How to properly uninstall a program in Windows

[BillyCarpenter]

Instead of explaining it, I'll post a video of why you shouldn't use the built in uninstaller in windows and use a program called revouninstaller. Download link at bottom.

https://www.revouninstaller.com/revo-uninstaller-free-download/

[slimslob]

I've been using it for years.

[BillyCarpenter]

I've been using it for years.

I'm always late to the party but I blame you this time for not sharing the information with me. lol. Kidding, of course.

[rthonpm]

Call me sceptical more than anything. What he claims about Revo in terms of Windows isn't entirely accurate: all the uninstalling process can touch is what the developer of the software writes in it to do and there are already tools in Windows that will clear out more of the crud left behind by poorly written software. WMIC, storage cleanup, and even DISM can do a lot more low level cleanup through the OS than any third-party tool.

Also, stay out of the registry. I've seen people break more Windows installs with registry cleaners than I've seen cleaners fix an issue.

[BillyCarpenter]

Call me sceptical more than anything. What he claims about Revo in terms of Windows isn't entirely accurate: all the uninstalling process can touch is what the developer of the software writes in it to do and there are already tools in Windows that will clear out more of the crud left behind by poorly written software. WMIC, storage cleanup, and even DISM can do a lot more low level cleanup through the OS than any third-party tool.

Also, stay out of the registry. I've seen people break more Windows installs with registry cleaners than I've seen cleaners fix an issue.

I never doubt what you say so I take you at your word. I've gotten into the practice of installing a fresh copy of Windows about every 6 months or so and that seems to keep my PC running at peak performance.

[rthonpm]

Outside of drastic issues, I don't do that many clean installs of Windows beyond repurposing equipment. I have a standard list of software that gets installed on my computers and not much else goes on them. Drivers come from the OEM software, either Dell Command Update or Lenovo Commercial Vantage. Software either updates itself or I use PDQ Deploy to push out new versions. Partially, you can keep machines running better is to purchase good equipment (business class machines) with either a clean Windows install out of the box or doing a clean install yourself: so many consumer machines are nothing more than bloatware with Windows underneath.

For testing I have a few VMs I keep around, as well as Windows Sandbox for fast evaluation. The closest I do in terms of regular clean up is keep Storage Sense enabled and a quarterly component store cleanup.

[tonerhead]

I've always preached to my customers and friends that one computer doesn't do the trick anymore. One computer you guard against everything, only use known good and secure software. Do not install/uninstall anymore than necessary. This is the computer you use to keep your records, pay your online bills, emails, AND THAT'S ALL!!! It's really tempting to pay your bills and then try to find a chocolate chip cookie recipe on the same computer(it's ok, NO IT'S NOT) If you are going to do any internet browsing or deep diving, trying out unknown software, visiting streaming sites, etc this is for the I don't give a fxxx computer. I have suggested Chromebooks for this and just powerwash it when you are done after each session. I've also preached that computers are for OS and software, nothing else. You do not store anything on a computer, especially with how cheap flash drives and portable hdd have gotten. I'm tired of people crying my hdd crashed or windows crashed and I had all of my pictures on the pc.

[bsm2]

Instead of explaining it, I'll post a video of why you shouldn't use the built in uninstaller in windows and use a program called revouninstaller. Download link at bottom.

https://www.revouninstaller.com/revo-uninstaller-free-download/

Nope