Software Installers Summary: iobit vs ashampoo vs revo - Productivity - 2021 Review
Today you can find a lot of software that helps you to remove programs and clean up the remaining files, folders, and registry settings. In theory, this is a good thing, as it helps to remove some of the flowers on your Windows computer. But are these solutions really effective in removing all traces? To find out, I tried some of the popular apps in this area, both free and commercial. Let's see what I find out.
Approach to installed software
There are two main points about carrying a software product that is related to uninstalling other software.
Run the original installer of a program first, scan the locations commonly used by applications to store files and registry settings. Remove items that weren't removed, and remove them.
Monitor the installation of a program, keep track of the files, folders, and registry keys you've created, and delete everything based on this initial snapshot when installing them.
I chose to try IObit Uninstaller (version 2.0), Shampoo Uninstaller (version 4.2), and Revo Uninstaller Pro (version 2.5.5) for three reasons.
These are just some of the goal-setting shareware that you can use.
They represent two ways to remove the software from a system. Can take
We've received requests from our readers who want to know more about these solutions and how good (or not) they are.
IObit Uninstaller uses only the first approach to remove software, while Ashampoo Uninstaller uses only the second approach. Review Uninstaller Pro is a good third alternative because you can use both methods.
I guess how well they work by asking installers to remove the following applications: Firefox, Skype, Google Chrome, Panda Internet Security 2012, Adobe Reader X, and LibreOffice. I also created a manual desktop shortcut for Panda Internet Security 2012, see. That it will be removed.
While testing IObit Uninstaller, I installed all of these applications, except Panda Internet Security 2012, to speed up the installation process with NineTight (a solution that automates most used applications). ) Used. When I tried the Ashampoo and Revo solution, I learned that using Nine Night doesn't work so well, so I used both Nine Night Installer (when it was realized) and Individual Installer in both of these programs. ۔ Installations performed with default settings.
All of these programs were once started and used to prepare your general user files and settings. In addition, Panda Internet Security 2012 has been updated with the latest malware signatures.
When installing Firefox and Google Chrome, I deliberately left user data and customizations behind to check the uninstall functionality of these programs to see if the installers would remove it.
To evaluate the performance of these installers, I scanned the computer with a CC liner to identify the wrong registry keys that the installer left after finishing their work. Then, I manually searched for places like the rest of the files and folders: program files, program data, and user folders (desktop, start menu, all user and app data). To find out if Panda Internet Security 2012 has been successfully removed, I also checked the list of Windows services and confirmed that Panda's services are still visible.
IObit Uninstaller 2.0
I have never used IOBit applications before and I must say that the experience of working with IObit Uninstaller was a pleasant surprise. First of all, you don't need to install this program, just run it. In addition, it is the thinnest product of the three, which is only 1.2 MB in size. It makes it very portable and easy to stay with you at all times.
The method adopted by iObit in Installer is very secure: when removing an application, it creates a restore point beforehand, to ensure that it can come back in case of failure. You can then run the original uninstall of this app, wait for it to finish, and then scan a series of common locations used to store data through applications if it has any remaining folders, files And when the registry keys are found, it notifies you and gives you the option to delete the item you want from that list.
It's easy for anyone to follow this procedure with or without system files and registry keys. Also, the IObit installer does not recommend deleting files that are related to other applications or Windows itself. If you choose to delete everything it is suggested to delete, it will not interfere with your operating system.
It also means that it will not delete everything that the app has left behind. C. Cleaner identified some of the registry keys that were left. Not a good thing, however, just a few keys like installer references for Library Office, an old software key for Panda Internet Security 2012, and some missing MUIs for Adobe Reader, Skype, and LibreOffice (multilingual user interface) ) references. All of these keys can help make the Windows registry a little bigger than necessary, but they do not adversely affect the system.
As for the files and folders, I like the fact that IObit Uninstaller scanned my desktop, identified, and deleted the shortcut I created for Panda Internet Security 2012. It was the only piece of software that did that. The weak point of IObit Uninstaller is that it does not scan or delete files generated by common user locations such as applications such as: "C: \ Users \ Username \ AppData \ Local", "C: \ Users \ Username \ AppData \ Roaming "or" C: \ Users \ All Users ". Deleting folders created by applications in these locations is generally not effective because they primarily save user files and user settings.
One of the things I find confusing about IObit Uninstaller is that it contains Windows updates, which is why you think it might be helpful to remove them. However, on my test system, it does not list any updates and I am unable to use it for this purpose. This is a good thing in the end though, as I do not recommend installing Windows Update on third-party software. If you do, your risk of interrupting your Windows installation is greatly increased.
