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My first choice here is CCleaner, a product that started off as pretty basic but has continued to improve to the point where it is now very close to the best in its class regardless of price. It's very effective in freeing up disk space by removing unused and temporary files, cookies, Recycle bin entries, Windows hot-fix files, history and cache files in many applications such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera, Safari and hundreds of others. Note you can configure preferences for browser cookies that you want to keep during a clean (in case you don't want to delete them all), which is a convenient feature for many users. You can define custom rules to include or exclude files, folders or registry keys from cleaning (Temp folders are a good candidate to include), You can wipe free (unused) space from the disk (including MFT data), and CCleaner supports secure deletion of data (1, 3, 7 to Guttman 35 passes). There are options to extend CCleaner adding new programs for software that doesn't come with the base install. Some of these options are explained in the Documentation You can also remove options (programs) that you do not want to be cleaned from the list of available programs that can be cleaned. The options can include adding to or removed from the built in detections that come with the base CCleaner install. This flexibility I have not yet seen in any comparable file cleaning tool. CCleaner has been around for many years, and over that time it has been more actively developed than any other file cleaner software. (It's not unusual to see a new release every 6-8 weeks). Piriform release new versions to support new software when it comes out (like new versions of the major browsers) and with features to support changes to the operating system - eg. When Windows 7 was released support for cleaning "Taskbar Jump Lists", and even using "Jump Lists" and Windows 7 style progress bars in their CCleaner. Many other file cleaner products were developed for Win2000 or WinXP and haven't seen an update since. If you are running the latest OS, Browser or Office Suite etc - it is best to use software that was developed and tested with the latest software that you are using. There are some minuses: first, the CCleaner install, by default, includes the Yahoo Toolbar, so if you don't want this make sure you uncheck that option during install, or select one of the smaller downloads that has no toolbar included - and one that better meets your specific needs (like the portable or slim build). Secondly I would like to see a tutorial or wizard for first time users when they run CCleaner. Too often the complaints that CCleaner deleted something it shouldn't, turn out to be the user isn't too familiar with what the options mean or what the impact of cleaning temp files and settings from their system. Even selecting every possibly option should still not damage windows in any way - as CCleaner is very conservative in what it will remove, but for some first time users, running CCleaner can seem to be a scary step to take. However, if simply freeing up disk space is your objective then CCleaner is hard to beat. A good companion to CCleaner is Empty Temp Folders. It's not as complete a product as CCleaner and it's been a while since it was last updated, but I find that it always manages to clean more temporary files than CCleaner. That's why I suggest you use both. Another cleaner with a solid following is Steven Gould's CleanUP!. It's compact, well designed and very well maintained and is a real alternative to CCleaner. In use I've had a couple instances which caused problems on my test PC, but this may have been specific to my setup. Certainly the feedback I get from users has been uniformly excellent. In a related category is PC Decrapifier. Its job is to remove unwanted trial versions of programs and services that come preinstalled on new PCs. You can remove all this stuff manually, but PC Decrapifier does this automatically. It can't remove every bit of junk from every computer, but the list of products it will remove is quite impressive.
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2.28.1091 
Unrestricted Freeware 
95 - Windows 7
Portable version available
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CCleaner is at version 2.28.1091 currently... released today.
I just had a problem with the latest version wiping my Office 2003 Option settings.... I had to revert back to the prior version... anybody else have that problem???
Any opinion on ATF Cleaner and PureRa? Have not seen them mentioned at TSA. Thanks
I believe both have been mentioned before. I am certainly aware of them both.
I am working on updating the products recommended in the above article, as over the past year there have been a number of changes - both to Windows and to the browsers themselves.
Several of the tools do not support any version of windows beyond XP and conditional support of Vista and possibly Windows 7.
Also there has been talk for some time from developers who are promising updated versions to support Win7 and the latest versions of popular browsers.
So an updated recommendations report will appear here once I've completed the testing of the many File Cleaner Tools.
So.... at this time are the two recommended?
Is CleanUp! Vista compatible? I have searched their forums and FAQS but no clear answer. Is it even still being developed or monitored by the creator S. Gould?
You should give Moo0 Disk Cleaner http://www.moo0.com/software/DiskCleaner/ a try. It cleaned 1 GB of junk from my PC! How's that for disk cleaning!
