Bill Detwiler: Many of us like to keep our systems free from old or unused applications, but often, we find that the Windows Add or Remove Programs feature doesn't get rid of all an application's bits and pieces.
I'm Bill Detwiler, and during this TR Dojo episode, I'll show you how Revo Uninstaller can help you keep you system neat and tidy.
If you're serious about cleaning out all the files often left behind by uninstalled applications or you just want more flexibility than the Windows Add or Remove Programs feature provides, you should consider using the Revo Uninstaller from VS Revo Group.
The application comes in two flavors a freeware version and a professional version. You can download both from the VS Revo Group's Web site. The professional version gives you quit a few more features than the free alternative, and you can try it free for 30 days. After that, you'll need to pony up $39.25 US.
The Installation process is routine, just download the application and walk through the wizard.
Once the application is installed, you can begin cleaning up your hard drive.
Revo's main window includes a real-time listing of all of your applications. To begin, Select the application you want to uninstall and then Click Uninstall.
Once the process is complete, you can use Revo's Scan mode to look for and remove any leftover files, folders, or registry entries. You can use one of three different scanning modes safe, moderate, or advanced. Once you've made your selection, click the Scan button to start the process.
Once the scan is complete, Revo will show you a list of the files, folders, and registry entries that were left over after the uninstall process. After selecting the items you want to remove (either individually or en masse), click the Delete button to continue. Once the items have been removed, you can click Finish.
Now, the method I just demonstrated isn't the only way to remove applications with the Revo Uninstaller.
Using the tool's Hunter Mode, you can both uninstall an application and scan for its remnant items with a single click. For this reason, it's important that you use this feature carefully.
When you click the Hunter Mode icon (from the Revo main window), a new, crosshair cursor will appear on your desktop. Once that cursor appears, you can drag it to an icon on your desktop and a new menu will open. To uninstall, just select Uninstall from the menu and the process will begin.
When using the Hunter mode, the uninstall process uses Revo's Forced uninstall method, which automatically removes all remnants left behind by a typical uninstall.
This method also searches for a program-specific uninstaller and gives you the option to use that instead. In some cases (especially for anti-virus tools), this would be a wise option to choose.
During a Hunter uninstall, the first window that pops up will ask you to select a Scan mode. Pick one and click Next. If the application has its own uninstaller, it will be shown in the next window.
If you choose to stick with the Revo uninstall at this point, the Analysis window will pop up. If you select the built-in uninstall, that application's built-in uninstaller will open and walk you through its process.
Now, in some cases you might opt for the Revo uninstaller, and both it and the application's built-in uninstaller will open in different windows. If that happens, just cancel the built-in uninstaller and continue with the Revo method.
Also note that when you opt for Hunter mode, the Revo window minimizes to the notification tray. You can reopen the main window by right-clicking the icon and selecting Open Main Window. This action will also take you out of Hunter mode.
Now, not only can the Revo Uninstaller help you remove unwanted applications, but it can also find and delete unnecessary or Junk files.
The Junk Files Cleaner scans your hard disk for temp files and other things left behind by programs or Web browsing. Once you've scanned the drive, click the Delete button, and they're gone.
If you're tired of wading through a sea of junk files and old programs, the Revo Uninstaller might be the tool you're looking for. Give it a try and let us know how well it works.
I also encourage you to share your favorite system utilities in this video's discussion thread. Perhaps you favor Piriform's CCleaner or Glarysoft's Glary Utilities.
And as always, for more teachings on your path to becoming an IT Ninja, visit trdojo.techrepublic.com, or you can follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/billdetwiler.
Thanks for visiting the TR Dojo.
