Recommendations for CCleaner settings

LMiller7 said:

There is very little evidence that registry cleaning is beneficial. On the other hand there is quite a bit of evidence that it can be harmful. I expect that most people using CCleaner have no problems, at least not yet. Considering that the benefits are so questionable I am not going to take the chance. So far my policy has served me well (some 15 years using Windows).

Hello again and again thanks for your knowledgeable and sincere concern. I do appreciate the time you take to try to impart your history of use. I of course have not had that much knowledge of it, but I see what gets left on systems from normal Windows use. For instance I used Google Chrome for two days. I uninstalled it with an even more invasive registry and program cleaner Revo Pro. Then ran CCleaner on it. Several days later I was looking at the services and processes and found that Google had left an updater running and a number of files in my appdata Roaming account. So even after what I consider strong non Window intervention, it still left running processes. I can only in my limited capacity wonder what would be left on my computer if I in 3 years had never run a registry cleaner. I did for a while at the advice of a knowledgeable person, start using Advanced System Care. It was finding tens of thousand of problems, but it scared me too much and I quite using it.
I do take your advice in mind!
Thanks
Glenn

bbinnard said:

I've been running WIn7-64 for a long time (years) and have always used CCleaner, both to clean up junk files and to clean out my registry. I have never, ever, once had any problem with this.

I happen to install, test, and delete lots of software. Because of this I use Uninstaller Pro to delete software; it first runs the application's regular uninstaller, then does 2 more steps: (1) scan registry for leftover entries and offer to delete them, and (2) scan for any left over files & directories and offer to delete them. In almost every case I accept the default options and delete everything.

But i also run CCleaner's Registry Cleanup about once a month, and it always finds more stuff to delete. In almost every case I can recognize what it's wanting to delete, but I've finally come to trust it enough to just delete all the junk it identifies.

I'm sure I've deleted thousands of registry entries over the years, and as I said, I've never had a problem.

My sense is that there is a lot of fear and trepidation out there about messing with the registry. I agree it does need to be handled carefully. CCleaner seems to know how to do that.

Hello bbinnard,
I myself use Revo Pro Uninstaller that does the program uninstall and when it's finished it does a scan for leftovers. Been using it for a while but have recently been warned against it's use, by members who I consider very knowledgeable. I also have been using CCleaner which is why I wanted to know what should not be removed, for Windows logs and such. I can not trace a problem to either of them, yet I have made a number of my own!! I found that even they do not get all the stuff off. But I did draw a line with an extreme IMH registry cleaner, defrag system cleaner. That just made me too nervous
Thanks for the info on your experiences. Maybe you can help with the settings???
Glenn

Layback Bear said:

I highly recommend not using anything from IOBit and that includes Advanced System Care. IOBit does not have a very good reputation in my opinion. Please read this. You might already be infected.

https://www.sevenforums.com/security-...ownloader.html

I have use Ccleaner for years but like any other program that changes or removes thing it must be used wisely.
When and if you use the Registry part of Ccleaner it will ask you if you want to save the changes. Select yes. The changes will be saved and if need be you can put the saved changes back where they belong in the Registry.

When you use the Cleaner section of Ccleaner read what it is recommending to remove. If you don't understand or agree then just uncheck the questioned item. I will not remove it.

I use the Cleaner part of Ccleaner at default except I uncheck Memory Dumps. You will need these Memory Dumps if you have problems with your system. If I haven't had any problems I clean Memory Dumps about once a month. Probably not needed but I do it anyway.
*** Any program that moves or changes your system must be used with knowledge and wisdom. They should not be used as a one tick will fix everything.

Hello Layback Bear,
Thanks for stopping in!! As to IObit, I stopped a while ago. Thanks for the heads up, thou! And many thanks regarding the CCleaner settings. Not knowing any better, I began adding items to the list to delete until it was everything. Will uncheck the Memory Dumps for a longer period of time, appreciate it. How often do you use it regularly?
Take care
Glenn

Layback Bear said:

I use the Cleaner section of Ccleaner daily. Have done so for years. I do not use the new updated Ccleaner. I still use version 4.04.4197.
Did you read this?
ESET reports trojan in Orbit Downloader

If it was my computer I would use the free scan from here.

Free Virus Scan | Online Virus Scanner from ESET

Wow Layback Bear,
That is interesting and chilling. Luckily I have never used that program, but that is just creepy.
Two questions Sir, first is I have an aversion to cloud based anything. This is just a knee jerk reaction to having other people scan my computer and it's stuff. I just feel it is another avenue to my stuff. Please advise why you feel differently if you don't mind!
Second is why do you not use the updated version of Ccleaner? I mean I haven't been keeping track and just install the latest as I have always done. Is there a problem.
This is a strange occurrence that I noticed and research a little bit, I was having my cousin download CDBurnerXP to gather up and transfer photos from his machine. Malwarebytes IIRC would not allow it. So I tried and got it downloaded and found this OpenCandy stuff on it. Got it off out of principal, and as I use other software it wasn't a problem.
It seems that harmless computing is getting more hazardous, institutionally...
Thanks for the insight and warning! Much appreciated!
Glenn

kado897 said:

If you are not sure what a selection does check it and press the Analyse button. Open up the display in details view and you will get a list of files to be deleted. Only you can decide what you need to keep on your system.

Good Day kado897,
That is a good way to check, didn't think of it. I guess my question should be that since I personally don't know what to keep in reference to windows error reports, logs and such, which would a knowledgeable user keep for say Windows Event Viewer or other W7 diagnostics.
Thanks
Glenn

kado897 said:

As I said it is really your choice. This is mine for the Windows settings. I tend to keep caches and event logs. You should probably keep dump files which I don't.

Mille Grazie kado897,
BTW that means like a thousand thank Sir! I appreciate the shot and explanation. Helps me get the idea!
Glenn