[Mars]

Use CCleaner registry cleaner on a daily basis. . .

haven't seen a problem in five years.


WAIT WAIT. . . once it disassociated FLVs from VLC or something.

[The E]

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.

I am not saying (and haven't) that I am "always" fixing problems caused by CCleaner. I had to do it twice, while I was working first-line tech support, back in the dark days of Windows Vista. While I have no doubt that the current versions are a lot more careful about what they touch, I still have lingering resentments against that program. Yes, it's probably irrational.

[Klaustrophobia]

I have used CCleaner's registry clean somewhat regularly.  I've never seen it do much more than delete entries for programs that no longer exist or get rid of unused file extensions.  I don't comb through the list much anymore, but I've never had a single problem.  The IOBit one made the menu toolbars look weird by highlighting all the menus like the mouse was hovering over them, but as far as I could tell it didn't do anything damaging.  I don't use it anymore anyway though. 

[CaptJosh]

You know, I'm sorry I even mentioned registry cleaners creating problems now. I completely derailed this topic.

[Rodo]

reinstall windows ftw....

or for the complete fail.

[jr2]

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.

I am not saying (and haven't) that I am "always" fixing problems caused by CCleaner. I had to do it twice, while I was working first-line tech support, back in the dark days of Windows Vista. While I have no doubt that the current versions are a lot more careful about what they touch, I still have lingering resentments against that program. Yes, it's probably irrational.

* jr2  is willing to bet this was caused by customers running CCleaner versions designed only for XP on Vista when Vista first came out, before CCleaner made updates to work with Vista "because it suuure wurked grate fer mah uther compuuter".

[Nuke]

people still try cleaning their registry? lol. way i see it, no sense polishing the brass on the titanic. windows, once installed will go down. but its only 30 minute job to re-instal, and less if you made an image early on.

[est1895]

Yah but, how do you map the drives, update the drivers including the bios???  If someone could show me once how to do everything, I would pay them the $50 fee for labor. 

[Nuke]

i find updates only make my computer slower. so i do everything in my power to stop them. il update my video drivers as i have problems or acquire new games. i like to identify which software doesn't mind not being formally installed, and i copy those to my d drive and run them from there. i kill and restore the c drive and its still there and still works. yay! im not going to let any system dev closed or open, tell me how to run my rig.

[est1895]

What about the Service Packs?

[Nuke]

install the versions it admins use. web installs are so brutally tedious, downloading the same thing over and over, download once install many times. people who make web installers should be hung, shot, resurrected, and impaled, if they are still alive after 3 days, flame thrower. even then i only instal service packs when absolutely necessary.

[Grizzly]

My father (Who I inherited the 'tech hobbyist' thing from) has noticed that a clean Windows install with all the current SP's and updates integrated into the disc runs faster then a clean windows install where everything was done by Windows Update.

[jr2]

My father (Who I inherited the 'tech hobbyist' thing from) has noticed that a clean Windows install with all the current SP's and updates integrated into the disc runs faster then a clean windows install where everything was done by Windows Update.

This.  But sometimes when you slipstream the updates, one of them won't quite take.  Sucks, cause then any system you install with that disk needs to be fixed, or you need a new disk.  But that was XP, maybe they have improved the slipstream process now.

[Nuke]

ive done that with old versions of xp. had to tailor everything to fit in a very tiny storage device, and had to spin off a light weight distro of xp with sp3 to fit on a 2gb flash card, and for the most part it worked. i cant remember what i used for that.

i use as little of windows as possible, using 3rd party software whenever possible for example notepad++ over notepad/wordpad, winamp and vlc over windows media player and so on. i really dont like downloading updates for things i dont use, and service packs annoy me for that very reason (i only get 20 gigs of transfer a month on top of that so its a big chunk out of my download budget, especially if the downloads fail). slipstreaming them in and then stripping out all the crap i dont use would be rather awesome, assuming i dont have to download lots of other crap in the process. still i find theres either a new service pack or a new version of windows each time i format c:, so i usually just say screw it.

