Program uninstallers for Windows 9x?

[HardDriv'n]

Is there a uninstaller program like 'REVO Uninstaller' for Windows 9x systems.

I need something that will scan/remove a program's leftover registry entries, or files on the HD.

Is there anything like this?

[loblo]

InstallWatch: http://www.brothersoft.com/installwatch-9407.html

[HardDriv'n]

InstallWatch: http://www.brothersoft.com/installwatch-9407.html

I've noticed other software like 'Zsoft Uninstaller' that does this, but the overall question remains.

Is there a program to remove registry/file leftovers from an installed program in Win9x?

[bristols]

Is there a program to remove registry/file leftovers from an installed program in Win9x?

Free Uninstaller 1.1: http://www.pazera-software.com/products/free-uninstaller/

More like what you had in mind?

[loblo]

InstallWatch: http://www.brothersoft.com/installwatch-9407.html

I've noticed other software like 'Zsoft Uninstaller' that does this, but the overall question remains.

Is there a program to remove registry/file leftovers from an installed program in Win9x?

What exactly are you after? Explain the scenario please.

Edited September 24, 2010 by loblo

[CharlotteTheHarlot]

Well there certainly are a few programs that try to do this but most just really duplicate the Add/Remove CPL applet. There is Add Remove Plus and Nirsoft has one called MyUninstaller. Too much guesswork for this to be possible and accurate IMHO.

If you want to do it perfectly, try this on a spare/test computer. It is very simple too!

(1) Save a full registry export: RegDump_0.reg

(2) Save a full DIR listing of the Hard Disk: DIR C:\ /s /a >FileList_0.txt

(3) Now properly install your program from its setup.exe or whatever it is called.

(4) Now execute and test your program. The point here is to use all its utilities and functions, configurations and options.

(5) Save a full registry export: RegDump_1.reg

(6) Save a full DIR listing of the Hard Disk: DIR C:\ /s /a >FileList_1.txt

--- NOTE: we'll call this Checkpoint-A ---

(7) Now properly uninstall your program from Add/Remove.

(8) Save a full registry export: RegDump_2.reg

(9) Save a full DIR listing of the Hard Disk: DIR C:\ /s /a >FileList_2.txt

--- NOTE: we'll call this Checkpoint-B ---

Use WinDiff to compare the files. The GUI lets you File | Compare Files then select them: RegDump_0.reg, then: RegDump_1.reg. Or from a DOS command window:

WINDIFF.EXE RegDump_0.reg RegDump_1.reg

WINDIFF.EXE FileList_0.txt FileList_1.txt

WINDIFF.EXE RegDump_0.reg RegDump_2.reg

WINDIFF.EXE FileList_0.txt FileList_2.txt

While in WinDiff press F8 to jump forward (F7 backwards) through all the changes. Copy/Paste the differences into a text file for safekeeping. Press F1 for help, particularly to understand the color scheme identifying NEW files and registry keys versus MODIFIED files and registry keys.

Notice at Checkpoint-A, the results will give you all of the registry changes and all of the File System changes that your program uses in total. Collect these for a complete manual uninstall.

Notice at Checkpoint-B, the results will give you any straggler registry changes and any straggler File System changes that your program left in after a proper uninstall. Collect these to just find the left-over remainders.

This works on all Windows versions. The only things that this method cannot find are:

* Any disk tattoos made outside the File System proper, that is directly writing to sectors before the data area in the first cylinder (these can be obtained by also saving snapshots of the first 95 sectors of the drive and comparing them in a binary viewer like UltraEdit for example).

* One other way a tricky program can hide stuff. They can place files in a hidden sub-directory which does not get seen by DIR on Win9x. There is a free patcher called DOS-FIX.EXE which makes a tiny change to the COMMAND.COM file(s). It is well worth the effort to patch COMMAND.COM if you are in the habit of making and comparing HDD filelists.

[HardDriv'n]

I need to remove all traces of a program that has already been installed. Similar to what REVO Uninstaller can do for later Windows.

Looking on several different sites, they say the older versions should be compatible, but I get an 'administrator' error message when attempting to start them.

[loblo]

That shouldn't be too difficult to do by hand after eventually a bit of monitoring of what the program does when you run it with a task manager and sysinternals registry monitor and file monitor.

And if it's the "remove leftovers of already uninstalled programs you are after" I am not sure this can work well at all...

[jaclaz]

I need to remove all traces of a program that has already been installed.

If it's not a trade secret , can you name it (including it's EXACT version)?

And also post some details of the actual problem you are having?

It is possible that there is a "specific" solution for the "specific" problem you have (completely UNconnected with an "universal" uninstaller for Win9x programs).

Or, if you prefer, it is possible that you are "slipping" on a chocolate covered banana :

http://homepages.tesco.net/J.deBoynePollard/FGA/put-down-the-chocolate-covered-banana.html

jaclaz

[Svenne]

Ccleaner runs great on Windows 98: http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download

[Jolaes]

Well, you have got quite a few suggestions so far.

Still, if you are not satisfied with free or cheap commercial solutions,

nor in the mood for the "typing, diving, going in again" wizardry presented above

might give a try to:

Your Uninstaller! 2010:

http://www.ursoftware.com/

(MIGHT need KernelEx)

There is another one, Ashampoo, which works quite thouroughly; the price is that this is achieved by making registry snapshots before each program installation, and instead of a simple Windows uninstall, the registry state is restored to the snapshot when you want to get rid of the proggie. Resident and bulky but no traces in the registry at least.

[HardDriv'n]

...

also post some details of the actual problem you are having?

Cleaning up unnecessary registry entries, and leftover files.

There is another one, Ashampoo, which works quite thouroughly; the price is that this is achieved by making registry snapshots before each program installation, and instead of a simple Windows uninstall, the registry state is restored to the snapshot when you want to get rid of the proggie. Resident and bulky but no traces in the registry at least.

Like several other programs mentioned in the thread, this would be preventative, but not very helpful after the fact. I guess the answer is, 'no, there isn't a program like this for Win9x'.

I'll probably end up re-installing, and using one of the above mentioned programs 'before' installing any new software. Although..., this wont cover any changes made to the registry by a program outside of it's initial installation.

Thanks for suggestions.

[loblo]

Like several other programs mentioned in the thread, this would be preventative, but not very helpful after the fact. I guess the answer is, 'no, there isn't a program like this for Win9x'.

Well, there isn't a program like that for any platform. If you believe that REVO can actually do what it claims, eg, cleaning up leftovers of uninstalled programs whose installation has not been monitored, you're just dreaming...

I'll probably end up re-installing, and using one of the above mentioned programs 'before' installing any new software. Although..., this wont cover any changes made to the registry by a program outside of it's initial installation.

Of course it will certainly cover this if you run the program before making the second snapshot in case it doesn't create all its registry keys during install.