Had you used another File Cleaner -BEFORE- you used the Moo0 thing?
If Not then, it is Not a big thing for a PC Never-Cleaned before...
Now, if you had used another File Cleaner -Before-,
and the Moo0 thing found 1GB of -Extra- junk,
then, you better be careful with the Moo0 thing!
In my PC, the Moo0 thing did not find what others missed.
Anyway, File Cleaning is another over-estimated issue:
The performance gains are marginal; especially in Windows 7.
Also, Moo0 cleaned mostly Windows logs. Maybe you tried an earlier version of Moo0, but 1.03 told me exactly what it was going to clean, nothing to wonder about. I don't why CCleaner didn't clean those Windows logs that apparently had been building up for weeks on my new PC.
No, I tried 1.03 version.
-Moo0 deletes Windows log files your system
will need in case of a Crash, Error Report etc.
-Moo0 deletes MS Update Uninstallers (Hotfixes), too.
-Moo0 deletes the Prefetch folder by the way (not a smart thing to do...)
Some File Cleaners, like Moo0,
try to impress users by erasing what they shouldn't.
Finding much Junk tells me nothing.
The issue is Not to Cripple a system
by erasing what the system actually needs/will need.
In truth, all of these programs, just like registry "cleaners", are all capable of crippling a system if not in experienced hands. I don't recommend any of them for that reason but I also appreciate that people want to use them, hence the articles here. It doesn't contribute to the discussion though by bouncing up and down just because someone doesn't like the same one as you do. I find Moo0 products to be totally reliable and use several myself including their world time and connection monitor. Users should evaluate their own need for a product like this and do some personal research before making a choice. I can't find a bad review of Moo0's file cleaner anywhere. Of course this doesn't make it any better or worse than the competition but I'm pretty sure if it was that bad we'd already know about it.
I had been using CCleaner, which only cleaned 100 MB tops at any time. Moo0 cleaned 1 GB of junk on my Vista and my computer is definitely faster today with no adverse side-effects. At the very least, Moo0 is second only to CCleaner. That Stephen Gould product hasn't been updated in years and only removes 1 or 2 MB.
File cleaners should not be judged on the basis of the amount of files they remove. They should remove junk files, which are really junk, and at the same time, should cause no problems for the system.
1 GB of junk might include the hot fixes, which tend to accumulate if you have the Windows updates turned on... and these hot fixes can take up a lot of space. Some people might say that you should not remove these hot fixes, because you might need it, if for any reason, you want to remove a patch.
You should only remove things, which you know will not cause problems on removal. If you are unsure, its better to leave it... or have the system restore on, in case you get into trouble. Always be careful with unknown file cleaners.
1GB of junk when CCleaner found 100MB.
You used CCleaner with Default Options,
whereas,
you erased everything that Moo0 showed ???
No adverse side-effects, ah?
Not yet...Just wait a little bit...
Good Luck to you, because you will need it...
Ccleaner is too slow. Cleanup! is faster. So are ATF Cleaner (from Gizmo's "Spyware Removal Guide") and Temp Files Cleaner.
No problem with CCleaner.
Never been Slow in my System.
ATF is a basic cleaner that has NOT the features of CCleaner.
CCleaner is the safest cleaner
and one of the Most Downloaded Freeware Apps ever made!
This is completely incorrect. ATF does at least as good a job a CCleaner at cleaning files and its a bit faster as well. Also unlike CCleaner it will clean unnecessary files from EVERY user profile on the PC not just the one you are logged onto. This is a GLARING weakness in CCleaner since many PC's have multiple users any one of which may have infected files hiding in their temp folders.
Don't get me wrong I LOVE ccleaner and use it almost every day at work and at home but when I'm cleaning an infected machine I reach for ATF.
-J
Does anyone know if CleanUp! by Steven Gould is compatible with Vista? His website provides little info and I am not sure if it is even still monitored. Thank You
I tried it on my Vista. Only cleans 1 or 2 MB. Not really worth using. Try Moo0 Disk Cleaner or Temp Files Cleaner.
has anyone tried Red Button http://download.cnet.com/Red-Button/3000-2094_4-10904838.html ?
