CCleaner any good?

[Jarchris]

Hi all,

I'm wondering if CCleaner is any good to use. What does it exactly do and what benefits does it give? And when should you run it, like once a week?

Jarchris

 

[ArisVer]

Hi all,

I'm wondering if CCleaner is any good to use. What does it exactly do and what benefits does it give? And when should you run it, like once a week?

Jarchris

It's good. Then again it depends on what you will be using it for. I mostly use it for registry cleaning. Apart from that, it can clean temp files from the system and browsers, it has options to uninstall programs, can search for duplicate files, and some more.
"If you'll never try you'll never know."

 

[sswingle]

I use it. Easy way to clear out temp directories and browser cache, etc quickly.

 

[Berryracer]

After the latest issue with CCleaner 5, and I know it has always corrupted my search index, I stopped using it and created my own batch file to clean the following folders:

C : \Windows\Temp
C : \Windows\Software Distribution\Download
C : \Users\&USERNAME&\Temp

I don't trust any utility any more to tinker with my system files or registry

Some problems to be wary of:

Event ID 80

CCleaner 5.01.0575 corrupted my SSD 01/01/2015

All my files are now corrupted...

sxs event id 78

Windows Event Viewer Error 78
======================================================

Temp Files Cleanup:

Cleans up the Temp folder in the C : \Windows\Temp
Cleans up the c : \users\yourusername\temp

Cleans up the Software Distribution folder where all the Windows updates are downloaded, but after they are installed, Windows doesn't delete them and they are no longer needed. Only run the file after you have rebooted if you installed Windows updates

To create the batch file, simply open a notepad, then paste the below text, then name it "Temp Files Cleanup.bat"

DEL /S /F /Q "%temp%\*" 1>nul 2>nul
DEL /S /F /Q %systemroot%\temp\* 1>nul 2>nul
DEL /S /F /Q %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution\Download\* 1>nul 2>nul
for /f %%i in ('"dir /s /b /ad "%temp%"" 2^>nul') do RD /S /Q %%i 1>nul 2>nul
for /f %%i in ('"dir /s /b /ad %windir%\temp" 2^>nul') do RD /S /Q %%i 1>nul 2>nul
for /f %%i in ('"dir /s /b /ad %windir%\SoftwareDistribution\Download" 2^>nul') do RD /S /Q %%i 1>nul 2>nul

===========================================

System Files Cleanup:

Cleans up all the above mentioned folder in addition to some extras like the system logs, .NET Framework temp files, etc.
To create the batch file, simply open a notepad, then paste the below text, then name it "System Cleanup.bat"

@echo off
title .
color 1F
openfiles >nul 2>&1
if %errorlevel% NEQ 0 goto :UACPrompt
goto :gotAdmin
:UACPrompt
echo Set UAC = CreateObject^("Shell.Application"^) > "%temp%\getadmin.vbs"
echo UAC.ShellExecute "%~fs0", "", "", "runas", 1 >> "%temp%\getadmin.vbs"
"%temp%\getadmin.vbs"
del "%temp%\getadmin.vbs"
exit /b
:gotAdmin
DEL /S /F /Q "%temp%\*" 1>nul 2>nul
DEL /S /F /Q %systemroot%\temp\* 1>nul 2>nul
DEL /S /F /Q %systemroot%\inf\*.log 1>nul 2>nul
DEL /S /F /Q %systemroot%\Logs\CBS\* 1>nul 2>nul
DEL /S /F /Q %systemroot%\Logs\DPX\* 1>nul 2>nul
DEL /S /F /Q %systemroot%\Logs\DISM\* 1>nul 2>nul
DEL /S /F /Q %systemroot%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\*.log 1>nul 2>nul
DEL /S /F /Q %systemroot%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\*.log 1>nul 2>nul
if exist %systemroot%\SysWOW64\cmd.exe DEL /S /F /Q %systemroot%\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727\*.log 1>nul 2>nul
if exist %systemroot%\SysWOW64\cmd.exe DEL /S /F /Q %systemroot%\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\*.log 1>nul 2>nul
DEL /S /F /Q %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution\Download\* 1>nul 2>nul
RD /S /Q "%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportQueue" 1>nul 2>nul
for /f %%i in ('"dir /s /b /ad "%temp%"" 2^>nul') do RD /S /Q %%i 1>nul 2>nul
for /f %%i in ('"dir /s /b /ad %windir%\SoftwareDistribution\Download" 2^>nul') do RD /S /Q %%i 1>nul 2>nul
for /f %%i in ('"dir /s /b /ad %windir%\temp" 2^>nul') do RD /S /Q %%i 1>nul 2>nul

====================================
I've also uploaded the files if you wanna download them:

Temp Files Cleanup.bat

System Files Cleanup.bat

 

[Ketchup]

CCleaner is a good program to use if you have limited disk space. It incorporates cleaning functions of internet browsers and several other programs. It does not include all the functionality of Windows Disk Cleanup.

