uninstalling programs
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From: VanguardLH on 31 May 2010 21:49 Bob CP wrote: > Revo Uninstaller works well for me. Will remove every file and every > registry reference to your preferences. > http://download.cnet.com/Revo-Uninstaller/3000-2096_4-10687648.html Yep, that is one of the guesser uninstallers. It has a pre-defined set of actions to commit for well-known applications (but not always for all versions of those apps). It fails if it is not a pre-defined app in their database. "Algorithms" and "heuristics" are just another way of saying "pre-defined rules". That's why you have to update this uninstaller to get their newest database of rules. The Pro version of Revo Uninstaller has its real-time install monitor. This is akin to Zsoft's Uninstaller or other installer loggers. I was only comparing the free versions. There is a lot of features missing in the free version; see: http://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download.html Revo Uninstaller Pro costs $39. Their free lureware version doesn't have it. Zsoft Uninstaller is completely free (no payware version and no lures to one in the free version) and doesn't need rules or updates for them. It scans your registry and file system to take a snapshot, you do the install, then you do an analyze which does before and after snapshots to check for all the changes (and why you really should start the installed program after installing it to capture all those changes, too). You could always combine the free versions of Revo Uninstall and Zsoft Uninstaller but probably won't effect any better cleanup. Zsoft would remove all the changes that Revo missed in its preset rules. Zsoft is more like an Undo. The *paid* version of Revo Pro with its real-time install logger would probably obviate the need for Zsoft. Of course, reverting to partition image backups would guarantee you return to the exact prior state (since neither Revo or Zsoft provide exact reversions to a prior state); however, restoring an image means you lose ALL changes since the image backup, not just those for one particular install out of many that may occur are saving the image. Not all installations use Microsoft's installer (MSI). Some may use a 3rd party installer that totally bypasses all recording performed by MSI. Others may simply unroll a .zip file and create the shortcuts for you so they didn't really install but just copied some files onto your host. Revo won't work for those (unless you pay for the Pro version and also trigger it to record an install since unzipping files probably doesn't get recorded as an install). Zsoft won't work unless you log the installation (take a 'before' snapshot, do the install [and run the program], then analyze [to create an 'after' snapshot] to do a compare and record the changes). I might use Revo (free version) to do uninstalls for those installs that used MSI or were in Revo's pre-defined app rules. That would eliminate me accidentally forgetting to log an install using Zsoft. However, if I remember to log all my installs using Zsoft, I don't need Revo. Having both installed gives you a choice plus you could use both methods.
From: Daave on 31 May 2010 22:55 Jo-Anne wrote: > "Daave" <daave(a)example.com> wrote in message > news:uW7MQERALHA.1888(a)TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... >> Jo-Anne wrote: >>> A number of the programs I've installed on my WinXP computers come >>> with their own uninstaller programs. To uninstall, is it better to >>> use Windows Add-Remove Programs or the individual uninstallers? >>> >>> Thank you! >> >> Six of one; half-a-dozen of another. :-) >> > Thank you, Daave! YW. When you use A&R, it executes the uninstaller for that particular program.
From: Jo-Anne on 31 May 2010 23:05 "Daave" <daave(a)example.com> wrote in message news:OyJSsXTALHA.4400(a)TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... > Jo-Anne wrote: >> "Daave" <daave(a)example.com> wrote in message >> news:uW7MQERALHA.1888(a)TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... >>> Jo-Anne wrote: >>>> A number of the programs I've installed on my WinXP computers come >>>> with their own uninstaller programs. To uninstall, is it better to >>>> use Windows Add-Remove Programs or the individual uninstallers? >>>> >>>> Thank you! >>> >>> Six of one; half-a-dozen of another. :-) >>> >> Thank you, Daave! > > YW. When you use A&R, it executes the uninstaller for that particular > program. > Got it, Daave! Thank you again! Jo-Anne
From: dadiOH on 1 Jun 2010 07:59 Jo-Anne wrote: > A number of the programs I've installed on my WinXP computers come > with their own uninstaller programs. To uninstall, is it better to > use Windows Add-Remove Programs or the individual uninstallers? > > Thank you! > > Jo-Anne It doesn't matter. The Windows "uninstaller" uses the one that came with the program. Many (most?) of those don't dump everything either. If you want to get rid of all use something like Total Uninstall to monitor the install and use it to uninstall. Revo Uninstaller is another one. -- dadiOH ____________________________ dadiOH's dandies v3.06... ....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that. Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
From: VanguardLH on 1 Jun 2010 11:44
dadiOH wrote: > If you want to get rid of all use something like Total Uninstall to > monitor the install and use it to uninstall. Total Uninstall is payware. Standard version: $30 Professional version: $40 The free adware version of Revo Uninstaller does not include the real- time install monitor. You only get install logging with the Pro version which costs $39. |