CNET Editors' review
Portable uninstallers rank as some of the most useful tools to have on a USB drive, especially if you're the person who helps technophobic friends and family with their forehead-slappers. We looked at IObit Uninstaller, which is portable freeware. Among its advantages are the ability to find and eliminate leftover files and its Toolbars Uninstallation Module, which targets those pesky adware toolbars that sneak into your system via cleverly configured installers and setup wizards. These toolbars can be a royal pain in the cache, and a free tool that gives them the heave-ho sounded like a winner.
As portable freeware, IObit Uninstaller requires no installation itself but runs when you click its program file. A compact, colorful interface quickly populated with our system's installed programs, displaying the size and installation date of each. A useful selection of sorting options runs along the left-hand side, letting users select All Programs, Toolbars, Recently Installed, Large Programs, Rarely Used, and Windows Updates. Commands are labeled Uninstall, Forced Uninstall, Manage, and Clean PC, though the last entry merely accesses another of the developer's downloads. Under Manage, we could manage the log, export the application list, and view the restore point, while the Uninstall command offered Standard and Advanced modes; we selected the latter. Anxious to try the toolbar zapper, we clicked Toolbars and selected two of the four entries, the other two being Firefox add-ons we wanted to keep. We clicked Uninstall, and a dialog appeared indicating that IObit was creating a system restore point, uninstalling the selection, and optionally scanning the Registry for leftover items. We opted to initiate the scan after the selected programs were removed. Including the restore point and pop-up notifications, the process takes a bit longer than the standard Windows add/remove program tool, but then it does more than Windows does as well. We also found that we had to close browser pages that solicit user feedback when a program is removed to allow the uninstaller to proceed in a couple of instances, so be on the lookout for that.
IOBit Uninstaller is one of the most powerful uninstallers we've seen in some time. It takes longer than other tools of its type, but it's thorough. Unwanted toolbars are harder to get rid of than bedbugs in a cheap motel. Just being able to throw those bums out earns IOBit Uninstaller a place in our toolkit.
Publisher's Description
From IObit:
Integrated with up to date uninstall technology, IObit Uninstaller helps you remove unneeded programs easily even when Windows "Add or Remove Programs" fails. Besides removing unwanted applications, it also scans and removes leftovers easily. The most attractive part is that it makes a restore image before every uninstallation. With the new added Toolbars Uninstallation Module, IObit Uninstaller helps you remove unwanted toolbars thoroughly.
What's new in this version: Version 2.1 added a "Search" feature in "Forced Uninstall".
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All versions:
4.1 starsout of 120 votes
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Current version:
4.6 starsout of 21 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Effective in removing program left-overs"
Version: IObit Uninstaller 2.1
Pros
Assures complete removal
Cons
Sometimes removes too much
Summary
Requires discretion when deciding how to remove something
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"NICE UNINSTALLER"
Version: IObit Uninstaller 2.1
Pros
you must try it!!
Cons
careful with advance uninstall
Summary
will keep using it..
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"The best uninstaller around."
Version: IObit Uninstaller 2.1
Pros
- Batch processing
- Removes registry entries left behind
- Has a Silent option
- Creates a Restore point to prevent accidentsCons
The limit of 1/x as x approaches infinity.
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"Does a great job of cleaning up the pieces left behind."
Version: IObit Uninstaller 2.1
Pros
Great at uninstaller and very simple
Cons
None that I have found.
Summary
Super program.
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"IObit Uninstaller 2.1"
Version: IObit Uninstaller 2.1
Pros
Excellent Program, Could not remove left behind files from (Phet)
University of Colorada. Windows kept saying could not remove completely, but IObit " COULD " !!!Cons
The only con was that I had'nt crossed over this program sooner!!!
Summary
I will tell family and friends about this product.
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"Best uninstaller i tried so far"
Version: IObit Uninstaller 2.1
Pros
Free, no need for installation, leftover scan is quick and less likely to erase useful stuff than revo.
Cons
nothing. Is my new go to uninstaller...
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"This is a smart and useful tools."
Version: IObit Uninstaller 2.1
Pros
very easy to use for everyone.
Cons
there is no problem,
Summary
Great tools.
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"as good as Revo"
Version: IObit Uninstaller 2.1
Pros
very easy to use
Cons
non found yet
Summary
will continue using
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"So far so Good!"
Version: IObit Uninstaller 2.1
Pros
It appears to be doing it's job and doing it well.
Cons
None that I can see yet.
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"Great program--very thorough"
Version: IObit Uninstaller 2.1
Pros
Uninstalls programs that have Windows uninstaller broken or inoperative.
Cons
Need to be careful when doing advanced uninstall that you only 'grab' the intended items. Can always use restore point to 'back out' of any errors.
Summary
IObit products are solid--and this is another example.
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