In the Discussion section mention is made of using a "specialist cache cleaner." Can you or anyone please provide a recommendation to erase browsing history as you mentioned??
Temp Cleaner is by far ther best.
Not updated for more than three years and not suitable for Vista, W7 or the x64 bit version of XP.
what do you mean "not suitable for Vista"? i have Vista and use Temp File Cleaner http://download.cnet.com/Temp-File-Cleaner/3000-2094_4-10628816.html?tag... everyday. it cleans usually 10-20 MB of junk.
Try FCleaner;
http://www.fcleaner.com/
Fcleaner is a joke. never cleaned more than 5 MB at a time.
I have XP Pro loaded on my pc and each family member (and friends), have their own profile.
I use Steven Gould's cleanup, because it is one of the few utilities that can clean up multiple IE user profiles at one time.
If you watch it run, you 'll see it clean each user's IE cache files, one user after another.
A lot of programs will simply clean "your" profile, and that is it.
Unfortunately cleanup doesn't seem to do well in cleaning multiple user profiles for firefox.
Question:
Can anyone recommend a cleaner that will clean up every user's firefox cache?
I use a cleanup tool like Stevewn gould's, whenever someone picks up a virus or malware.
It is a great help to remove all the excess cache files ahead of time; so my anti virus and anti malware scanner don't have to scan 1,000's of extra cache files. And takes hours to scan, vs minutes.
Yes ATFcleaner will clean ALL user temp files AND ALL user firefox caches.
Its is the best file cleaner I am aware of and its completely portable
-J
Hi, Steve:
I am a user of CCleaner for a long time, however, I always feel an insufficient fuction CCleaner provided - the program does not delete the empty folder, is there any cleaner with this feature?
Tks
Michael
You might want to try RED. Some applications may require temp folders that are empty though.
I use CCleaner and let it remove old prefetch and uninstall programs from Microsoft. Once updates have been installed and no problems have emerged, why keep the old uninstall programs? They can take up huge amounts of disc space. Equally, when you have uninstalled programs, why would you have any further use for old prefetch files?
I have never had a problem with CCleaner nor with other cleaning programs,except Comodo which I tried and got rid of. I also have used Easy Cleaner for years. After using all other file and registry cleaners, try Easy Cleaner. What it will find is amazing and again I have never known it remove anything it shouldn't.
Agreed. I've been using it for about a year and a half. It does exactly what it's supposed to do and causes no problems whatsoever. I strongly recommend it to everyone I know with a Windows computer.
EasyCleaner screws the 'OPA12.bak' file.
-PROOF:
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/2834/28314270.jpg
If you choose to Remove that file,
the next time you click on an Office file,
Windows Pop-Up an Office Progress Bar.
-PROOF:
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/1490/98990982.jpg
Easycleaner has Not been Updated since 2006.
Several Users, like me, have sent Remarks on the Developer,
but he never Responded!
As it seems, the Developer abandoned EasyCleaner!
Any such application of this type is capable of similar actions. This is why you should not use one unless you are capable of understanding the results and interpreting which ones are safe to delete. As I've said before, when I was servicing customer's PC's the main cause of system errors, many of which were irreversible, were caused by the use of system cleaners of some kind and not by malware or hardware faults.
Other File Cleaners destroy the desktop.ini file
and distort the 'Save us' Window Image:
http://forums.lunarsoft.net/topic/3540-problem-with-pura-1-3/
Not all applications are the same!
CCleaner Never has given me a Single problem since 2007!
There are Good File Cleaners and BAD Cleaners!
This link is to an old post about an obsolete version of a program which according to it's download stats is unknown to around 99% of the population including me. According to the developer there was a fix for this issue but since the program was upgraded only two months ago the need for this has now disappeared. I'm not suggesting that using obscure software is any more dangerous than mainstream stuff, if fact often the reverse is true, but it's still a mathematical certainty that sooner or later any of these apps will suggest deleting something you need, and unless your system knowledge is at a high enough level something will stop working if you act accordingly.
Oh Boy! You got it all wrong!
There are ****Still**** programs that
***Continue***
to destroy the 'Desktop.ini' file
the SAME way the
-OLD- PureRa version did.
PureRa fixed this problem
-BUT-
others -STILL- have NOT!
