take them too seriously, in the Roundups.  Avanquest is similar, and maybe I am confusing the two.

   You just never really know the personality of what you have

   To be fair some of their software might be really good, might be decent value, and it will likely not be the registry and spyware scare-scam-sham-ware with recurring billing and 1000 tricks. 

   These companies are in the middle area of trying to be a mass marketeer of decent software at a low price, (which they may pick up from here or there, or develop) -- the problem is that for the really informed folks here, they will tend to be a notch or two below the programs where we really have developers who discuss and assist, the programs  that are really class and in many cases are continuing under more solid development, like the roundup leaders.

Shalom,
Steven Avery

[majoMO]

@ Steven Avery, congratulations for the info about uninstallers. Useful and a good orientation to the user. A deep-rooted and arduous work. Thanks.

But, unless I am missing it, Zsoft doesn't seem to be able to hande software installs that require a reboot. Total Uninstall does this. For this reason, I will probably switch back.

-edbro (April 02, 2009, 01:36 PM)

@ Edbro, ZSoft can handle "software installs that require a reboot" easily. Please see this post: ZSoft Uninstaller and reboot.

[40hz]

Thanks for an excellent post Steven Avery



My take:

• If in doubt - test in a sandbox (Returnil ) prior to installation. (+1 with edbro on that)
• For everything else, use Revo Uninstaller.

 

[Steven Avery]

Hi Folks,

  Thanks, glad the thread has been of help.

  A couple of points came out in a GiveawayoftheDay thread that was about another software Cleanse Uninstaller. (Itself dubious since it is normally commercial and it is reported to change the file dates unnecessarily.  And appears to be similar to Revo, yet inferior.  Also, less importantly, it was said to put a registry entries with each program).

1) One caution on the snapshot method.  Installs sometimes go ahead and install .Net components or Visual Basic or Visual C++ or maybe other semi-system components, perhaps Java as well.  A snapshot method would by default go back and try to undo those parts of the install, which can cause problems. 

My take -- note carefully during the install whether anything like this occurs and if so -- note this carefully where you won't forget (perhaps a dummy folder name) -- the simplest is uninstall in the more generic Revo-style way, rather than the snapshot way. Or if you do the snapshot method anyway, come up with your plan on how to handle this.  (e.g. Java is less of a problem because you could use JavaRa and then reinstall).  However I think you would normally simply not use the snapshot method if such external components are installed. Some of our accomplished Total Commander users might share with us their experiences on this aspect.

2) Remember that certain programs have their own special uninstall utilities that may be better than an uninstall program.  JavaRa for old Java installs.  The various anti-virus removers that Norton and McAfee and maybe some others were forced to come up with immediately come to mind.  Check if they are for use instead of an uninstaller or after an uninstaller and use accordingly.

3) Forced uninstalls, where there are no add/remove entry, is a separate area of discussion.  Which programs handle this, and which handle this best, would be a subject of a little analysis in a comparative review.  Since I have not done any of those, I can simply point out that it is a feature for consideration and comparison.

Shalom,
Steven Avery

[edbro]

I'm not sure I share you same concern with the snapshot method. If you didn't have java or .net before the install then the snapshot uninstaller would simply take you back to where you were before the install; no java or .net.  Why would you want to keep the secondary support software if you didn't need or want it before you installed the program you are uninstalling?

[Darwin]

also tried Ashampoo Uninstaller but didn't care for it. I forget all the reasons why but I do remember that it stayed resident in memory waiting for an install to monitor. I don't need another system tray app for that, I'd rather launch the utility when I need it.

-edbro (April 02, 2009, 01:36 PM)

Just to note - it is posible to disable this feature (which is how I install it). I don't have it installed at the moment, so can't give precise instructions on how to achieve this.

Steve - thank you for the informative post! I purchased a lifetime licence for Your Uninstaller at least five years ago and it pretty much relegated Ashampoo to secondary status! I'm tempted to give Revo a try, though...

Great post!

[Steven Avery]

Hi Folks,

I'm not sure I share you same concern with the snapshot method. If you didn't have java or .net before the install then the snapshot uninstaller would simply take you back to where you were before the install; no java or .net.  Why would you want to keep the secondary support software if you didn't need or want it before you installed the program you are uninstalling?

-edbro

Edbro .. what you say is likely true if you go to the earlier snapshot very quickly.  Probably ... the snapshot will work, although these types of softwares can be so "all over the map" I would be a bit queasy to be the test case.  And the problem involves not just having or not having .NET or Visual C++ 2005 or 2008 but having the right and consistent and full version or versions that your programs are calling.

Then the bigger problem is when there is a time gap, and you have all sorts of new software installs using .Net or Visual C++ libraries with multiple dependencies.  Then you un-snapshot -- sounds to me like an oops waiting to happen.  Personally, I want any backwards modifications to those to be an official and/or dedicated uninstaller or an image reinstall, not a side-snapshot.

If you look at the thread on Giveaway, it seems one techie had run into this problem a couple of times, which is why I brought it up here.  However, I dunno if it comes up on the forums of Total Commander or ZSoft.

=====

In general .. this is one reason why I wonder which of the software uninstallers watch the creation dates of files and use that as a help (e.g. being slow to uninstall files with a different creation date) .. the problem with an external multiple-use software library or system like .NET or Java or C++ is that in those cases the multiple dependencies are the norm, not an exception.  Thus uninstalling (actually deleting) what may be a partial component is a recipe for difficulties. Granted, in many cases, even if difficulties arise, you may be able to reinstall the whole unit from scratch, over itself, or do a full uninstall followed by an install .. but again .. I really don't want to be the test case.  I would prefer to have a slightly less complete uninstall (e.g. the Revo-method) than open up even a smallish possibility of this can of worms.  For others, the mileage may vary.

