This is a very good program, but it often does not actually remove EVERYTHING an installed app does. To test it, I used TU to install an app. Then I uninstalled it using TU (plus, I had to manually remove some folders). When I installed that same app again, it "remembered" such things as the install location and some other settings. How could this be if TU really 'TOTALLY' uninstalled it? Apparently, it left something behind.
Also, as you have more programs, the scan time increases; at one point it was taking over 15 minutes to create the snapshot, which I found a serious barrier to continued use of TU.
If you don't have a lot of programs, or if 100% removal of installed apps is not an issue, then TU is an excellent choice. But I install and test some 20-30 programs a month, and for me, it's only 'almost' total.
Review details
- Interface
- Features
- Ease of use
- Value
- Recommend to a friend? Yes
- Posted Jul 21, 2006 for v3.70
I previously used the freeware v2.34, but v3.32 is far superior (much better interface, much faster), and is well worth the purchase cost.
I use it mainly to verify that an installation did not damage anything. Frequently a badly written installation program will replace shared files with older versions, or add duplicate files (e.g. search your hard drive for mfc42.dll), or mess up some registry entries, or install unneeded components (e.g. language files). After an installation, I always read through the Total Uninstall log, and for about 30% of the installations I find something that needs to be fixed manually.
I have used its logs to trace the source of a DLL that is problematic; this can identify software that should be removed to improve the PC's stability.
On the few occasions that I have run the uninstaller, it has worked flawlessly, and has often removed additional components that were missed by the application's built-in uninstaller.
Review details
- Interface
- Features
- Ease of use
- Value
- Recommend to a friend? Yes
- Posted Jul 01, 2005 for v3.32