Today, under my “software microscope” I had the temerity to come across a free program for permanently deleting files and folders called Alternate File Shredder.
Is it as good and reliable at dispersing various computer files into atoms, without the possibility of their recovery by any means, methods and special programs, as the manufacturers claim? Let's check.
Several times on the pages of this site I have described to you special recovery programs accidentally deleted files. With their help it was possible to return data even after formatting the disk.
But what if the task is to completely delete a file or folder, without a single chance of recovery (by bad uncles and evil aunts)... so that no Recuva, Hetman Partition Recovery or PhotoDOCTOR can resurrect them? Are there really no such programs?
We launch the program and specify files or folders for secure deletion...
The "number of iterations" is the number of passes. On SSD drives, I do not recommend abusing this figure (one pass is enough).
Click on the “Destroy files” button and confirm complete deletion...
(Oops, screenshot with deleting another file)
...let's go submit documents to any spy organization in the world...
We check the reliability of data deletion...
...the Recuva program didn’t find anything even similar to my deleted file, but it did find a huge pile of files that were deleted a couple of years ago.
I didn’t check the data with other resuscitators - I’m sure the result will be the same.
Download Alternate File Shredder
Alternate File Shredder, a program for permanently deleting files and folders, lives at this address - http://www.alternate-tools.com/
Its size is 1 MB. There are no viruses or installation difficulties. Has a multilingual interface (English, Spanish, French, Italian, Russian, German, Korean, Czech...). Works in absolutely any version of the Windows operating system.
And lastly, do not confuse Alternate File Shredder with uninstalling programs. These are different things. The hero of this article deletes individual files and folders, and does not uninstall programs previously installed on the computer.
P.S. I also ask you not to make a holivar in the comments about the fact that there are other programs with a similar function of reliable permanent deletion - of course there are, but this article was about Alternate File Shredder.
Until new useful computer programs and do not forget to delete files behind you.
USEFUL VIDEO
Users have to constantly install and uninstall unnecessary applications. It does not matter for what reason you have to uninstall programs. It is worth noting that in most cases errors appear at the time of uninstallation.
If the program is not completely removed, the operating system may malfunction. To avoid such a situation, it is recommended to use specialized programs to delete files. Destroyers completely erase traces of the presence of programs. Thanks to a complete uninstallation, additional space is freed up on your hard drive and the registry is cleared.
How to completely remove programs
To ensure that the process of erasing information from a disk does not cause problems in the operation of the operating system, it is necessary to use specialized programs. Before downloading the utility, you need to understand that the user can use both paid and free programs.
The most popular uninstallers used by professional users include:
- CCleaner;
- Revo Uninstaller;
- Total Uninstall;
- Soft Organizer.
Any downloaded uninstallers have their own characteristics. Before deciding on a program, you need to familiarize yourself with the capabilities of each uninstaller.
CCleaner
This is the best program to remove any application. It should be noted that you can download the utility completely free of charge. The program, in addition to uninstalling installed programs, has additional functionality.
Everyone knows that in order to restore the operating system after a serious error, you need to use a “restore point”. If Windows OS creates a large number of such points, the system begins to freeze, and disk space decreases sharply. Thanks to this, you can get rid of unnecessary restore points.
It should be noted that the program for uninstalling programs can be installed on any operating system of the Windows family starting from XP. The utility is constantly updated, which means that any errors that appear are quickly eliminated. In addition, new functionality is being added.
Revo Uninstaller
The program is designed to delete files without the possibility of recovery. Before proceeding with uninstalling applications, the utility analyzes the system. Thus, the application detects all installed drivers and programs.
In addition to the usual uninstallation of programs, the application is capable of:
- Clear browser history;
- Remove unnecessary files;
- Create a backup copy of the registry;
- Detect the tails of previously deleted programs.
Removing programs from your computer will improve the performance of your operating system. In addition, the utility is capable of restoring registry elements damaged after incorrect deletion.