It does have some other features to make it more appealing, such as a registry cleaning and a list of startup programs that can be activated/ deactivated.The former has no real appeal since Windows 98, and the latter can be done just as easily in System Configuration.

If you aren't worried about space, I see no real reason to use it.

 

[Jarchris]

After the latest issue with CCleaner 5, and I know it has always corrupted my search index, I stopped using it and created my own batch file to clean the following folders:

C : \Windows\Temp
C : \Windows\Software Distribution\Download
C : \Users\&USERNAME&\Temp

I don't trust any utility any more to tinker with my system files or registry

Some problems to be wary of:

Event ID 80

CCleaner 5.01.0575 corrupted my SSD 01/01/2015

All my files are now corrupted...

sxs event id 78

Windows Event Viewer Error 78
======================================================

Temp Files Cleanup:

Cleans up the Temp folder in the C : \Windows\Temp
Cleans up the c : \users\yourusername\temp

Cleans up the Software Distribution folder where all the Windows updates are downloaded, but after they are installed, Windows doesn't delete them and they are no longer needed. Only run the file after you have rebooted if you installed Windows updates

To create the batch file, simply open a notepad, then paste the below text, then name it "Temp Files Cleanup.bat"

DEL /S /F /Q "%temp%\*" 1>nul 2>nul
DEL /S /F /Q %systemroot%\temp\* 1>nul 2>nul
DEL /S /F /Q %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution\Download\* 1>nul 2>nul
for /f %%i in ('"dir /s /b /ad "%temp%"" 2^>nul') do RD /S /Q %%i 1>nul 2>nul
for /f %%i in ('"dir /s /b /ad %windir%\temp" 2^>nul') do RD /S /Q %%i 1>nul 2>nul
for /f %%i in ('"dir /s /b /ad %windir%\SoftwareDistribution\Download" 2^>nul') do RD /S /Q %%i 1>nul 2>nul

===========================================

System Files Cleanup:

Cleans up all the above mentioned folder in addition to some extras like the system logs, .NET Framework temp files, etc.
To create the batch file, simply open a notepad, then paste the below text, then name it "System Cleanup.bat"

@echo off
title .
color 1F
openfiles >nul 2>&1
if %errorlevel% NEQ 0 goto :UACPrompt
goto :gotAdmin
:UACPrompt
echo Set UAC = CreateObject^("Shell.Application"^) > "%temp%\getadmin.vbs"
echo UAC.ShellExecute "%~fs0", "", "", "runas", 1 >> "%temp%\getadmin.vbs"
"%temp%\getadmin.vbs"
del "%temp%\getadmin.vbs"
exit /b
:gotAdmin
DEL /S /F /Q "%temp%\*" 1>nul 2>nul
DEL /S /F /Q %systemroot%\temp\* 1>nul 2>nul
DEL /S /F /Q %systemroot%\inf\*.log 1>nul 2>nul
DEL /S /F /Q %systemroot%\Logs\CBS\* 1>nul 2>nul
DEL /S /F /Q %systemroot%\Logs\DPX\* 1>nul 2>nul
DEL /S /F /Q %systemroot%\Logs\DISM\* 1>nul 2>nul
DEL /S /F /Q %systemroot%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\*.log 1>nul 2>nul
DEL /S /F /Q %systemroot%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\*.log 1>nul 2>nul
if exist %systemroot%\SysWOW64\cmd.exe DEL /S /F /Q %systemroot%\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727\*.log 1>nul 2>nul
if exist %systemroot%\SysWOW64\cmd.exe DEL /S /F /Q %systemroot%\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\*.log 1>nul 2>nul
DEL /S /F /Q %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution\Download\* 1>nul 2>nul
RD /S /Q "%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportQueue" 1>nul 2>nul
for /f %%i in ('"dir /s /b /ad "%temp%"" 2^>nul') do RD /S /Q %%i 1>nul 2>nul
for /f %%i in ('"dir /s /b /ad %windir%\SoftwareDistribution\Download" 2^>nul') do RD /S /Q %%i 1>nul 2>nul
for /f %%i in ('"dir /s /b /ad %windir%\temp" 2^>nul') do RD /S /Q %%i 1>nul 2>nul

====================================
I've also uploaded the files if you wanna download them:

Temp Files Cleanup.bat

System Files Cleanup.bat

Thanks for this solution. Is this was Disk Cleanup of Windows 8.1 does, but then manually? Is it also possible to just go to the folders and delete everything in it? If I just do this together with deleting my browsing history from within my browser, will it have the same effect as cleaning with CCleaner?

