[CaptJosh]

Ok, to the person who is claiming that CCleaner is holding your system together, no it isn't. It's probably tearing your windows registry to hell and gone. Registry cleaners are strongly recommended against by Microsoft and every good computer tech out there, as they can never really know what entries belong and what don't. Use one long enough, and you'll screw your system up to the point where only a wipe and reload will fix it. Registry modification is always something that should be done carefully and delicately, not as a matter of course or through an automated tool like CCleaner. Of course, it is possible that your hard drive or some other part of your PC is failing or has failed. But CCleaner can't be helping, and no other so-called registry optimizer will unless Microsoft releases one of its own someday, which isn't going to happen.

[KyadCK]

Ok, to the person who is claiming that CCleaner is holding your system together, no it isn't. It's probably tearing your windows registry to hell and gone. Registry cleaners are strongly recommended against by Microsoft and every good computer tech out there, as they can never really know what entries belong and what don't. Use one long enough, and you'll screw your system up to the point where only a wipe and reload will fix it. Registry modification is always something that should be done carefully and delicately, not as a matter of course or through an automated tool like CCleaner. Of course, it is possible that your hard drive or some other part of your PC is failing or has failed. But CCleaner can't be helping, and no other so-called registry optimizer will unless Microsoft releases one of its own someday, which isn't going to happen.

To the person who doesn't understand CCleaner: It only cleans the registry IF you tell it to, it is a completely separate option from the 'normal' cleaning duties (browser history, recycle bin, etc). I, as a computer tech, highly recommend it for everyone, and suggest it be run once a week, as cleaning out said things can keep the computer running smooth. Do some research on the program before assuming what it actually does, though the fact you obviously haven't heard of CCleaner up until this point amazes me.



EDIT: spelling   Why you no have spellchecker IE? Had to get back to comp with Chrome

[jr2]

i wonder if working for the government gets me access to stuff like that.  i probably should have looked into that a few weeks ago BEFORE buying windows 7.

Check out the Microsoft Home Use Program (Google it).  I got MS Office 2010 for $10 + $10 shipping.  (I could have skipped shipping and just downloaded it, but I wanted the disc.)  I don't know if Windoze is part of that program or not.  You will need a valid government e-mail address to take advantage of HUP though.

EDIT: Seconding CaptJosh.  CCleaner is an excellent program.  I have used other good programs that clean the registry as well.  You just have to stay away from bad programs.  There are hundreds if not thousands of bad programs that claim to "fix" your system... some are just placebos, others actually attempt to "clean" the system, and end up damaging it.  However, there are quite a few (dozens, maybe a hundred or so) programs that actually are coded by people who know what the f--- they are doing.  Ever heard of Sysinternals / Winternals (Process Explorer, Autoruns, Rootkit Revealer, etc)?  They were so good Microsoft bought them (and their programs were and still are, free!).

[Parias]

Nah, I can't say I'm a fan of programs like CCleaner at all - I'm slightly biased though, as I used to do work for Vista support and we had no end of tickets from customers who ran utilities like this and had it end up breaking their system in some bizarre and strange way, which caused us constant grief.

Mind you though, in these cases customers were running them because they 'heard it was a good idea' - they had little to no understanding of what was actually going on under the hood or what these tools actually did. I'm sure for those with knowledge on the implications of these tools and how to properly deploy them, they work fine.

I have to admit though, I really don't see the point - I've never woken up in the morning and go "I should clean my registry!" My computer (which gets very heavy use, I install and remove new crazy apps daily) boots and runs fine, a fact which makes it insufficient to overcome my bias against registry cleaners and my own paranoia for the potential damage they can cause. If you're having tangible issues then I suppose there's a bigger reason to run these tools (though at that point I'd rather just investigate and troubleshoot the specific symptom, not drop a nuke on it...), but otherwise there just doesn't seem like much of a point to me if I'm not having any actual problems.

Mind you, I'm also the sort of person who formats his system every 2-3 years - I feel running the same OS install longer than that is asking for trouble regardless of what you do.

[est1895]

All I know is that I was getting blus screens and lockups on my computer.  So I used CCleaner and the blue screens and lockups have stopped.  Instead of going to a tech and having to spend money on installing Windows XP, I will now have time to get enough money together and Windows 7 Pro Full!

[KyadCK]

Nah, I can't say I'm a fan of programs like CCleaner at all - I'm slightly biased though, as I used to do work for Vista support and we had no end of tickets from customers who ran utilities like this and had it end up breaking their system in some bizarre and strange way, which caused us constant grief.