Total Uninstall
Despite the fact that there are a huge number of applications that can remove any software and extensions, Total Uninstall is one of the best tools. At the time of installing any application, the utility takes pictures of the system registry, before and after the installation process. This is necessary so that all system changes can be tracked.
The features of the uninstaller include:
- Search for programs using key queries;
- Ability to create backup copies;
- Monitoring file system and registry changes;
- Analysis of installed objects.
This shredder does an excellent job of removing games and antiviruses. Even an inexperienced user can handle the controls.
One of the best utilities designed to completely remove applications. You can download the program for free from the official website. not only removes unnecessary programs, but also cleans up traces left by the uninstaller built into the operating system. If the program was deleted by mistake, it can be restored.
In addition to uninstalling software products, the utility method:
- Recover previously deleted programs;
- Remove several products at the same time;
- Forcefully uninstall products that cannot be removed in normal ways;
- View the history of previously performed actions.
The program for uninstalling other programs has an intuitive interface, so all that remains is to install the product and you can get to work.
Soft Organizer
Uninstalling apps can cause problems in some cases. It is impossible to uninstall everything using standard methods. Therefore, it is worth considering an application such as. The program provides guaranteed removal of software products, as well as components remaining after uninstallation. Compared to its competitors, Soft Organizer remembers all program installation locations. This applies not only to the main components, but also to entries added to the registry.
- Forced removal of any applications;
- Monitoring registry changes;
- Frequent product updates;
- Simple and convenient interface.
If you often delete programs, you won't find a better Software Organizer.
Conclusion
The user always downloads the application that will be most useful. Therefore, before installing uninstallers, you need to familiarize yourself with all the pros and cons of the programs. If you don't have time to look for the best product, you should pay attention to CCleaner and Total Uninstall. If necessary, these products can be disposed of.
Video review of programs for removing applications
It’s quite easy to figure out how to remove a program from your computer. But what may remain from it are files, configurations, registry entries, saves (if it’s a game), tools (if it’s a graphics or video editor), and so on. They take up disk space.
Under no circumstances should you erase utilities directly by moving them to the trash. Use services specifically designed for this.
Usually an uninstaller is installed along with the program. It automatically removes almost all application data. If you created a utility folder in the taskbar, open it. There must be a file there that triggers the deletion.
Here's how to remove unnecessary programs from your computer if they're not in the Start menu:
- Go to the application directory.
- If you don’t remember where you installed it, right-click on its shortcut.
- Select Properties.
- The “Object” field will contain the path to the directory.
- Open it and find the executable file “Uninstall.exe”. This is a universal name for uninstallers. Used in many applications. But the name can be different: for example, “Uninst.exe”
- Open it and follow the instructions.
- The uninstallation process is different for each utility. In some cases, you may need to click “Next” several times. Or select the items you want to erase. Sometimes they ask you to indicate what you are not happy with about the software and why you decided to remove it.
Built-in Windows Tools
Here's how to remove unnecessary programs from your computer using the operating system's built-in tools:
- Go to "Control Panel". It can be opened through the Start menu.
- If it is not there, right-click on the taskbar and select “Properties”.
- Start tab.
- "Customize" button.
- In the list that opens, find “Control Panel” and check the “Display” checkbox.
- Save your changes.
- Now you can go to the “Control Panel”.
- In it, open the “Uninstall a Program” (or “Programs and Features”) menu.
Click on “Programs and Features”
- In the list, find the utility you want to get rid of.
- Select it. A “Delete” button will appear above the main work area.
- Or right-click on the desired line. The “Delete” option will also be available in the context menu.
Click Delete
- What you do next depends on the application. Follow the uninstaller instructions.
Third party software
Even if the utilities are erased correctly, some data, registry entries, and files with saved settings will still remain. The most practical option is to use removal utilities. Specialized software will not only remove the application, but also destroy all traces of it in the system. This way they won’t take up extra space and clog up the OS.
