Good Utility to clean file remnants and registry errors?

The 2 approaches to uninstall programs whose normal uninstall fails are:

a. Reinstall the program, then uninstall it.
b. Force uninstall it. That requires a 3rd party tool that allows you to browse to some existing part of the program e.g. its installation folder and find a suitable exe file that is part of that program.

Most uninstallers support that feature, but most require you buy a license.

One that is free is Wise Uninstaller - the 'Custom Uninstall' button, top right.

Instead, I rebooted into safe mode, deleted the folder

This actually makes your life more difficult. If you randomly delete parts of the program, what then are you going to browse to in order to start a forced uninstall?

The registry entries are probably the most important remnants that will cause issues.

Well REVO Uninstaller is great for uninstalling things. And it has a Hunter Mode. A little target looking thing, that you just drag and drop onto whatever you want removed.

For general cleaning and registry cleaning, I use CCleaner v 5.78
Dropbox - ccsetup578.7z - Simplify your life



Download Revo Uninstaller Free - Remove unwanted programs easily

You need the Pro version for forced uninstall.

Not for Hunter Mode, you don't.
Just now installed Easy BCD... and used Hunter Mode to uninstall it.

That's with the free version of Revo. Brb... gotta reboot to get rid of the remnants.


I believe forced uninstall is different. It's for things that won't "let" you uninstall them.

Agree with @dalchina above

- re-install the offending software
- use a 3rd party software option to (re)unistall. Recommend Geek Uninstaller and/or RevoUninstaller

Both have freeware versions. With Revo (preferred option), don't re-start the device even if prompted, and make sure you run the Advanced option to remove leftover files/folders/registry entries.

Resist stand-alone registry cleaners. If you're that concerned about left over files/folders/registry entry, then a clean re-install is the safest (which I suspect might be your best option in the situation outlined above). From then on, you can make frequent image backups (Macrium Reflect - freeware) and if you think your system has (again) deteriorated, restore from one of the best/better images.

Note I do NOT support the use of Ccleaner, for ethical reasons. It (the parent company Piriform) was taken over in 2017 by Avast, and has since been subject to some notable - but undesirable - events ... hacking, data mining and suspected crypto-mining, amongst others. Windows Defender even kicked it as a PUA (Potentially Unwanted Application) a while ago.

Things may have changed/improved since, but ......

EDIT : If you really have to .... WiseDiskCleaner (freeware)

The Dropbox link I posted is for CCleaner 5.78... before Avast and the unpleasantness.
I stopped updating it past 5.78 for those very reasons you mentioned.

And if you wanted... you can get the 2016 version 5.14, here...
Download Old Versions of CCleaner for Windows - OldVersion.com

But... that may be a bit too old.

...Windows Defender even kicked it as a PUA (Potentially Unwanted Application) a while ago.

Only the Standard installer, and then only because it bundled other software in with CCleaner, not because of anything in CCleaner itself.

Those of us who still use it prefer the Slim installer, or better yet, the Portable build - neither of which come with any 'unwanted extras'.

Ghot said:

...And if you wanted... you can get the 2016 version 5.14, here...
But... that may be a bit too old.

Good luck with that one....

Bree said:

Good luck with that one....

Yeah, I thought it might be too old.
I like 5.78
Works fine... doesn't come loaded down with all the extra junk.

I'll probably switch over to Wise Cleaner one day, but I'm in no hurry.
I only use Custom Clean, Registry and the cookies white list in CCleaner.
I have it completely blocked in my firewall too.