[jr2]

eXPerience's XP multi-boot DVD + autopatcher FTW

[S-99]

There's only two reasons i like ccleaner. Much cleaner way of uninstalling programs, and a general registry cleaner (both have to do with the registry). It happens to clear out the history and cache of internet explorer, and empty the recycle bin (and other things)?

Well now, i guess people are too lazy to right click on recycle bin, let alone how to clear the cache and history of internet explorer from internet explorer (and other things; just here to list the obvious). In the end, it's an easy to use program that does it's job well. But, ccleaner has redundant features that the os already provides.

I find ccleaner to be a paranoid-get-the-job-done-fast-and-effectively for those who surf too multiple infested porn sites with internet explorer and happened to snag a few dialers and other malware (of course in conjunction with a virus scanner, and of course the damn program has several legitimate uses too).

I say beat the heat and don't shoot yourself in the foot with your own gun by running as admin. Running a computer from a standard user account would really make the need for ccleaner almost zero (it'd be handy for cleanly uninstalling programs in this scenario, and that's about it). And it basically makes the need for having a virus scanner zero since no malware could run or execute unless you specifically malware permission to do so.

I always recommend updates. Those things that patch security holes (windows update set only to important updates). But, what really helps with security is not running as admin. That really cures a lot of windows problems. Not running as admin, watch windows firewall actually work, see the intended purpose of UAC (a godsend UAC is), see system os repair and maintenance really drop off, in general see your computer actually obeying you.

Running as admin 24/7 makes need for all of these specialty programs (ccleaner, spybot, windows defender, avast, avg, zonealarm, biglistitis). So, don't run as admin and you'll be making use of these programs a lot less and watch your computer work how you intended too. Increase productivity; let the computer work for you instead of you constantly working for it. God, running as admin all the time goes way back in windows before ms implemented multi-user ability (old habits will die hard).


People are dumb as long as we keep treating them like they're dumb. And people are certainly dumb to reject my advice on this matter.

[KyadCK]

There are a few levels of computer knowledge:

-Too scared to do anything (i like these guys, they almost never need support)

-General knowledge of how to use a computer, but doesn't mess with anything

-Thinks they know what is or isn't safe (and acts on it, these are the most annoying, and the most common)

-Actually knows what isn't safe, does it anyway (2nd most annoying)

-Actually knows what isn't safe, doesn't do it

-Knows exactly what isn't safe, but does it anyway and gets away with it because they know how to fix it.

Do i run with the paranoid settings S-99 lists? Not really, I'm a domain admin. I'm in that last group. I can fix it. This is where the concept of:

People are dumb as long as we keep treating them like they're dumb. And people are certainly dumb to reject my advice on this matter.

Is wrong. People are stupid. And running in such a crippled mode is for the stupid. If I break something, or get a virus, it is my fault for leaving myself open, but I can damn well solve the problem. I might even find it fun. A number of the tools I need (such as user/network management) require admin mode, and for good reason. It is not worth the effort (even with the risk) of logging out and in all the time.

So, don't run as admin and you'll be making use of these programs a lot less and watch your computer work how you intended too.

Either you still have all the programs running in the backround doing their job, just like in admin mode (that's right, you don't actively use any defence tools in admin mode either), or you aren't using the programs because you are 'safe' in user mode. If you are suggesting the latter, then quite frankly that is insanely bad tech advice to give to anyone.

Nuke's concept of 'don't download updates' is a horrible one too, and there is a very good reason why. The main target of any virus is windows loopholes and bugs, of course, we all know this. Interestingly enough, the vast majority of viruses are not made until after the patch is released, telling the virus makers exactly what to aim for. Not keeping your system up to date on security patches is the number one way to open yourself up. That's right, you can blame MS's annoying updates as the main reason your system is at risk.

