Bulk Crap Uninstaller

Description

Bulk Crap Uninstaller (also known as BCUninstaller or BCU) is a free, open source program uninstaller for Windows. It is a powerful program capable of detecting and removing orphaned applications, cleaning leftovers, filtering the program type (such as those that belong to Microsoft) and more.

It was designed as a tool for tech users, but it is easy enough to be understood and used by anyone. The current version supports Windows 10 and newer.

Features

• uninstall many programs fast, including the non-intrusive uninstallers.
• remove files created after each new program installation (e.g. temporary files, settings, shortcuts, etc.)
• detect orphaned applications (programs without a working uninstaller).
• identify and uninstall Windows Store apps
• powerful startup manager included.
• open source software available in many languages
• it can create "special lists" that will choose all matching uninstallers (useful when dealing with multiple computers)
• verification of digital certificates (useful when suspecting malware)
• an extensive amount of data (registry path/name, publisher name, installer type, version, digital certificate owner, etc.)
• able to uninstall multiple selections at once (it has a collision prevention mechanism)
• advanced functions for sort, filter, grouping, and search
• fully custom commands executed before and after uninstallation
• fully portable (the portable version doesn't need the .NET runtime to be installed)
• it will reveal protected and invalid entries that are not shown in the standard operating system uninstaller.
• more features are listed on its official homepage here.

Bulk Crap Uninstaller Review

The interface

The Bulk Crap Uninstaller interface might intimidate you when opening the program for the first time. It certainly doesn't look like the standard program removal tool that comes included with Windows. There are a lot of options included, but don't let them discourage you, as you are not forced to use them.

I tested almost all of its features, but what impressed me most was the "Properties" section. Open the properties window for a program, and you get a lot of useful info such as:

• installation date for that app
• installed location
• various info: publisher name, product code, registry key/path, etc.
• uninstaller info (detailed)
• registry (detailed)
• certificate info (detailed)

This kind of info is precious, and it is a shame that it isn't already included in Windows.

Conclusion

If all you wish to do is remove an individual app, just open the program interface, select the app you want to remove, right-click it and choose "Uninstall." That's it; you can use the program just like any other basic uninstaller.

If you are an advanced user, I would say this program looks exactly like the comparison between the old "Task Manager" that comes included with almost any Windows version and other more advanced apps such as Process Hacker and System Explorer.

Bulk Crap Uninstaller is the "Uninstall" tool on steroids that should've been included by default in Windows. I came to this conclusion by opening the "Add or Remove Programs" section in Windows XP and "Programs" in Windows 10. All I did was run them side by side and compare them (along with several other free programs such as "CCleaner" that offer similar capabilities).

It is amazing that such software exists and is released for free when there are so many paid alternatives.