Should I Remove It

Should I Remove It

Should I Remove is a free piece of Windows software that provides ratings and links help you decide whether a program is safe or a risk, or whether it’s a keeper or simply taking up disk space. Reason Software’s freeware isn’t misnamed: Its advice and feedback-sourced ratings can actually help you decide what to keep and what to toss when you’re cleaning out the forgotten, unused, and unwanted apps that pile up on your PC like old sports equipment in the back of the hall closet. The only way to tell a good club or racquet from a trashed one is to look at it, and the same is true for software. There’s no need to open the Control Panel or another tool to throw the bums out: Should I Remove It uninstalls programs, too. The latest version of Reason’s Should I Remove It includes an updated installer and support for Windows 8. We tried it in 64-bit Windows 7.

Should I Remove It has a colorful list-style interface with a cute cartoon mascot whose quizzical look (and “question”-able hairstyle) says it all: “Where do I start with this stuff?” We suggest the top of the list, where the riskiest programs with the lowest reputations are to be found. Of course, not every program has a rating, but our better-known apps did (most showed good marks, thankfully). Clicking any entry expanded its view to include version and installation information, install size, and links labeled “What Is It?” and “Uninstall.” Clicking the first link took us to a Web site with more information (though sometimes more info. was unavailable) while clicking “Uninstall” did just that.

Where Should I Remove It really shines is with the adware, toolbars, and other “extras” that seem to sneak quietly into your system yet have to be dragged out kicking and screaming. While many programs lack sufficient feedback for reliable ratings, Should I Remove It is a great place to start looking.