LeizerSoft’s MenuUninstaller adds a feature that should have been built into Windows five versions ago: an Uninstall option that appears in the context menu when you right-click the icon for any installed program. Doesn’t matter if the icon is on your desktop or in the Start Menu–just right-click and choose Uninstall. That should start the program’s associated uninstaller.
Note that I said “should.” On my Windows 7 system, MenuUninstaller kept crashing–until I followed the instructions on LeizerSoft’s support page and enabled the “Run as administrator” option for the program. That did the trick.
MenuUninstaller is compatible with Windows XP, Vista, and 7. It’s freeware!
Of course, I’m sure some readers will point out that many programs can be uninstalled fairly easily via their Start Menu entries–but that still involves a bit of clicking and searching. And not every program adds its uninstaller to Start.
You also have the option of using a dedicated utility like Revo Uninstaller, which often does a better job removing all traces of a program than the developer’s own uninstaller. But even that can be slow to load up all your programs, and you still have to search for the one you want.
No, I’m definitely liking MenuUninstaller, which puts the uninstall option in the single most logical place.
Contributing Editor Rick Broida writes about business and consumer technology. Ask for help with your PC hassles at hasslefree@pcworld.com, or try the treasure trove of helpful folks in the PC World Community Forums.