UNINSTALLERS
Best program: Revo Uninstaller www.revouninstaller.com Latest major version: 2.0
Revo is the most powerful free uninstaller you can use. It can dig so deep for program leftovers that it offers two less-thorough options, in case its full scan is too timeconsuming or might destabilise your PC.
Despite this, it’s very easy to use. Click a program in the list, then click Uninstall. Revo automatically creates a systemrestore point, removes the program and then offers three ‘Scanning modes’: Safe, Moderate and Advanced (see screenshot below). Moderate is the default, but click Advanced if you want to be sure of blitzing every last trace from your registry and hard drive.
To get Revo, click Downloads, then scroll down and click Free Download (installable version) or Free Portable.
Best hidden tools
You may have tried Revo’s ingenious Hunter Mode tool already. Click Hunter Mode, and the Revo window will vanish – leaving a small crosshairs icon (see screenshot right) that you can drag on to any program shortcut or system-tray icon to kill its processes or remove with one click. To make Hunter Mode even more powerful, set it to run when Windows starts. Right-click the crosshairs icon, then click ‘Auto start with Windows’. Now you’ll have Hunter Mode on call at all times.
To export a detailed list of all your installed software, right-click anywhere in the Uninstall list, select ‘Export List to’ and then choose text or HTML. And did you know you can save a detailed list of a program’s leftovers, too? Right-click the ‘Found leftover files and folders’ list, then click Export. Revo’s Tools button reveals more hidden features. Open Autoruns Manager, scroll down to ‘Location: Services’ to remove startup processes left behind by adware, and use Unrecoverable Delete to annihilate sensitive files.
Also try: PC Decrapifier www.pcdecrapifier.com
This indelicately named free tool doesn’t just list which programs are installed on your PC, it also reveals which ones you should uninstall. It’s ideal for running on a new computer to check for pre-installed software. PC Decrapifier lets you uninstall multiple programs at once, but it’s much less thorough than Revo.
Don’t use: Auslogics Browser Care
This program for uninstalling extensions bundles several PUPS in its installer, including a nasty Yahoo toolbar. Use Revo’s Browsers Cleaner tool instead.