 

[John Connor]

I've used Ccleaner for years and have had ZERO issues. So have millions of other users. If you run Ccleaner on a SSD and chose an overwrite of x number of times Ccleaner won't let you using the latest version. This is due to the limited write cycle of SSDs. But I reckon with the latest SSDs it's not much of a problem anymore.

I also use System Ninja. It will delete temp files Ccleaner doesn't.

There is really no need to run the registry cleaner unless you removed an app or game manually, thus you should clean the registry for left overs from that install. But Revo Uninstaller is what you should use if you are having problems removing an app or game. This is not about locked files that can't be deleted. For those, I would first Google the file name and be sure you are not deleting an important OS file. You can use Unlocker or install Superantispyware and use the right click context menu to delete the file/folder. Unlocker works with the right click context menu as well.

 

[Jarchris]

I've used Ccleaner for years and have had ZERO issues. So have millions of other users. If you run Ccleaner on a SSD and chose an overwrite of x number of times Ccleaner won't let you using the latest version. This is due to the limited write cycle of SSDs. But I reckon with the latest SSDs it's not much of a problem anymore.

I also use System Ninja. It will delete temp files Ccleaner doesn't.

There is really no need to run the registry cleaner unless you removed an app or game manually, thus you should clean the registry for left overs from that install. But Revo Uninstaller is what you should use if you are having problems removing an app or game. This is not about locked files that can't be deleted. For those, I would first Google the file name and be sure you are not deleting an important OS file. You can use Unlocker or install Superantispyware and use the right click context menu to delete the file/folder. Unlocker works with the right click context menu as well.

I have a SSD too, should I use the cleaner option once a week or so then? What do you mean with the 'won't let you using the latest version' part? Does CCleaner also remove the files that the default Windows Disk Cleanup option removes?

 

[John Connor]

What I meant was that the older version of Ccleaner allowed you to overwrite files x number of times regardless of whether you had a SSD or not. With the new version of Ccleaner it won't allow you to use the x number of overwrites with a SSD.

I would use Ccleaner once a week. Some people use it every day. It all depends on how many temp files you acquire. Use System Ninja too.

The only thing I don't like about Ccleaner now is it has copied the Windows 8 flat look. If you use windows 8 you won't notice it, but if you have Windows 7 like I have you will notice it and it looks like crap.

 

[Jarchris]

What I meant was that the older version of Ccleaner allowed you to overwrite files x number of times regardless of whether you had a SSD or not. With the new version of Ccleaner it won't allow you to use the x number of overwrites with a SSD.

I would use Ccleaner once a week. Some people use it every day. It all depends on how many temp files you acquire. Use System Ninja too.

The only thing I don't like about Ccleaner now is it has copied the Windows 8 flat look. If you use windows 8 you won't notice it, but if you have Windows 7 like I have you will notice it and it looks like crap.

I'll use CCleaner together with System Ninja once a week then. Is the disk cleanup of Windows itself still needed if I use these two applications? Also should I untick or tick any specific options in System Ninja? I thought maybe CCleaner has some common options, so I could untick these in System Ninja.

 

[John Connor]

In System Ninja I would (and I believe it's off by default) untick folder config files.

In Ccleaner you may want to untick auto complete form history and saved passwords if you save passwords in your browser. I never save passwords in my browser. In Ccleaner under advanced I would only enable old prefetch data.

Disk cleanup won't have very many files after using Ccleaner and System Ninja do their magic. There may be a file that says it has data, but in my case it never removes anything. I think the disk cleanup for Windows is crap.

If you have any programs where you don't want data deleted by Ccleaner make sure that the program isn't list under the applications tab and untick that program. In my case I use Filezilla, a FTP cleint and I want my saved info. to remain.

 

[Jarchris]

Thanks a lot for the advice. I'll think I'll be running CCleaner and System Ninja once a week from now on, to keep things clean.

 

[It's Not Lupus]

I've been sticking with version 4.17 but forgot my reason.

 

[psychosiz]

I have used CCleaner for years and have never had any issues. Have just begun using System Ninja so I can't comment on it with confidence but thus far I have not had any issues. What I like about CCleaner is its quick and easy.

 

[daveybrat]

I personally use CCleaner on my home systems for many years now. I also run it on almost every job i work on at my computer store. Never had any problems with it damaging a system.

I don't run the registry cleaning portion of it though.

Great product and it's free!

 

[Towermax]

Been using CCleaner for many, many years. I've never had the slightest trouble with it.