I finally installed Zsoft's Uninstaller and I have to say it's a pleasure to work with. I've used Martau's excellent Total Uninstall. but I found the freeware version (2.35) very slow. It would take about 2-4 minutes to analyze the file structure and registry, whereas Zoft's Uninstaller takes about 45 seconds (that will increase slightly as the registry and file structure gets larger).
It's quite a simple program to use. You choose the "analyze" button before installing a new software program in order for Uninstaller to analyze your OS and program drive(s). Then you run the exe file of the program. Once that's finished, you open the newly installed software to ensure that all initial registry changes are made. Close the software, and then choose the "after" selection on Uninstaller to finish the file/registry analysis. An option box will appear after the analysis is finished asking you to save the filename of the installation log. Uninstaller then compares the before and after and saves the file.
The great part is opening the log file and seeing what these programs add or delete from the registry and the system32 directory.
If your newly chosen software requires a reboot - no problem. Instead of immediately choosing the "after" button to analyze the registry/OS drive, reboot and then open Zsoft Uninstaller again. The program remembers that there was a before analysis, and gives you the option to continue with the "after" analysis.
When uninstalling a program, you can either use Zsoft, or your add/remove programs option in Control Panel AND Zsoft Uninstall as a 2nd uninstaller to make sure everything was removed from the registry. As we know, software uninstalls rarely remove most of the registry strings they initially install.
Before choosing to uninstall any program, you must check three boxes. One of which is stating you won't hold the programmer responsible for loss of date. Considering it's freeware and still being updated, I think this is reasonable. That's why I suggest using a good disk imaging program like Ghost or Acronis True Image to ensure you can always restore your OS/program files to its pristine state, if necessary.
UPDATE:
I found a few bugs in the program (it may be because I'm using Windows 2000 Pro and the programmer uses XP for testing). However, it might be prudent to check this thread from time to time (and the forum). The programmer is very quick to answer questions.
note:
Today (Feb. 20, 2007), I tried to recreate the bugs I had found and couldn't. At the time, my system was running slowly and that was proably the cause.
Btw, Zsoft Uninstaller has been updated to v 2.4.4.