Uninstaller software - yes or no?

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28 Aug 2013
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Hi All,

Just wondering if you use any kind of installer/uninstaller software?

I have now started using winget to install / uninstall most things, but there are certain software that can't be found via winget, so I have to download and install those manually.

In the past I have used Revo Uninstaller which tracks what the installer has done and removes leftover traces when uninstalling etc.

Do you think it's necessary or advisable to use such a tool for manual installers?

If so, what do you use? Can you recommend a lightweight and modern tool which is not 'snake oil' ?

Thanks,
X20
 
Only time I've ever had to use Revo etc is to tidy up left entries when the usual uninstall doesn't work for whatever reason.

In my experience, default uninstallers almost never remove all of the associated folders and registry items, but it sounds like most people don't mind that. I just find it annoying to have leftovers from things I've uninstalled.

My take is if things have gone wrong enough to be considering this then I may as well do a clean windows install.

My thinking was that if you could use a tool to monitor the installation changes, then when you click uninstall you'd be back to the same scenario before you installed it. No traces. Surely that would be a good thing?

Maybe it's just OCD, and I should care less :p
 
Manual uninstall.
Uninstall if the program has specific uninstall app
Program dedicated to uninstalling programs
Clean install

In that order
.
.
 
I tend to go with the prevention approach, avoiding installing where possible.

Windows these days is its own worst enemy. It tends to be break itself more than left over registry entries from installers that break it.
 
I also try and always use a "portable" version of an app if it's available rather than using winget or other installers.

I expect there to be registry entries created, but at least any files required are normally contained within the folder.
 
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