uninstaller

Free alternatives to freeware utilities

Many of my favorite freeware tools have more-than-adequate competitors out there, but you can never have too much of a good thing. Here are four utilities that you may not have heard of to help you back up your files, take screen captures, uninstall programs, and test your download speeds.

MyUninstaller replaces the default Windows Add/Remove Programs utility, and is a strong alternative to Revo Uninstaller. They both uninstall programs, and that's just about where their similarities end.

MyUninstaller feels extremely lightweight compared to Revo and contains none of the system tools extras like Autorun Manager that Revo … Read more

Uninstall programs quickly

There comes the time in every computer program's life when it outlives its usefulness. Whenever this happens, uninstalling the program is the best option. MyUninstaller wants to be the tool for the job and promises more information and ease than Windows' built-in uninstaller.

This freeware jumps into action with an interface that is equally informative and simple to operate. The bulk of the program is dominated by a list of every program on your computer. Next to each icon and name is its version, the company that produced it, and a brief description of what the program does. Users … Read more

Too-strict trial

Final Uninstaller finds extra programs and Registry entries left on your PC even after uninstalling a program. While it got off to a great start, a trial limitation prevented us from seeing it to the end.

The program has a very easy to use interface. Its step-by-step instructions ensure you're on the right track. Simply click the Scan button and immediately, the program locates installed programs and any remnants left behind from previously uninstalling apps. The Settings menu includes display, scan, update, and start-up options. We were impressed by all of the remnants the program found on our computer. … Read more

Solid performance

This comprehensive system utility keeps your computer at peak performance by offering tools to manage processes, hard-disk space, and even Registry entries. When put to the test, it gave a solid performance, but we found inconsistencies with its trial period and in the overall design.

Innovative SysPack's main user interface is very easy to navigate. The main window has six prominent buttons for managing different tasks. There is a system optimizer, task manager, disk cleaner, start-up firewall, and tools to manage drives and to uninstall programs. But we found that each feature contained a different user interface. Granted, each … Read more

Part-time worker, full-time job

With a great premise and above-average looks, 1 Click Add n Remove falls flat with a sluggish feel and broken functionality. The interface itself goes beyond the norm with an entirely custom look, but the menus are annoyingly slow to deploy, and the window cannot be resized. There's also no way to filter the program list to hide things like Windows updates, and though there is a search option, it doesn't seem to work.

Particularly interesting is an option to hide items within your Start Menu, without deleting them. This function seems to work well, but unfortunately the … Read more

Uninstall like a pro

Where the built-in and sluggish Windows Add or Remove Programs option fails, freeware Revo picks up the slack. It builds out a useful feature set on top of a fairly light, 1.5MB installation. Launching Revo fires up the Uninstaller screen, which shows icons and titles of all programs installed on your machine. You can change the View to List or Details, if you'd like more information. Right-clicking gives users a list of choices, from the fundamental like Uninstall and Remove from list, to Search Google, Show the installation directory, and quick access to the app's Help file, … Read more

Featured Freeware: AppTrap

Sometimes the best interface is no interface at all. Compared with other Mac uninstall programs, AppTrap is simplicity itself--and it really does seem to provide the uninstall functionality that Apple "forgot" in OS X.

AppTrap is not actually an app but rather a System Preference pane, which you install and then it runs in the background (and you can set AppTrap to automatically start at log-in). Whenever you drag an application to the Trash, AppTrap will prompt you to delete all the application's related files, including any files installed in that application's cache, library, or application … Read more

Five killer software freebies you've (probably) never heard of

I don't know about you, but I'm getting a little spoiled by all the free software out there. Seriously, I feel for the developers working hard to make a buck when there's so much good freeware. Like these five gems, all of which I use almost daily and love dearly:

CrossLoop - Need remote access to another PC? It's hard to find a simpler solution than CrossLoop. Just run the small client app on your system, then instruct the friend/grandma/user at the other end to do likewise. Presto: You're connected, able to see … Read more

Featured Freeware: RegToy

Power-packed beyond Registry tweaks, RegToy focuses on Registry edits to optimize your computer performance--but novices shouldn't expect much hand-holding. Though the tweak options are carefully labeled, users must know the consequences of altering them, as the few onscreen notes don't provide adequate assistance. You can restore the Registry settings to the Windows default, but that's an emergency final resort, as it will undo many changes made by you and other programs. RegToy also includes a poorly explained feature for saving and loading settings.

Other features include a file renamer, a file shredder, a start-up manager, an uninstall … Read more