Mind you though, in these cases customers were running them because they 'heard it was a good idea' - they had little to no understanding of what was actually going on under the hood or what these tools actually did. I'm sure for those with knowledge on the implications of these tools and how to properly deploy them, they work fine.

I have to admit though, I really don't see the point - I've never woken up in the morning and go "I should clean my registry!" My computer (which gets very heavy use, I install and remove new crazy apps daily) boots and runs fine, a fact which makes it insufficient to overcome my bias against registry cleaners and my own paranoia for the potential damage they can cause. If you're having tangible issues then I suppose there's a bigger reason to run these tools (though at that point I'd rather just investigate and troubleshoot the specific symptom, not drop a nuke on it...), but otherwise there just doesn't seem like much of a point to me if I'm not having any actual problems.

Mind you, I'm also the sort of person who formats his system every 2-3 years - I feel running the same OS install longer than that is asking for trouble regardless of what you do.

You too look at CCleaner as a registy cleaner instead of the one-stop program to clean browser history, recycle bin, bluescreen dumps, temp files, browser cache, and things of the like that it actualy is. Go to CCleaners site. That bit about registry? Thats way down on the bottom and listed as advanced.

What do I do when I find a computer bogged down by who the hell knows what over the years? Install CCleaner and wipe it all clean (obviously not the registry) and watch as IE or whatever browser they use speeds up since they had neglected to clean it for years on end because to do so is hidden in menus. I then tell them to right-click on the recycle bin and click "Run CCleaner" once a week, which does the basic wiping and leaves registry alone.

Have either of you actually used or even downloaded CCleaner? Or are you giving it a bad rep because you heard it was a registry cleaner and a few people blamed it and/or were dumb enough to break something with it (which is 100% possible with ANY program).

EDIT: Look at the screenshot in my last post. See the list where some of them are checked? That is what CCleaner cleans. See the Registry tab that isn't selected? It leaves that the hell alone.

EDIT2: Oh right, it may also carry a bit more weight then the other programs by being a legit buisness solution.

[est1895]

And CCleaner is free.  Since I have to save up money to get Win 7 Pro Full, in the meantime, I have a functional WIn XP Home to ride out though the storm.

[KyadCK]

And CCleaner is free.  Since I have to save up money to get Win 7 Pro Full, in the meantime, I have a functional WIn XP Home to ride out though the storm.

Yes, and the private use version is free. 

[est1895]

Check this link guys and see what you think....   http://seattle.ebayclassifieds.com/computers-tech/seattle/windows-7-ultimate-dvd-w-activiation-key/?ad=14034764

[CaptJosh]

The problem with advanced options on programs like CCleaner is that idiots who have no business using them do so anyway, because it's there, because they think they're better with computers than they are, because it's never explained clearly enough that you shouldn't use it unless you know EXACTLY what you are doing, or any combination of those reasons. I hate any program with a registry cleaner in it because at my job, registry cleaners are the cause of most of the calls I take that result in the only fix being a system recovery to factory defaults. You and I may be wise enough to avoid the registry cleaning function. The problem is, the average user is an idiot and doesn't understand that just because there's a feature there doesn't mean they have to use it.

[KyadCK]

The problem with advanced options on programs like CCleaner is that idiots who have no business using them do so anyway, because it's there, because they think they're better with computers than they are, because it's never explained clearly enough that you shouldn't use it unless you know EXACTLY what you are doing, or any combination of those reasons. I hate any program with a registry cleaner in it because at my job, registry cleaners are the cause of most of the calls I take that result in the only fix being a system recovery to factory defaults. You and I may be wise enough to avoid the registry cleaning function. The problem is, the average user is an idiot and doesn't understand that just because there's a feature there doesn't mean they have to use it.

People are stupid so the program sucks. Good logic. Stick to blaming the people next time.

[The E]

Yes. The problem with versatile and powerful programs is that they make excellent guns aimed squarely at your own foot. In such cases, it is best not to include options that can be used to render your system unstable. Yes, CCleaner is a great tool for doing maintenance tasks that aren't registry-related. But, as is commonly observed among car drivers, actual proficiency usually is lower than the users' estimation thereof.

[KyadCK]

CCleaner is a great tool for doing maintenance tasks that aren't registry-related.