Darwin, thanks.  Here I really am not considering here how the better of the commercial products (there probably are 5-10 good products to consider) compares to Revo, since I am emphasizing that in this category the freeware programs are very good .. not necessarily the very absolute best..  So if you do a compare with Your Installer .. share away how it goes !

Shalom,
Steven

[Darwin]

Heh, heh - will do, Steven.

PS to all - I apologize for the multiple exclamation points in my previous post... Giddy from lack of sleep, I guess 

[OldElmerFudd]

Steven,

Thanks for such a fine article. I used to use the LFV of Total Uninstall, but switched to Revo over a year ago, if memory serves. I always had the same concerns about "snapshots" as you expressed in this statement:

"Then the bigger problem is when there is a time gap, and you have all sorts of new software installs using .Net or Visual C++ libraries with multiple dependencies.  Then you un-snapshot -- sounds to me like an oops waiting to happen.  Personally, I want any backwards modifications to those to be an official and/or dedicated uninstaller or an image reinstall, not a side-snapshot."

My concern was never about Java or .NET, but the difficulty removing a program after a significant interval from first installing it. I don't bother with virtual environments unless it's a massive program. I do check out a lot of software, but my habit is to install-evaluate-uninstall, then figure out what I want to integrate into my machines for the long term. Revo works to my satisfaction, and beats the pants of Windows Add/Remove. I still remember when, many years ago, I tried to uninstall Real Player (shudder!) with A/R, and spent what seemed like hours digging the leftover registry entries out manually.

[ha14]

There is also Advanced Uninstaller 10 free edition
http://download.cnet...bj=dl&tag=button

[CWuestefeld]

I've got an objection to the snapshot approach.

A year or two back I was using Ashampoo's uninstaller, which uses snapshots, and got burned having some other stuff in my system hosed by an uninstall. I don't hold this against Ashampoo specifically, but I believe that it's endemic to the snapshot process -- and indeed, partly my own fault.

I hate waiting. When I start an installer running, I keep doing whatever else I'm doing. If that work includes other system changes (maybe changing a registry setting or something), then they get flagged in the snapshot diff. Later on, an uninstall undoes all the changes, including that other change from the other app, that had nothing to do with this installation. Doing this got some of my software into an inconsistent state, so I had to uninstall and re-install the broken software.

This was obvious in retrospect. But if you're going to use snapshot-based uninstallers, be sure not to be doing anything while an installation is running. In fact, you're better off if you really do stop all programs beforehand, since they might make system changes in an automated fashion.

[Darwin]

This is the trouble that I have had with snapshot based unisntallers as well. I still use Ashampoo to take a snapshot of my system before and after some installations but don't use it to actually remove anything. For that I use Your Uninstaller!, which takes a different approach and scans your system and registry for changes made based on the installer used. It offers several levels of thoroughness, but I tend to play it safe and use the recommended settings (not the aggressive one that is available). So far, in five years of use, I've never had a problem.

[David.P]

Haven't read everything but just was gonna say that I have been using Total Uninstall for years (it's really fast on my SSD, only takes like 5 seconds to snapshot).

For trying the REALLY nasty stuff like e.g. iTunes (yuck), I use Altiris SVS. This truly leaves not the slightest trace of the installation behind.

Cheers David.P

[40hz]

Add iObit's uninstaller to the list. Supports XP, Vista, and Windows 7.

It's also free and portable!

Link: http://iobit.com/adv...nceduninstaller.html

I also mentioned it on this DC topic:

https://www.donation....msg207029#msg207029

 

[Innuendo]

I have to post a warning to potential Total Uninstall users: One of the program's anti-piracy features is that it will refuse to run/register if certain firewall programs are installed on your system (there's at least 10 the author has blacklisted) so if you are interested in this program make sure it works with your firewall before you send the author any money.

[MerleOne]

Not sure it was mentioned before but now Revo exists in a commercial version, with a much more powerful feature that monitors exactly the changes made on the system, apparently.

[J-Mac]

Not sure it was mentioned before but now Revo exists in a commercial version, with a much more powerful feature that monitors exactly the changes made on the system, apparently.

-MerleOne (June 02, 2010, 03:17 PM)

Hey Merle1,

Do you have the Pro version of Revo installed? Are there really "much more powerful features" in Revo now? I know that when I first saw that Revo Uninstaller had released a commercial version I went to the site with all intention of purchasing it, since I had used it regularly for some time now. However it was somewhat more expensive than I had expected. (~ $40 USD for 1 computer). Also it states that price is for one computer only; two computers will cost me ~ $30 each, or $60 total. Do they not allow installation on one desktop and one notebook/portable computer with the main license? They don’t mention anything on the web site.

I don’t know... the price may be fair but I have never shopped one-task software programs like Revo before. It just "feels" like $40 is too high to me.

Thanks!

Jim

[MerleOne]

I think they have a 50% rebate from within Revo Std.  And I do have only the std version.

[Curt]

-there is no discount link in the Std version. And yes: 1 for $40, 2 a' $30, 4 a' $20

Revo_PRO is "merely" a competitor to TotalUninstall, etc. It may be fine, but I have some of the competitors, so I didn't find any reason to purchase Revo's version.

[MerleOne]

-there is no discount link in the Std version. And yes: 1 for $40, 2 a' $30, 4 a' $20

Revo_PRO is "merely" a competitor to TotalUninstall, etc. It may be fine, but I have some of the competitors, so I didn't find any reason to purchase Revo's version.

-Curt (June 10, 2010, 07:48 AM)

OK, the link is a bit hidden, it's visible when doing an autoupdate, it then appears in the info window :

see Uninstaller Roundup - Revo - Total - ZSoft &  the less magnificent seven