A Better Way to Uninstall Apps

In a recent Hassle-Free PC column, I awarded the Revo Uninstaller a spot in the Tool of the Month section.

The biggest problem with the uninstaller in Microsoft Windows--besides loading slowly and holding back vital info--is that it relies on each vendor's uninstall routine. That means bits and pieces of the unwanted program may remain on your PC. It might be a couple of entries in the Registry, a few DLLs, or a folder full of disk-filling junk.

On one hand, the leftovers may be benign and just take up space. With humongous hard drives, that's simply a nuisance. But on the other hand, some of the debris could interfere if you were to install a newer version of the same program sometime in the future. That's happened to me with Check Point's Zone Alarm firewall; the newer installation didn't complete correctly.

Of course, an incomplete uninstallation isn't always a bad thing. For instance, one photo editing app offered me the option of leaving images I'd modified on the drive even though I was removing the program. The key was that the program was respecting me as a user and offering smart options, something most programs don't do.

Revo: The King of Uninstallers

Revo is a little known--and marvelous--tool for removing programs from your PC. I promise it'll exceed your expectations for a freebie and surpass anything Windows has to offer. Except for 64-bit operating systems, Revo is compatible with all versions of Windows. Grab a copy from us.

Revo gives me the details that the Windows uninstaller doesn't: It lists every program's version and location on the drive, tells when the app was installed, and provides links to vendor sites. Curious about a program? Right-click it and hit Google: Your browser opens with a Web search on the program. Or you can highlight a program's name and open its folder or Registry entry.

Most important is that Revo really scrubs your system clean when uninstalling a program. Revo first uses the app's uninstall routine and then scans your PC to find any odds and ends. Revo's wizard then gives you the option to remove them all from the Registry.

There's one thing that Revo doesn't make clear: Revo shows the entire Registry listing--not just the relevant entries--and warns you to delete only the Registry entries marked in bold. That's an unnecessary warning because Revo lets you check mark the entire tree rather than selecting individually bolded items. Only bolded marked items--those with blue icons--are deleted.

One quibble: Revo needs to be more like CCleaner and provide an undo feature or an automatic Registry entry backup.

Take a break: I love free utilities and there are lots of them in 101 Fantastic Freebies.

Revo's Hidden Helpers

I use Revo to uninstall programs, but it has other features you might want to try. From the Tools icon, you can get quick access to 14 Windows tools that are in Control Panel, including Add/Remove Windows Components and Group Policy. The Junk Files Cleaner scans all your local drives for temporary files; you can customize it by adding file extensions of your favorite temp files.

The one feature I don't use is the Hunter Mode, a way to uninstall apps using drag and drop. You might like it, but I'd prefer right-clicking a program's Desktop icon (or highlighting a file in Windows Explorer) and seeing an uninstall option using Revo. In the meantime, I've pinned Revo to my Start menu for quick access--you can do that by right-clicking the Revo icon in your Start menu and choosing Pin to Start Menu.

Bulgaria? No Kidding!

More than a few readers, me included, wanted to know more about Revo--like where were the developers are located. Roger H. subscribes to my newsletter and he found out: Revo was created by a group of developers in Varna, Bulgaria. Revo is their first worldwide project, a company rep said in an e-mail.

Take another break: Will your next PC be missing a graphics card? Could be... Details in The End of Discrete Video Cards for PCs?

Time Wasters

Busy? How about spending some time enriching the quality of your life with my productivity boosters.

Remember back in the early seventies when lots of people, including me, were under the influence of all sorts of illegal substances? You can revisit those days by staring at what the creator has called a natural hallucinogen. Watch the entire video (make sure you're not operating heavy equipment--or even a Mac) and then stare off into space. Freaky, no? [Thanks, Paul.]

I took Chemistry for Dummies in college. And my physics class was also designed for not-too-bright students. That's why I'm entirely lost when I'm asked to name the Elements of the Periodic Table.

Cul-de-sacs are one thing, but this one's more like a labyrinth.

Please, if you're going to buy a set of these Dub Custom Wheels, stay outta my neighborhood, okay?

If the Elevator Express trick works, it'll sure be handy every time I need to take the elevator to my penthouse.

The Magic Pen is going to take hours out of your day. It's a lovely game and it's challenging, but not a killer (at least for the first few levels). It's essential to go through the short tutorial, otherwise you'll never get past level one. [Thanks, Gus.]

Steve Bass writes PC World's monthly "Hassle-Free PC" column and is the author of "PC Annoyances, 2nd Edition: How to Fix the Most Annoying Things About Your Personal Computer," available from O'Reilly. He also writes PC World's daily Tips & Tweaks blog. Sign up to have Steve's newsletter e-mailed to you each week. Comments or questions? Send Steve e-mail.