Product Reviews

While big hard disks are the norm these days, software has managed to keep growing and full disks are just as common as ever. Windows 95 doesn't really help in this department, and as you install more software (and hardware drivers) small files often get left on your hard disk, even after you've removed the original software, hogging more space.

WinDelete 97 is a suite of tools dedicated to conserving disk space. To that end it can perform comprehensive uninstalls, removing all traces of software. In addition, WinDelete can keep an eye on your use of the Internet, monitoring web pages and graphics stored in the cache, and giving you the chance to bulk-delete them. It also helps organise browser plug-ins and can be used to move applications around a hard drive or between computers without invalidating shortcuts or leaving clutter behind.

There are five key modules which between them provide access to all the WinDelete functions. Application Manager is for removing, moving and archiving applications or files. Any preferences set are kept intact when transporting applications between different computers. Duplicate File Finder locates files that are

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duplicated in different parts of your hard drive, which can then be easily reorganised so that only one copy remains.

Debris Finder looks for orphaned files and other garbage that often clutters a system. Typically it will turn up invalid shortcuts in the Start menu or on the desktop, DLLs that are no longer used, zero length files, backup files and temporary files. In addition, you can configure it to find any files which have not been used for a set period of time or that have only been used a set number of times.

Internet Manager keeps an eye on the organisation of plug-ins for multiple browsers and can empty caches. It monitors downloaded files too, though the requirement to type in a file log name before starting a download can be a bit of a nuisance.

Like all uninstallation software, WinDelete collects much of its information as you work. The WinDelete Agent, which does this job, can be run manually whenever needed, or can sit in the System Tray ready to run automatically whenever you begin to install a new application, or go onto the Internet. Either way, it updates the local knowledge base as changes are made to your system and is crucial to the complete uninstallation of software.

WinDelete certainly does plenty of different jobs and the interface is very user-friendly. The main problem, as with all software of this kind, is the lack of exhortation to take care when deleting files and particularly DLLs. Just because something can be removed doesn't mean it should be. More help on this in the manual would not have gone amiss either.

Still, with careful use, WinDelete is a good way of managing your ever-expanding Windows directory - and putting off upgrading to a new hard disk for as long as possible.