Suitable programs:
- Revo Uninstaller. Completely erases utilities, temporary files, cleans the registry and . There is a so-called “Hunting Mode”: you press a button, a sight appears, point it at the program (more precisely, at the program file) and click. The applications will be added to the Revo list.
- IObit Uninstaller. Independently determines what data remains after “standard” deletion. There is a built-in uninstaller.
- CCleaner. Designed to clean the disk, registry and system from junk data. If you erase programs through it, there will not even be any mention of them left.
Uninstalling programs in CCleaner
- Ashampoo Uninstaller. When deleting, you must check the box next to “Search folders/files/registry entries.”
- Portable modification with a simple interface.
How to clean the registry manually?
If you don’t use special software that “cleans up” the remnants of the program, links to it will not go anywhere in the registry. It's not scary because they don't lead anywhere. The deleted utility will not be restored without your knowledge. But if there are too many “useless” entries in the registry, problems will arise. The system will work slowly and slow down. You will have to wait a few minutes to open the document.
It is necessary to periodically clean the registry of entries that point to non-existent utilities. It is better to use applications designed for this purpose: for example, Registry Fix or Advanced SystemCare. You can also clean it manually. But this is a risky business. It's better to try other methods.
If you decide to figure it out yourself, first create a backup copy of the registry. So that it can be restored.
- Go to Start - Run, in the window that opens, enter “regedit” without quotes and click “OK”. The Registry Editor will appear.
- Click File - Export. In the save window, specify the path and create a file name. Subsequently, you can restore the registry from it by selecting the “Import” command.
Now start cleaning:
- In the Registry Editor, click Edit - Find. Or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+F.
- In the input field, write the name of the program that you recently erased.
- A list of items that relate to this utility will appear on the right. You need to get rid of them (right-click - delete).
- If something goes wrong, you can return the registry to its previous state.
If the program is not uninstalled
You run the uninstallation and it gives an error? Most likely, the utility is currently “busy” - being used by other applications or services. Here's how to remove a program that won't uninstall:
- Open "Task Manager" (keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+Del or Ctrl+Shift+Esc).
- On the Applications tab, shut down everything associated with the utility.
- Go to the "Processes" section.
Go to the Processes section
- In the list, find the program you want to remove. Typically, the process name is the same as the name of the executable file used to run the application.
- Complete the process. It may become active again after rebooting your PC unless you uninstall the utility.
- Try deleting the app again.
If the program still remains on the computer, it may be a virus. Scan your system with a good antivirus.
Chinese programs
Particularly worth highlighting are Chinese utilities. They are installed on the PC in the background without asking the user's permission. It is very difficult to get rid of them. But they cannot be classified as a malware family. Such applications include baidu, a kind of antivirus. Even if you erase it, it will load again.
And the uninstaller is not so easy to figure out. It contains only hieroglyphs. Here's how to remove the Chinese program:
- Open "Task Manager" (keyboard shortcut Shift+Ctrl+Esc).
- Processes tab.
- “Display all” or “Display all users” button. Such utilities are often disguised as system processes.
- Find all services of the unwanted application. In our case - baidu.
- It is better to organize the lines by image name or description. To do this, click on the top of the column.
- There can be many processes. But they all have hieroglyphs in their descriptions. And the name must include the name of the program.
- Right-click on one of the processes.
- Select "Open storage location."
- Save the folder path in some text file.
- Repeat this for all baidu processes. Even if the directories are repeated.
- Quit processes related to the application.
- You can erase a program using Windows functions. Go to “Control Panel”. Open the Programs and Features menu (or Uninstall a Program). Find the unwanted application and get rid of it.
- The uninstaller will contain hieroglyphs. Unfortunately, you will have to act by feel. But there are several factors that will help you decide. The undo deletion function is usually highlighted additionally: in color or volume. As in Russian installers, the “Next” button is on the right, the “Back” button is on the left.
- After uninstallation, restart your computer. During startup, press the F key. This is necessary to initiate another boot mode. Select "Safe Mode".
- Now the Chinese utility will not be able to activate its processes. And they can be removed.