EasyCleaner ,for example, -Still-
may remove a *.bak OFFICE file
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/2834/28314270.jpg
and
the next time you click on an Office file,
you need to wait until...
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/1490/98990982.jpg
There appears to be some inbuilt inability here to read all of a post. I did actually agree with you. All software of this type can, does and likely will cause similar problems on systems not operated by users with advanced system knowledge. This is simply because they do not have the ability to interpret the results to avoid deleting entries that need to be left alone. Without this knowledge there is absolutely no point in using this type of program. Ultimately you allow yourself only three choices. Delete nothing, delete it all or guess at a selection, in other words play Russian roulette with your file system.
Some Software Developers forget the Average Joe/Jane when releasing Cleaners!
It is like giving a Shotgun to a 4-yr old kid!
-How the hell the Average Joe/Jane knows what to Erase and what to Keep?
I am an Advanced/Expert User BUT 80% of PC Users are Not!
This is very true, in fact I would probably place this figure even higher than 80%. I think what would be helpful from the developers is to publish a list of known entries likely to cause a problem if removed, a bit like AV false positives. Users could then copy this and compare it to their own results. Not ideal by any means but at least more of a reference than they would otherwise have. Another good reason also for this level of user to only run software which has a forum thread somewhere because this type of information is also likely to be listed there.
Try the Argente Disk Cleaner and you will see that, too!
This is also one of the Worst/Dangerous Disk Cleaners!
It removes files Windows actually need!!!
When installing CCleaner, uncheck the last box in the install process, and you don't get Yahoo. Yahoo is NOT installed by default. You have to ask for it.
-There is No Need for it (uncheck >Yahoo! Toolbar)
-Use the Slim version of CCleaner (=No Yahoo! Toolbar):
http://www.ccleaner.com/download/builds
http://www.ccleaner.com/download/builds/downloading-slim
I have been reading comments about the use of some of the software and don't know where some people are getting information from. I use CleanUp and have had no problems what soever, i use Comodo System cleaner, which has a registry cleaner, had no problems. So, i think before you trash a program you need to do your homework on the product. CCleaner is find but if you don't need the extras use something that leaves a smaller footprint like CleanUp, it does just as good a job.
Comodo System Cleaner v2 is a Lousy program!
Another is:Argente-Disk Cleaner 1.2.0.3.Have posibility to choise drive or to clean all drives,configure file type to search,add to exclusion list(for example at Skype if i remember it say to not delete this temporary files,at Privacy cleaner have options for:Windows,Int Explorer,Mozzilla firefox,Programs.At tools we have:hibernate system and defragmenting system.At configure you have a lot of choise:general,files,exclude,include,automate,coockie,secure deletion,advanced,messages.This soft is in beta version and have many possibility for improvement.For examples to make for more internet browsers,wipe,unloocker files,delete old restauration points,etc.Maybe in future.
dangerous and unstable!
It distorts, by default, the *desktop.ini* file!
Stay away from it!
AFT cleaner removes the contents of the Windows -Prefetch- folder
PROOF:
http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/4134/atf.jpg
,whereas,
CCleaner remomoves ***ONLY*** the ***OLD**** -Prefetch- data
PROOF:
http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/442/20000680.jpg
ATF Cleaner is NOT Safer than CCleaner!
On the contrary, ATF Cleaner can harm Windows
if you choose to Clean the Windows -Prefetch- folder!
PROOF:
Deleting the contents of the Prefetch folder will increase BOTH
a) application launch and b) windows boot time performance.
Every time you delete an application's Prefetch (.PF) file,
you will cripple that application's load time
the next time you go to launch it.
Even though Windows XP will simply re-create that application's Prefetch (.PF) trace file,
that application's optimal load time will not be restored until after the second time you launch that application
and the system has been able to go idle and fully run the prefetch optimization.
Windows XP automatically cleans the Prefetch folder
down to the 32 most used Prefetch (.PF) trace files
when the folder reaches 128 files so they do not needlessly consume space.
There is never ANY reason to delete these files by yourself!!!
ATF Cleaner is far superior to CCleaner, i've used both. You really do need to put that up there, its used by any security forum (bleeping computer, geeks to go, etc.)
That's Nonsense!
Millions of users Trust CCleaner
and rate it as one of
the Best Freeware Applications ever made!
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