Well now, i guess people are too lazy to right click on recycle bin, let alone how to clear the cache and history of internet explorer from internet explorer (and other things; just here to list the obvious). In the end, it's an easy to use program that does it's job well. But, ccleaner has redundant features that the os already provides.

As a side note, I know how to clean out IE, Recycle Bin, Chrome, etc. Guess What. CCleaner does it faster, with all of two clicks. That would be right-click on the Recycle Bin, and 'run CCleaner'. Its also nice to tell people who aren't tech savvy that just two clicks a week helps keep their computer clean. So ya, I'm too lazy to do it all by hand, I just don't see the point. I also use TerraCopy in place of Explorer Copy, NP++ in place of Notepad, GIMP in place of Paint, VMware in place of Windows VHDs. They do the job better, even if they do the exact same job. That's kinda the key reason we use... well, anything.

[S-99]

Is wrong. People are stupid.

Wow, just wow. You're attitude of users is so negative. I'm not discounting that there's dumb users out there, but please improve your attitude on this matter. It can only serve to disrespect the users that you do fix problems for. Maybe you even think that users can't learn?

And running in such a crippled mode is for the stupid. If I break something, or get a virus, it is my fault for leaving myself open, but I can damn well solve the problem. I might even find it fun. A number of the tools I need (such as user/network management) require admin mode, and for good reason. It is not worth the effort (even with the risk) of logging out and in all the time.

A great way of leaving yourself open is by running as admin 24/7. Sure you might be able to fix the problem, but you're guaranteeing yourself a lot more work and potential down time. Logging in and out all of the time; you don't realize how much that's been a thing of the past. You truly don't understand the power of UAC (hint, it's true power comes from when you're not running as admin). UAC is a good thing, so many people don't  understand this and why i champion it, but go ahead, don't find out. Don't find out at all.

Either you still have all the programs running in the backround doing their job, just like in admin mode (that's right, you don't actively use any defence tools in admin mode either), or you aren't using the programs because you are 'safe' in user mode. If you are suggesting the latter, then quite frankly that is insanely bad tech advice to give to anyone.

That you don't need to use certain programs when you run in a user account with less permissions? The less programs you need and the ones you need to run less is a good thing.

Nuke's concept of 'don't download updates' is a horrible one too, and there is a very good reason why. blablalblalbalblablablabla.....

I already pointed this out.

As a side note, I know how to clean out IE, Recycle Bin, Chrome, etc. Guess What. CCleaner does it faster, with all of two clicks. That would be right-click on the Recycle Bin, and 'run CCleaner'. Its also nice to tell people who aren't tech savvy that just two clicks a week helps keep their computer clean. So ya, I'm too lazy to do it all by hand, I just don't see the point. I also use TerraCopy in place of Explorer Copy, NP++ in place of Notepad, GIMP in place of Paint, VMware in place of Windows VHDs. They do the job better, even if they do the exact same job. That's kinda the key reason we use... well, anything.

Ccleaner may do it faster, but it also means for the potential of not knowing how to do the same tasks without it. Is any os going to have the same way of doing things for eons? The safe answer is no. I'm talking about not breeding laziness with future os releases for any os; to learn how they actually work without that magical third party application. There's only two features i care about that the program has. Clean uninstallation of programs and a registry cleaner. Two things which windows doesn't really do well.

I don't care what you're job is. We're on two different wave lengths here. I do understand the power of running as a standard user in a multiuser account os and you don't. The key to knowing this is that admin privileges are only for when something administrative needs to happen (and you don't need to keep logging in and logging out for them either). In other words; surfing the internet, using an email client, word processing, and playing games do not need to take place with admin privileges.

Go and keep doing what you're doing without understanding me (please just please). Void my great advice, i don't care. It's your ass on the line not mine.

[KyadCK]

Wow, just wow. You're attitude of users is so negative.

Amazing how doing a lot of tech support for those who don't listen inspires courage, isn't it?