- Open the file in which you saved the paths to baidu.
- Go to the folders indicated there. To do this, open the Start menu, copy the path into the input field at the bottom (it usually says “Search for files”) and press Enter. The desired directory will appear.
- Erase everything that is in it. Better yet, delete the directory itself.
- Repeat for each path.
For a comprehensive system cleanup, use special uninstallers. This way you won’t have to “catch” files and registry entries yourself. And there will be no risk that any element of the hated utility will remain in memory.
It's up to you to decide how to completely remove the program from your computer and what software to use for this. You can limit yourself to the built-in Windows tools. But this way the system will accumulate unnecessary data and links that were not erased along with the application. It is better to install special utilities designed to remove programs and the garbage left behind them.
Uninstallers (programs for removing programs) are an integral part of the process of optimizing the operating system, as they can free up significant resources for the operating system.
Unlike the standard uninstallation system, uninstallers often have advanced functionality. In addition to simple removal, they can search for remnants of deleted programs, perform forced removal (in cases where the program cannot be removed using standard means), as well as a number of other options.
Below are the best removal programs that you can download to your computer and use instead of the standard removal tool.
03.23.2020, Anton Maksimov
Uninstallers have become the norm for Windows users. This is due to the fact that programs often leave a large number of files and folders on the disk that hang like dead weight. And the more applications the user installs and deletes on his PC, the more unnecessary traces remain on the system as dead weight.
02/24/2020, Anton Maksimov
Wise Program Uninstaller is a utility for completely removing programs and traces of them that remain after regular uninstallation. The utility is very easy to use and does not require additional knowledge to operate. It works according to the classic scenario: first, a regular deletion is carried out, and then the remnants of the program are searched and deleted in the system.
Soft Organizer is a utility for removing (uninstalling) unnecessary programs and searching for their traces (residues) that remain after the normal removal process. To do this, you need to run program removal from Soft Organizer. In this case, the trace search process starts automatically after normal deletion.
In our work, we focus on free and, even more often, open source software. In this post, we will talk about the free, but unfortunately not yet open source software Revo Uninstaller. This program will allow you to easily uninstall (remove) other software installed on your computer. The developer claims that Revo Uninstaller will be able to remove a program even if Windows cannot remove it through the Control Panel (Add/Remove Programs). Moreover, Revo Uninstaller is the most powerful and fastest alternative to the standard Windows uninstaller tool.
12/09/2019, Anton Maksimov
Revo Uninstaller Pro is one of the most functional uninstallers that exists on the market today. Includes tools such as installation with tracking, a startup manager, several options for cleaning the system from various types of data (unnecessary data, traces, etc.), a function for permanently deleting files/folders, forced deletion and a number of others.
09.17.2019, Anton Maksimov
The Uninstall Tool is perfect for conservative users who like the classic appearance of Windows XP-style programs. As for the functionality, it is very typical for programs of this type and includes a basic set of tools for searching for traces of uninstalled programs and a startup manager.
09.11.2019, Anton Maksimov
The standard program uninstallation tool does not always completely remove applications installed on the system. Some files and records remain there as dead weight. This does not cause serious damage to Windows until too much of this data accumulates. Residues from programs in the form of files can seriously reduce disk space, which can subsequently affect system performance. To prevent this from happening, there are various applications for completely removing programs.
One of these programs is called GeekUninstaller and it is designed to remove unnecessary programs and then search for and remove traces of these programs on the computer. The utility's interface is quite ascetic and simple. All you need to do is select the application and click the “Delete” button.
08/18/2019, Alexander Shikhov
You are probably familiar with the situation when it suddenly turns out that there is too little free space on the system disk. Or you suddenly notice that your computer has become noticeably slower compared to how it worked before. And when you bought a new laptop, you probably saw a huge list of installed demo versions of programs that you clearly don’t need. To solve all the problems described above, you just need to remove all the “junk” from the system. But how do you know which programs are really not needed and which ones should be left on the computer? The free Should I Remove It? utility will give us the answer to this question.
