So let's say you uninstalled McAfee AV, then you search for McAfee and delete every instance you find?
Yep, in my case that's what I do. That way you can review it for yourself one key at a time. If you're unsure, just click on find next. Registry cleaners can find so many issues, that people may tend to get overwhelmed and click for it to delete everything without really looking into it, the individual keys.
Or, create an old fashioned System Restore point option pre AV install?
When I uninstall program(s), I always do it using Revo Uninstaller; carefully inspecting list of detected files and registry keys which I afterward delete. After that, I browse %programfiles%, %programdata% and %appdata% folders to see if there's something left over (you'd be surprised how many leftovers are still there even after using Revo). At the end, I'm doing same as you; manually searching the registry for leftover entries.
Absolutely, especially the latter.
Next best thing to above.
Always a good idea but not as reliable as above.
I was wondering how viable the System Restore option was. Thanks, it just seemed like a less "intrusive" option, but sounds like it's also a less effective one
So I need to check the key even if it has the search keyword? Or this is rarely to happen, I mean if I get 100 entry containing McAfee in it, I have to check it again? Will a system component contain McAfee word?
I always find errors after running system and registry cleaner when I run cmd/ sfc/scannow.
Backups are often forgotten and are a safer bet that restore point.I was wondering how viable the System Restore option was. Thanks, it just seemed like a less "intrusive" option, but sounds like it's also a less effective one
post and remembered that I also use Revo Uninstaller, so I changed my vote to yes. But outside removing some software, I do not clean the registry with a third party software. I deactivated everything related to registry I could in PrivaZer.
When I uninstalled F-Secure, it left a lot of leftover keys. There were certain categories (program files?) where I could check, highlight with the mouse cursor the key found and from that list of keys underneath the one found it showed about 4-6 more F-Secure keys, then tick on it, the initial one found and then last one below it (related key) holding down the Shift key, to delete the next 4-6 in a row, under the found one. And when in doubt, leave it all alone, and let it go, as that's when you could cause issues
Revo Uninstaller made a lot of problems for me, last one, was when I want to remove Lenovo Vantage app, and it broke all Microsoft Store apps, even Microsoft Store itself won't open, so I want a safer uninstaller than Revo.I had already voted no, but then I saw Mako
I think this is a bit too long procedure, what about using Registry Finder? It shows all the entries in one view with the ability to delete them all at once, here is a screenshot from my system searching for McAfee entries:When I uninstalled F-Secure, it let a lot of leftover keys. There were certain categories (program files?) where I could check, highlight with the mouse cursor the key found and from that list of keys underneath the one found it showed about 4-6 more F-Secure keys, then tick on it, the initial one found and then last one below it (related key) holding down the Shift key, to delete the next 4-6 in a row, under the found one. And when in doubt, leave it all alone, and let it go, as that's when you could cause issues
Yep, it can take some time, it took me about 15-20 minutes per each of the 4 PC's I had F-Secure installed on. But, from your screenshot above, do you understand all of the keys it's showing you, and to safely delete them? In my case, I just took the time and did it
No I don't, it is why I was using registry cleaners.
I wouldn't trust system restore to actually work. It has failed many times for me. Full System Image Backup FTW
