Free Uninstaller test: What do IObit, Revo and Co. do?

In the IObit Uninstaller, you will find the menu bar on the left and the three dashes of the “Hamburger menu” on the top. In the context menu, change the view


Disappointing results


For our comparison, we have set up a hard drive with Windows 7. Then we installed several programs like a virus checker, Visual Studio 2010, IrfanView, MiniTool Partition Wizard Free 9.1 and others. The five selected free uninstaller users had to uninstall the extensive Microsoft Office 2010, 7-Zip and the Abbyy screenshot reader.


Conclusion


Before installing, we had determined the oldest date in the registry with the RegScanner from NirSoft (RS). After that, we performed a registry scan with the RegScanner and saved the result. We also used the DirFileScanner (DFS) to record the existing files on the hard disk for the same time period. Both results showed the VOR files. In order to ensure that the same conditions were met for each uninstaller, we created a hard disk copy that was then restored to the same configuration at the end of each test.


Lesetipp: Windows Backup and restore


We started the test run of the Uninstaller programs and the Windows internal uninstaller. With RS and DFS, the next files were created. After restoring the saved partitions, the next uninstaller was searched.


Since the test candidates all access the same Windows routine, the result was the same for all. Only IObit and Nirsoft found something more when the user chose the full scan. Especially disappointing: we had created for each of the three programs to be uninstalled additional shortcuts on desktop, in tascheck and start menu. The shortcuts on the desktop and in the tasklist remained as empty references and had to be removed by hand. The overall test result was unsatisfactory, the differences were small. Only the user interfaces differ.


The IObit Uninstaller is distinguished by its modern design. The surface is clear. In the standard view, a detail list appears, which can be changed to the symbol view. User guidance is clear and intuitive. There is a clean-up function for program reminders and a file e-mailer as extras.


Lesetipp: HDD and SSD completely and safely delete


The surface of the Revo Uninstaller makes a clean impression. Icons in a menu bar are similar to the menu design of Microsoft Office. It is only after you have memorized what is hidden behind the menu symbols that the operation is easier. In the beginning is somewhat scary is the hunting mode, a moving icon on the desktop that looks like a target. This symbol can be used to move icons on the desktop.


Free uninstall tools bring almost nothing. The tested free programs in the core do not make much more than the Windows Uninstaller, which invokes the respective uninstall routines of the programs. Somewhat deeper clean only IObit and Nirsoft. And except for IObit and Revo, the other programs require a lot of training. Microsoft's Uninstaller is basically enough.