Times change, PCs change, people change, and software changes. Things once useful and good turn sour and it’s our job to keep you informed. Just because we once recommend something in 2005 doesn’t mean we recommend it anymore — so we’ll try to keep you updated on things which have fallen from our good graces and give you reasons why.
I’m trying to cut back on my yammering. EB is always after me to be more concise. She rubs me the wrong way sometimes — but she’s right – I’m too verbose. I’ve been spanked!
So here’s today’s (short) list of software we used to recommend but don’t anymore:
1. IncrediMail
We were against it before we were for it — and we’re against it again. IncrediMail has always been teetering on the edge of badware. The free version is a hijacker — ripping off your start page, installing toolbars, and junking up your desktop with icons for other IncrediMail products. Folks those cute emails just aren’t worth installing this resource-hungry, flaky, application on your computer.
It’s more than an email program — the free version is a virtual billboard. And the paid version is now a rip-off. Instead of buying it – you now rent it by paying an annual subscription fee.
IncrediMail is a flaky, poorly running program that’s just not worth the bother — and with each incarnation it gets worse. No matter how cute you think the mail notifiers are or how pretty the stationery is, our advice is to use something else. IncrediMail just keeps on getting worse.
2. Secunia PSI
Once a really good program you could trust to keep your software updated has turned into bloated application that gobbles resources, runs in the background constantly, and often freezes and crashes. We wonder — why don’t software developers make their software better — not bigger? We don’t know and we’ll never know the answer to that question. Maybe they go to MSP — Microsoft School of Programming. In any case, Secunia is a resource sucker that runs constantly in the background. Our advice? Get rid of it — install something else like Patch My PC.
That’s it for today’s once good, gone bad programs. We’ll be adding more to our list of programs we once found useful but don’t anymore.
How’d I do? Brevity is beautiful, sayeth EB.
I have searched and searched and searched for a free power point viewer to no avail. Do you know of one?
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=13
RE: Secunia PSI – UNABLE TO UNISTALL IT
I have just read your Message regarding Secunia PSI.
Well I was one who on your comments and CNET’s also to Install Secunia PSI.
I’ve tried everything to UNISTALL it and Secunia PSI will NOT UNISTALL. It hangs and nothing happens.
There is nothing in the Secunia PSI Setup File.
CCleaner can NOT Unistall it either. Someone suggested trying REVO UNISTALLER -I am fearful my Windows XP Professional SP3 will crash.
Can you please help how to REMOVE-UNISTALL Secunia PSI
Thank you.
This happens with a lot of software — the first thing you should do is re-install Secunia PSI and then immediately uninstall it. Sometimes the uninstaller that comes with a program becomes corrupted or somehow turns up missing. Hey, it’s Windows!
The second thing you can try is to install GeekUninstaller from http://geekuninstaller.com/. Find Secunia PSI in the list and if you cannot uninstall it normally, use Geek’s Forced Uninstall (on the toolbar).
RevoUninstaller is a great program — it was our freeware pick of year in 2010 and it’s just as good as it ever was. In your case though, I think you’d find Geek Uninstaller easier to use for a forced uninstall if it comes to that. Revo has a hunter mode, but unless you understand how to browse to the program’s executable and target it with Revo — it may be a little more convoluted for you.
CCleaner is not an uninstaller — it basically uses Control Panel / Programs / Uninstall a program. So if it’s not listed there, it won’t work. Besides CCleaner is program that’s way over-rated and it has features like its registry cleaner which can really cause big problems. We don’t recommend CCleaner for anything. Windows disk cleanup cleans better and you don’t have to install any 3rd-part programs.
We hope this helps you!
Ipurchased Incredimail becausae it worked so similar to Outlook Express etc. Is there another program that will do the same? I really didn’t like the one with Windows 7.
Mozilla Thunderbird. It’s similar to Outlook Express and free.
Was Solutions on a previous list? I still have it but it never has a solution for my crashes,
What is “Solutions”?
Think she means Soluto, the antifrustration software. Good program that lets you (safely) choose what loads when you boot up your computer.
POSTBOX…much like Outlook Express
download.cnet.com/Postbox-Express/3000-2367_4-11453835.html
I love postbox but the current version is not free — but well worth the price. I paid $19.95 for mine.
If you want an email client similar to Outlook Express, try Mozilla’s Thunderbird. It’s free, and as close to Outlook Express as you’ll find. And it doesn’t install hidden garbage, or constantly send you spam emails.
I hate to say “I told you so” InfoAve, but I told you so about Incredimail when you were pushing it, but you insisted it was a great program. I had tried it way back (when I was a relative novice about computers), maybe 8 or 10 years ago and it basically took over. Had to reformat my computer to get rid of the garbage it installed.
Hello all
I too, made the mistake of installing the free version of IncrediMail!! have removed it, But I can’t get it’s “MY Start” search engine,off my Google site ! Really would appreciate some advice, on how to remove it 😮
Cheers Jim
From down under, New Zealand
What a scary time I just went through using Revo Uninstaller to uninstall Secunia PSI program (as you suggested). My computer did things it has never done before during the process– not responding, very, very slow, etc. Persistance paid off, however, and eventually the program was uninstalled.
Thank you for keeping us safe.
I have the paid incredimail and I have had it for years and no problems with it at all. But I did like outlook express when I had windows xp. I don’t care for windows mail that comes with windows 7.. But I will try Mozilla firefox’s thunderbird.. I use chrome and firefox on my computer.
Well I tried thunderbird email and did not find it easy to work with like outlook express was. Will stay with incriblemail cause I have the paid one not the FREE one.
No trouble here with it.But thanks for the tips.
I too have had no problems with IncrediMail.