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By Jonathan Blackwood
In the bad old DOS days, removing a program was usually as simple as deleting its directory. The wonderful world of Windows has changed all that, of course, but programs like IMSI's WinDelete 3.0 return some pre-Windows simplicity to our world.
The program quickly installs from CD-ROM or diskette, placing a shortcut icon on your desktop. Start menu junkies will also find a new WinDelete check box added to the Run command dialog box. Check "Install with WinDelete," and this program will record configuration changes caused by any application setup. WinDelete archives the information from that deleted program, in case you flushed the wrong one.
If efficiently deleting applications were all this program did, it would be worth the price of admission ($24.95). But the folks at IMSI stuffed this package with other tricks. It can move an application, just like you used to be able to do in DOS, or find and delete duplicate files. Nor does WinDelete waste your time. You can elect to analyze only high-level categories: Integrity Check, Orphan Files and Backup Files.
IMSI adds McAfee VirusScan, First Aid '95 diagnostics, CheckIt and Office Central. However, WinDelete's advertised Internet features-the ability to track Netscape add-ins and delete unused sound and graphics files-seem tacked on to justify an Internet starburst on the box more than to deliver real utility.
But that's a minor quibble. Buy WinDelete for its ability to eliminate unwanted bytes. Now, if it could only purge those unwanted relationships ...
Info File
WinDelete 3.0
Price: $24.95
Pros: Price; features; functionality
Cons: Virus scan requires separate installation
Platforms: Windows 95, 3.1x
Disk Space: 3MB
RAM: 4MB
IMSI
800-833-4674, 415-257-3000
WinMag Box Score: 4.0
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