06/21/2019, Anton Maksimov
There is a very effective way to solve the problem of insufficient space on system storage. To do this, you need to analyze your personal data and delete unnecessary ones. It sounds simple enough, but there are a couple of subtleties that stop many users. Firstly, your data seems so important and necessary that there seems to be nothing to delete. Secondly, it’s not entirely clear where to start. Thirdly, there are specialized automatic utilities that will free up space in one click.
02/06/2019, Anton Maksimov
Total Uninstall is a utility for removing unnecessary programs with the function of tracking the installation of new programs, support for modern Windows applications (from the Microsoft Store), the function of cleaning the system from temporary and other unnecessary files, as well as a startup manager.
The program can display a list of all traces of the selected program using the “Details” button on the toolbar. These include traces on the disk, in the system registry, as well as services and devices. It can be very useful for analyzing applications, as it can show all the services associated with the selected program.
Programs for removing programs in Russian are collected in this section. All programs can be downloaded for free with activation keys.
CCleaner is a program developed by specialists from Britain. It is designed to clean your computer from unnecessary programs and files. It is free and takes up little space on your computer. This program can be used by both professionals and beginners. You must enter a license key before use. Also, after this application has been downloaded, you need to find CCleaner activation on the Internet. You should first read the instructions for installing and activating this program. The program consists of several sections. Registry,…
A computer is a mechanism that requires competent handling. Virus tracking, cleaning, various updates. All this requires specialized applications. You should highlight and carefully study the IObit Uninstaller application. Its purpose is as follows: to remove programs that are no longer needed. The main features of the program are as follows: Removing unnecessary services. Scan your computer. Removing unsuccessfully downloaded updates. The main advantage: in most cases it is impossible to remove it manually, without this program. Download IObit Uninstaller Pro 9.4.0.12 for free…
Wipe Pro is the most simple, convenient and effective application, which is aimed at removing system garbage on a personal computer. After performing this procedure, the performance of the device is significantly improved, the OS loads faster, and various slowdowns, freezes and lags disappear. The main advantage of the utility is that it is as easy as possible to use, because you just need to launch the product, set all the necessary settings, and click the “Start” button. After performing the diagnostics, the user will be prompted to delete all...
ESET Uninstaller is a small software add-on for the official product - ESET's powerful antivirus program. This tool is designed to completely remove the remains of malicious files that may remain in quarantine or in the memory registry, thereby leaving the risk of a threat to the system. To use this uninstaller, you will need to reboot your personal computer and start the system in safe mode. Next, you need to open the command line as an administrator, and only then open this program. Download for free…
Patch My PC is a very versatile and useful software package that specializes in automatically updating various applications and digital products. In total, it supports more than 300 types of programs, which include browsers, text and graphic editors, operating system tools and much more. The strongest side of this software is its maximum simplicity and ease of use, because in one working window you can control several hundred different software variations. It will be enough to install...
Wise Program Uninstaller is a very useful software that is useful in cases where certain system components cannot be removed from a personal computer. Typically, this is due to increased operating system security that is applied to important files or utilities. However, if there is still a need to remove these system components, then it would be more rational to resort to using the specified digital product. Otherwise, you will need to devote a lot of time...
Bulk Crap Uninstaller is a very powerful and highly efficient application that aims to deeply remove applications from file storage. This utility will be an excellent replacement for the tools of the Windows operating system, because there will be no temporary files, saves or other traces of remote software left when working. The program will be especially useful when removing heavy applications that cannot be removed without administrator rights or without using the command line. Therefore, this product is able to remove from hard…
Telamon Cleaner - speed up your PC to the first cosmic speed! Telamon Cleaner is a utility developed by Telamon Tools. Designed to optimize computer performance. Currently, the program functionality includes 3 modules out of 15 planned, stay tuned for updates on our website. Download Telamon Cleaner for free Current modules: * Virus scan - The virus scan module is located in the cloud on the company’s servers, which made it possible to make the program light in weight, quick to install,…