IObit Uninstaller also has a feature called Force Uninstall, which is also present in the Review Uninstaller Pro. The functionality is almost identical between the two products. However, I have not been able to test it on broken software to test its performance. I recommend caution when installing power. Probably. , You will be advised to delete files or registry keys that are not related to the application whose traces you are trying to remove.
Ashampoo Uninstaller 4.2
The user interface of Shampoo Uninstaller 4.2 is very colorful. You have access to the options for uninstalling the software, but also other tools that are not necessarily related to this topic, such as Internet cleaner, removing duplicate files and temporary files. " File delete ", etc. Since I was interested in just testing the install functionality, I didn't give up on all the other features available.
Ashampoo In-Installer chooses to monitor the installation of the programs first to help you remove them later. When an installation begins, Ashampoo appears and tells you to wait until it scans your system. If you have some partitions on a large hard drive, you plug in a USB stick and an external hard drive, as I did, ready to wait, because Ashampoo insists on scanning these installers everything does. Upon completion, it notifies you that it will continue with the installation of the application.
After installing the application, you will be prompted to run it once. The Shampoo Uninstaller then performs another scan to identify changes to your system. If you are not patient then you will not like it.
I did not like this behavior from the moment I saw it. Throughout my career, I have worked on creating custom installers for a variety of businesses and consumer software, and many bells rang when I first saw the Ashampoo installer in action. Unfortunately, all my concerns have been allayed, as this approach only works for simple applications that do not require system reboots to work and do not have other software installed.
It paralyzed my Windows installation and I started getting weird messages.
With the removal of Panda Internet Security 2012, things got really dirty. I started getting errors that Ashampoo Uninstaller can't delete some files. The only option was to ignore them and continue the process of removal. Once I had everything ready and I logged in I was in for a terrible surprise!
Previously, Ashampoo Uninstaller was filling my screen with errors that can no longer work. Apparently at some point while deleting all the software he had deleted the files for which he needed to work.
Then, Windows told me that Panda Internet Security 2012 had stopped working. Apparently, most of his files were still in the file files, his services were not deleted but it appears that work has not started.
My system was severely damaged and there were errors everywhere. And that would cost me "only. 49.99".
Review Uninstaller Pro 2.5.5
When I tried the Revo Uninstaller Pro, I started to feel good again. Changes were needed after the Ashampoo install experience.
Like Ashampoo, the Revo Uninstaller Pro app offers additional tools beyond the scope of removals, such as browser cleaners, Microsoft Office cleaners, proof removers, and more. However, I only tested the functionality to remove apps.
However, unlike Shampoo, it allows you to choose how you want to handle the removal process. You can only detect a program after it has been installed, which means you can only remove it using the installation log.
When installing an application monitored by Review Uninstaller Pro, you are warned about one important aspect: Do not run other installation files, programs, or anything else during the installation of the program. It speaks volumes about the limitations of this approach. If you are going to install a more complex application, such as a computer game, office suite, business application, you should not track the installation and keep a record of it.
Still, I asked Revo Uninstaller Pro to oversee the installation of Panda Internet Security 2012 to see if it works better than Ashampoo. I also did a separate test from the Revo Uninstaller Pro to monitor the installation of this security package.
When uninstalling applications that are not being tracked, the Revo Uninstaller Pro first creates a system restore point, then backs up the registry, and then starts the uninstall function of the program you want to remove. Do It really helps to make sure you are safe if something breaks. Once working, it performs a scan for which you can set its aggression and suggest that you delete the remaining files, folders, and registry keys that identify it. ۔
Be careful not to select and do advanced scans, as you are more likely to delete files or registry keys that belong to other applications or Windows itself. Safe and moderate scans gave good results and recommended removing items that were only for applications I had previously installed.
When performing a tracked uninstall of a program, Review Uninstaller Pro removes everything included in the first installation log. Then, it shows that there is some data about the program that you installed that was not removed because it was created after the installation. That's really true. I was glad to see that Revo Uninstaller Pro realized this and asked me to install one.
For example, LibreOffice is distributed as a self-extracting archive. Ashampoo Uninstaller detected the self-installing file as the installer and asked me to log an installation for it. It then detected and scanned the Library Office installation as a separate installer, as well as other dependencies such as installations such as Microsoft Visual C ++ Redistributable, which are essential for the Labor Office. Suddenly my screen was filled with windows and messages from the Ashampoo installer, which was scanning the system and then asking me to log in to the installation that occurred. The biggest problem was that he couldn't keep track of which app had the installed log. There was no way of knowing which one it was and Eshampo spared no effort to trace me. I ended up with three install logs and it wasn't clear if I saved them correctly.
