Random useless files and folders left behind

[pcslookout]

Is there anyway to keep track of files and folders windows and programs leave behind that you can delete after ? I hate this. If not what is the best way around it ?

 

[Nothinman]

Not unless you use some 3rd party tool to watch the install and record them and even that won't catch anything created by the app after installation. It's really up to the app itself to clean up when you uninstall since Windows doesn't have any real package management.

 

[pcslookout]

Not unless you use some 3rd party tool to watch the install and record them and even that won't catch anything created by the app after installation. It's really up to the app itself to clean up when you uninstall since Windows doesn't have any real package management.

Is there any alternative methods to prevent this ?

 

[Nothinman]

Is there any alternative methods to prevent this ?

Not that I'm aware of. You give an installer pretty much free reign to do whatever it wants when you run it and it's the developer's responsibility to clean up after himself. And sadly most Windows developers are idiots...

 

[pcslookout]

Not that I'm aware of. You give an installer pretty much free reign to do whatever it wants when you run it and it's the developer's responsibility to clean up after himself. And sadly most Windows developers are idiots...

Why do you say most Window developers are idiots ?

 

[Nothinman]

Why do you say most Window developers are idiots ?

Because I've used their programs and the fact that you even have to ask this question.

 

[pcslookout]

Because I've used their programs and the fact that you even have to ask this question.

Well I don't think most of them are idiots but a good portion I agree with. Hopefully not to many. You must be using linux. I love linux as much as anyone else.

 

[Nothinman]

Well I don't think most of them are idiots but a good portion I agree with. Hopefully not to many. You must be using linux. I love linux as much as anyone else.

Yea, Linux is my preferred system but I have to use Windows a lot for work so I get to feel some of that pain every day.

 

[pcslookout]

I came up with a way that would maybe help with the problem. Install programs your not sure your keeping sandboxed or in a vm. That should make sure none of the useless files stay if you decide not to keep the program after trying it. Could be more trouble than it worth but seems like a good alternative for now.

 

[Nothinman]

I came up with a way that would maybe help with the problem. Install programs your not sure your keeping sandboxed or in a vm. That should make sure none of the useless files stay if you decide not to keep the program after trying it. Could be more trouble than it worth but seems like a good alternative for now.

It's a good solution for testing things, but it would suck to actually try and use them like that. And with snapshots you can make sure you always have a clean VM for testing, but it's still a lot of work for something that shouldn't be an issue in a properly designed system.

 

[lxskllr]

That's a lot of work for not much gain. Uninstallers leaving cruft around is a minor irritant, but in the end it isn't a big deal. It takes little disk space, and doesn't do anything to performance. You can usually find the stuff yourself. Here's the places to look for leftovers...

Program Files and Program Files(x86)

AppData in your user directory look in the 3 subdirectories, but local and roaming are typical.

Your User documents folder

Registry

 

[pcslookout]

It's a good solution for testing things, but it would suck to actually try and use them like that. And with snapshots you can make sure you always have a clean VM for testing, but it's still a lot of work for something that shouldn't be an issue in a properly designed system.

True.

 

[pcslookout]

That's a lot of work for not much gain. Uninstallers leaving cruft around is a minor irritant, but in the end it isn't a big deal. It takes little disk space, and doesn't do anything to performance. You can usually find the stuff yourself. Here's the places to look for leftovers...

Program Files and Program Files(x86)

AppData in your user directory look in the 3 subdirectories, but local and roaming are typical.

Your User documents folder

Registry

Thanks. Wish there was a way to tell all programs to put stuff in a certain directory all the time. Don't like when stuff goes all over the place.

 

[Nothinman]

Thanks. Wish there was a way to tell all programs to put stuff in a certain directory all the time. Don't like when stuff goes all over the place.

Stuff going all over the place isn't an issue for me, in fact Linux packages usually put more stuff in more places than Windows installers. But, those packages also track their shit properly and remove all of it when you remove them.

 

[pcslookout]

Stuff going all over the place isn't an issue for me, in fact Linux packages usually put more stuff in more places than Windows installers. But, those packages also track their shit properly and remove all of it when you remove them.

Plus most programs are free!

 

[lxskllr]

Thanks. Wish there was a way to tell all programs to put stuff in a certain directory all the time. Don't like when stuff goes all over the place.

You can get portable versions of a lot of programs. I've been tempted to, but it just isn't worth the bother. I generally do my clean up when I'm looking for something else. I'll go into the directories looking for something, and delete stuff that's no longer valid as I see them.

 

[pcslookout]

You can get portable versions of a lot of programs. I've been tempted to, but it just isn't worth the bother. I generally do my clean up when I'm looking for something else. I'll go into the directories looking for something, and delete stuff that's no longer valid as I see them.

Yep same here! I looked at that option but not all applications are portable.

I have thought about installing all applications in a sandbox though. Not sure if that would be a good idea though.

 

[WildHorse]

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