And this is my entire point. Of cource users are going to be stupid, but that does not mean the program itself is bad or sucks. That's like saying programs like PowerIso are bad because they can be used to mount torrented games, or Linux is bad because people who hack/crack websites prefer to use it. I can safely say all those I told how to use CCleaner have thanked me for it and I have not had to fix their computers for registry issues. Blame the people, not the program. After all, its the person that aims the gun at their foot.

[The E]

And it's the program that hands the user the loaded gun.

[KyadCK]

And it's the program that hands the user the loaded gun.

A person keeps cutting their fingers with the knife when they are trying to cook food. Do you teach them how to use the knife, or do you take it away and never let it be used by anyone including those who do know how to use it?

[The E]

Which leads us to the unfortunate issue that, while many if not most people are interested in learning how to cook, the reverse is true about how people approach learning about proper computer maintenance.

[KyadCK]

Which leads us to the unfortunate issue that, while many if not most people are interested in learning how to cook, the reverse is true about how people approach learning about proper computer maintenance.

So because The program is potentially harmfull (like every single program out there) it should be classified as bad and never ever be recomended to anyone ever again? I would like to go back to the fact everyone I have told how to use it, uses it correctly. The concept of "-right click -> run- once a week will keep your computer from slowing down" is enough to get people's attention. And that is literally as simple as CCleaner is.

Note: There is no right-click -> clean registry. The only option on the recycle bin is the standard cleaning

[The E]

No, it means that it should not be recommended to people who are unable to make the right calls regarding computer maintenance. Again, I am not saying that CCleaner is a bad or useless program, I am saying that it should not be in the wrong hands, and that most of those hands ARE in fact the wrong ones. The best  advice you give is worthless in the face of someone willing to follow the advice of the clueless noobs who think they know their way around a PC. If you've mostly dealt with people who ask you for advice, great. If you've ever had to try and rescue a system burned by the combination of CCleaner and cluelessness, you will probably know why I feel how I feel about it.

[KyadCK]

My arguments are not that people arent dumb enough not to ruin their computer with the program, just that CCleaner does not suck as stated here and here. They are based on the false assumtion that it is primarily a registry cleaner, and I have high doubts they have even used the program to judge its actual value. Just because it is not safe for the average user does not make it unsafe for people who know better, which they claim to be.

If you've ever had to try and rescue a system burned by the combination of CCleaner and cluelessness, you will probably know why I feel how I feel about it.

I don't need to have had experiance with CCleaner killing something, it is just (and i use the word 'just' very very lightly) another typical example of the pains of general tech support. It does nothing to single CCleaner out of the crowd, especialy when compared to other programs that make breaking things much easier (straight up advice on a website to modify registry manually anyone?). At least CCleaner promts to save a backup if you chose to 'clean' the registry and at least it defaults to 'yes'. That is already more the 99.9% of the programs out there.

[jr2]

If the drive is SATA, then yes. If the drive is PATA (40+ pins) then no.

Caveat:  You can use a PATA laptop drive in a desktop, if you buy an adapter (it should come with the adapter for the pins + a power adapter to take 5V from a molex power plug and put it in the appropriate place in the laptop pins)  Like this one here (Newegg, ~$15 US after shipping).

EDIT: And, about the whole CCleaner / registry deal, I believe that some bad "registry cleaners" go too far to seem like a good program... the more "errors" they find, the better they seem.  Like a anti-spyware program calling a cookie a "medium"-classed threat to your system.  Then, when the user goes ahead and removes the "problems", it causes issues like the ones The_E and CaptJosh are talking about.  I do believe CCleaner doesn't find the "errors" that other programs do, as it knows better than to change most settings that might cause instability.  See?

Just because Uniblue Registry Cleaner (to pick a random one) crashed a system doesn't make all registry cleaners bad.

I use the registry cleaners on both IOBit Advanced SystemCare Free and CCleaner on every computer I clean, and do you know how many bad results I've had?

None.  (I'm not saying that it's necessarily a good idea for anyone to do what I'm doing, but anyone who knows how to use System Restore / the built-in undo function in IOBit ASC Free should be able to manage just fine if anything did happen.)

Although, yeah, the exclusions above kinda limit the users that should be able to use registry cleaners.  I just don't get how The E is saying he always has to fix CCleaner's problems when I've never seen one... I'm pretty sure what you're running into is crapware released by companies that are just after the customers' wallets, whatever happens after they get your info, they could care the f--- less.