I'm not discounting that there's dumb users out there, but please improve your attitude on this matter. It can only serve to disrespect the users that you do fix problems for. Maybe you even think that users can't learn?

They can learn, but they have to want to first. You obviously -never- trip across the total ignorance of the average user who just wants it to work, and doesn't give the slightest damn how it works or how to stop it from breaking again.

That you don't need to use certain programs when you run in a user account with less permissions? The less programs you need and the ones you need to run less is a good thing.

Oh. So you really are saying that out of your list of antiviruses (when you only even need one) and CCleaner, you can run less. So you are suggesting that these antivirus programs are not needed then? You know, considering CCleaner is just a convenient tool and all... Great logic, amazing how not running in admin eliminates the need for that one anti-virus, I didn't know that. All joking aside, did you know that to run more then one anti-virus is to hurt your system? No two ever play nice, and it always drags the system down.

So enlighten me. What defense programs do you run only in admin mode that users don't need? And no, not tools like CCleaner. Those are used for convenience, not actual defence and are never required in the first place.

You truly don't understand the power of UAC (hint, it's true power comes from when you're not running as admin). UAC is a good thing, so many people don't  understand this and why i champion it, but go ahead, don't find out. Don't find out at all.

When 90% of the work I do requires admin (including fixing other people's computers) guess what gets annoying real fast. Perhaps its the mini system lock out every 2 mins as I'm going through all the 'restricted' folders and programs to fix what broke. It is great for the normal user, it keeps them safe (kinda... most don't bother reading and just pass through it anyway) but it is just an annoyance for any true work.

Ccleaner may do it faster, but it also means for the potential of not knowing how to do the same tasks without it. Is any os going to have the same way of doing things for eons? The safe answer is no. I'm talking about not breeding laziness with future os releases for any os; to learn how they actually work without that magical third party application. There's only two features i care about that the program has. Clean uninstallation of programs and a registry cleaner. Two things which windows doesn't really do well.

I don't think Windows handles cleaning up very well, theres no one-stop-shop to clean it all. You'll notice all the programs I listed do exactly what windows does, but faster and better. Why should I bother teaching the average user how to clean it the normal way? Even I don't do it by hand. There are better ways to do it.

Its like saying install Linux next to windows and modify the fully capable windows MBR to recognize Linux as an option (which is a big pain in the ass), or just letting Linux install GRUB and have it recognize windows right away and can later modify with a text editor. Sure, I could learn the built-in windows bootloader... but why? It just doesn't do the job well enough.

I already pointed this out.

Considering Nuke's stance and considerable knowledge in computers, I'm going to go out on a limb and say your generic 'patch windows to keep it safe' logic would have no effect. I explained why, which goes a very long way.

[Nuke]

-Knows exactly what isn't safe, but does it anyway and gets away with it because they know how to fix it.

i'm definitely in this group. yes i do things im not supposed to do, yes i make incredibly dumb security decisions. but i can usually have it fixed in an hour or two when something goes horribly wrong. i backup my stuff regularly, and there is nothing on the c drive i would miss if it got wiped. 

Nuke's concept of 'don't download updates' is a horrible one too, and there is a very good reason why. The main target of any virus is windows loopholes and bugs, of course, we all know this. Interestingly enough, the vast majority of viruses are not made until after the patch is released, telling the virus makers exactly what to aim for. Not keeping your system up to date on security patches is the number one way to open yourself up. That's right, you can blame MS's annoying updates as the main reason your system is at risk.

you shouldn't be taking anything i say as advice. i have many reasons for disabling updates. the biggest of which is the fact that they are huge these days, and if i left automatic updates on for all my computers it would eat my 20gig monthly transfer cap. i like to know when my machine is downloading something big, and so i just stick with the it distribution packs, download once use them many times. i also am not a web surfer. i have a few websites that i go to regularly, i do not use email, or social networking. so i am not at risk for viruses. i have old computers with disposable os installs around just for doing risky things online.