This is a big problem because a lot of applications are distributed as self-extracting archives. Also, computer games in particular install third-party software needed to run games (such as DirectX Updates or Microsoft Visual C ++ distributable). Ashampoo Uninstaller will not be able to deal with them easily.
Also, because of this approach, you should never use software like Nintendo to install applications. Ashampoo Uninstaller will treat them as an application that is being installed.
While installing Panda Internet Security 2012, I encountered another major problem, which required restarting. Ashampoo Uninstaller cannot easily delete the installation record because scanning does not resume after it has run again. So, I had to change my system to a state before installing Panda Internet Security 2012 and then save the installation log before restarting. It was bad to start because Ashampoo was unable to get all the changes made after restarting the installer.
The problem persisted when I asked Ashampoo Uninstaller to remove the one I just installed. First, if an installation log has not been created for an application, Ashampoo Uninstaller simply asks you to remove it manually, using its default uninstall functionality. They!
If you have an installation log file, you must upload it, and then the removal process will begin. This shampoo is equivalent to an installer that manually removes all files, folders, and registry keys found during the installation process.
With small and simple apps like Skype, removal works seamlessly. However, removing LibreOffice made things difficult. The install log that I thought was for Library Office removed something else. After that, I uninstalled all the applications installed by Library Office, using all the installation logs currently installed. Unfortunately, I ended up working with LibreOffice on my computer and the remover that installed it, and parts of the Microsoft Visual C ++ Redistributable that were removed. At some point during the removal process, the Ashampoo installer suggested that I remove some unknown files found in "C: \ Windows \ Installer". I was really confused at this point and just let the shampoo installer do what was recommended.
The problem with modern installations is that you really need to know your stuff. You are asked to choose what you want to eliminate and some decisions are difficult to make, even by experts. For example, Review Uninstaller Pro asks you to decide whether to delete some registry keys related to Windows services. Even if you know the Windows registry well, it's hard to make a good decision. So, I just removed the things I believed were safe to remove.
Once I completed the modern installation, I was not surprised to find that Panda Internet Security 2012 was not fully installed. I didn't receive any error messages, Panda Services was successfully removed, but some files were still in the program files and their icon appeared in the taskbar notification area. Clicking on it did not return any results. The interface never started, but at least I was able to use my computer peacefully.
Review Uninstaller Pro has another feature that is interesting when removing malicious software: it's called Force Uninstall. Point to the folder where the application is installed, or its central implementation. Then Review Uninstaller Pro looks for this uninstaller for this application. If it is found, run the same procedure as you normally would, back up and restore the system first, and all other steps. If it cannot find the installer, it scans the Windows registry for the keys pointing to this folder and file and any similar key and then recommends removing them, and Deletes files and subfolders further. This can be useful when trying to remove some corrupted apps. However, since the apps I tried weren't really broken, I can't evaluate the performance of this functionality.
Regarding the results of unmarked applications, they were very similar to the iObit In Installer: Review In Installer Pro does not scan or delete files generated by applications in common user locations such as: "C: \ Users \ Username \ AppData \ Local "," C: \ Users \ Username \ AppData \ Roaming "or" C: \ Users \ All Users ". Unlike IObit, it does not look to remove shortcuts on your desktop that you could manually create.
On the registry side, the results were again the same as in IObit Uninstaller: only a few keys remained, such as Panda Internet Security 2012 and outdated software key for Mozilla, and some missing MUI (multilingual user) interface). Skype References All of these keys can help make the Windows registry a little bigger than necessary, but they do not adversely affect the system.
Is the winner;
Let's try to rate the solutions we've tried and see which ones will be suggested and when:
IObit Uninstaller - I think you've already figured out that this software is my best option to uninstall apps on Windows. It is the smallest, portable, free and most secure use. Its simplicity and lack of "additional features" is actually a strength: removing applications with IObit Uninstaller works fine and does no harm to your system.
Review Uninstaller Pro - If you're interested in additional functionality, provided it's a free choice, it's a good choice. However, the ability to track app installs, and then delete them based on your created logs, doesn't work well for complex apps that install additional software I get frequent updates (like security solutions)). This seriously undermines the value of the feature, as people may be tempted to use it to get rid of this complex software, leaving many traces behind. However, if you are not interested in additional features, I recommend the free version of the Revo Uninstaller. The functionality it includes works just like the Pro version and you get reasonable and secure results when you uninstall applications.
Ashampoo Uninstaller - Disappointing software. It seems to be stuck in a different era of computing, offering features that will work just fine for removing simple apps. Due to the amount of frustration and anxiety I have, I can't understand why Ashampoo bans people from using it instead of using it for free and improving customer feedback.
I hope this comparison has been helpful in making informed decisions.
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