Geek Uninstaller is a free program for the Windows operating system that cleans up after the removal of software on PCs to remove leftovers.
I think we can all agree that the default Windows way of uninstalling programs is not overly thorough.
It happens quite often that you end with file, empty folder or Registry setting leftovers after the removal of a software in Windows. While this usually is not such a big issue, it may not be desired at all, especially if the leftover files are big, or if you have decided to install an older or newer version of the program, and the leftovers may interfere with the new installation.
Programs that clean up after software has been uninstalled on the system come to the rescue. Popular programs in this niche are IOBit Uninstaller and Revo Uninstaller among others.
Geek Uninstaller
Geek Uninstaller is a new program that enters the niche. It scans the system for leftovers after software uninstallations, just like Revo Uninstaller and IOBit Uninstaller do.
The program displays all installed applications in a minimal interface, listing program names, size on the disk and the installation date in a list that scrolls. You may click on a column header to sort the listing by size or installation date instead of name.
Programs can be removed from the system with a double-click. This triggers the software’s native uninstaller first, before the program starts its scan for leftovers on the system, offering to delete those to complete the uninstallation.
All selected files, folders and Registry keys will be deleted with a click on Finish. Here it is also possible to uncheck items to keep them on the computer.
If you are looking for a program, you can just start typing its name to filter the list of installed software.
Instead of running a standard removal, uninstalls can also be forced. This is done with a right-click on the program in the list, and the selection of Force Removal. This does not run the standard uninstaller, but only the leftover cleanup. Useful if the default uninstaller is broken, which can be the case if the software folder was deleted manually on the system.
The right-click menu contains additional options, including the removal of the entry, the display of the program’s Registry settings and installation folder, and link to the program website, if available. It is furthermore possible to export the list of installed applications to an HTML file.
Verdict
The core functionality that Geek Uninstaller provides is comparable to that of other software uninstallers. It even offers some features that the free Revo Uninstaller version is not offering. This includes the HTML reporting option, and full 64-bit operating system support.
There is one caveat though, that is not really understandable. The website states that the current version of GeekUninstaller is only valid unti June 2012. It does not mention what will happen afterwards. Will the developer release an update so that users who have downloaded and installed the program can continue using it? Or will it turn commercial, or even be abandoned? If that does not scare you away, you can download the latest version from the developer website.
Update: Geek Uninstaller is provided as a free and Pro version now. The free version is for personal use only, and lacks the following features that you find only in the pro version:
- Real-time installation monitoring (which improves the removal)
- Remove multiple programs in batch operations.
- Manage startup programs.