Hi people. I've got a (silly?) question. Somewhere on this forum I read about people using a different installer than Windows Installer that remembers everything that's installed when you want to install an application on your computer. So it remembers registry changes, new folders, etc., you probably know what I mean.
Now, I've searched all over this forum and Google, and I'm not able to find it! Could anyone please tell me what kind of program(s) this/these are?
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What's the name for that install-monitor-application?
January 24, 2008 - 4:54pm
#1
What's the name for that install-monitor-application?
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RegShot is open source and can do this, but be sure to get 1.8.2, the 2.x version removed the ability to watch folders
InstallRite is freeware, has an ugly interface, but works really well. Hasn't been updated in a long time though.
The developer formerly known as ZGitRDun8705
InCtrl5 is another one (google).
RegShot takes snapshots and tracks all the changes to your pc, I don't think it does any uninstall procedure itself. It can also be used to just track changes during usage of a program, not necessarily during installation. I use it with JauntePE to portablize some of my apps.
how about MyUninstaller? from nirsoft.net
or TotalUninstall. like InstallRite and InstallWatch, it can do installation and uninstallation, but last freeware version is more than 2 years old.
http://www.321download.com/LastFreeware/page11.html#Total
edit added: I think I mis-understood the original post. He does seem to be looking for a monitor, not an uninstaller. My apologies.
MyUninstaller is still a neat little tool, though.
Actually I am looking for an uninstaller!
Sorry should've been more clear, but all of your post helped me a lot, thank you. I couldn't find the posts on this forum, and didn't know what keywords to look for (here and on Google) but thanks for your replies!
I've been pretty disappointed with programs that you can point at an install, ask them to deduce all the dependencies and data, and rely on them to get rid of everything for you. Most of the "uninstallers" out there simply use the same tool as Windows' "Add / Remove Programs". Admittedly, modern installers do keep a log of what has been installed, and it is a lot easier to read that log than to try to figure it out from scratch.
If that doesn't get rid of a program, it likely means the designer of the program doesn't want you to get rid of her program, or else she was incompetent. In either case, the thing you'll need is likely to be more along the lines of a forensic analysis. Autoruns from Sysinternals can help you find programs that launch automatically and disable them (and in the process reveal where the programs hook into the operating system). There are also programs that can help you delete files that seem to be locked all the time.
The best aftermarket uninstall comes from a program that watches another program being installed; that's a more direct way to figure out what is there and how to remove it. That's why regshot comes to mind; it can at least tell you what files and registry entries need to be cleaned up, even if it can't do it.
MC
Then it can do a thorough job of uninstalling the application.
RevoUninstaller is a new freeware app that is gathering a little fan club.
It scans "after the fact", so is probably not as thorough as TotalUninstall.
I've used Revo, it is not very thorough, and has a nice little "feature" where when you try to uninstall Revo itself, through add/remove programs or using a different uninstall tool, Revo leaves A LOT of stuff behind, including an entry in add/remove programs.
The developer formerly known as ZGitRDun8705
I was just about to try it, so now I won't. I already get enough debris left behind from uninstalling things.
I did find Revo's home-page Features list to be just a little vague.
I messaged to inquire about their "Secure Delete" algorithm, and they use a one-pass overwrite with random data. Not so _very_ "secure".
Too bad, because the interface looked nicely efficient, and the advertised feature-set is good.
I've used Revo, it is not very thorough, and has a nice little "feature" where when you try to uninstall Revo itself, through add/remove programs or using a different uninstall tool, Revo leaves A LOT of stuff behind, including an entry in add/remove programs.I uninstalled RevoUninstaller with the portable version of itself just to see if I could...
... well turns out yes you can and indeed it does leave information behind but it is NOT a lot in fact it is one file. I'll install it again and use the portable for proof if you want but it doesn't leave that much...besides why would you want to uninstall it, its purpose is to be there to uninstall other stuff which doesn't really make any sense.
However, if you use the portable version of Revo then it doesn't install anything anyway and therefore nothing to uninstall.
I do plan to make a portable apps installer for Revo as well even though I can't post it directly on the forums I will make it available.
Don't Rush Me
OS: Ubuntu 12.04 (64bit)
I look forward to seeing a PA version of this as I currently use the portable version and quite like it. One thing is the above comments were made at the start of the year so Revo is quite likely to have improved since then.
PortableApps.com Advocate