CCleaner - Delete Junk Files

How to Use CCleaner to Clean Out Junk Files in Windows​

   Information

This Guide will show you how to use CCleaner to clean out Junk files. This program does not delete anything related to personal files or anything to do with your personal data. (Such as documents or music for example.)

   Tip

For a complete understanding of what is checked to clean and what it does, see here.
Piriform - Windows Tab
Remember the default settings selected are safe and fine to use. This just gives more information on what is actually cleaned, letting you decide if you want CCleaner to clean it or not.

CLEANER
1.) Download CCleaner from the official site.

Download

Once downloaded, run the installer as you would install any other application. This is just CCleaner you are installing, so do not accept to install chrome or any other suggested software.
You are offered chrome during the install, (if you already have it you won't be asked)
you can uncheck the boxes and choose not to install it. See image below:


2.) Now that is done, Open ccleaner. You will see this screen:


In the screenshot, the options that can be safely checked for the average user are shown. You may stick with the default settings ccleaner has, or include what is in the screenshot. This is up to you.

Simple version: Open ccleaner, click run cleaner. More information is below.

Please note that Empty recycle bin is unchecked by default, as well as saved passwords are unchecked in internet explorer.
The reason is if these are checked the recycle bin will be emptied as well as all of your saved passwords on websites deleted. By default CCleaner will delete cookies.
*You can choose what cookies to keep under the options section in the guide.*

IF you want more information on cookies, see here: What is a cookie?
If you not want this to happen, make sure they are unchecked. As always, read before you hit clean.

   Tip

Make sure to close out of all programs and browsers before starting the cleaning

The application tab under cleaner provides other browsers to clean as well. Such as Firefox or Chrome. Antivirus software and other items might be included in the list.

Do not change anything from the default except other web browsers you have installed.

3.) Click Run Cleaner. CCleaner will confirm you want to clean up the system. Click ok. CCleaner will then run.
Once it completes you will see this screen below.

4.) CCleaner will give you a explanation on what was deleted, as well as how much space has been restored, and how much has been cleaned up. Just to let you know, if ccleaner is showing over 1GB or more removed, your system really needed a cleaning. After a restart you might even notice a performance boost.


You are all done with the basic cleaning. Hope this helps you.
REGISTRY

   Warning

Continuing further with this guide means that you want to do more then just a basic cleaning. You accept that by continuing you know what you are doing. This requires that you know what each option does and what you are about to do.

If you are not a advanced user do not do the below without asking for help. Only do the following if asked by a forum helper.

Myself, Seven forums, or the maker(s) of this software will not be held liable if something goes wrong. Always back up your files and system before continuing.

   Warning

CCleaner has a Registry option. The registry option is a cleaner that cleans out only the registry keys that are not linked to anything. It is quite safe, since it only deletes key that are not linked to any files or programs anymore. However, having said that; no program is perfect and I highly suggest you backup your files before proceeding.
Note: On most systems this is highly unnecessary unless you are having problems completely removing a program and would like CCleaner to find the old registry remnents of said program.

1.) CCleaner can clean the registry. While in Ccleaner click the registry tab. You will see a screen as shown below.



2.) Click scan for issues. Keep in mind that anything that shows up here is what CCleaner has determined to be a missing key. This does not mean you should delete everything you see in this list.
Select the items you want to delete, and click fix selected issues. CCleaner will ask you to backup your registry.

   Tip

I highly recommend you back up your registry before continuing.

3.) Click yes when CCleaner asks to save a backup, and then choose where to save the backup. Then click save. Choose fix all selected issues. Then click close.


TOOLS



CCleaner provides several tools that are built into the program that help you configure options such as the following:
1.) Uninstalling a program
This uses the windows built in uninstaller, but supports custom command line commands as well as allowing entries to be renamed or deleted in the uninstall list. There is also a save to text file option that will record/save a log showing all your installed software. This is helpful when diagnosing problems on some systems.

2.) Startup
This Will show you all the programs that your PC starts when it boots up. This is useful and easier to get to for some users compared to msconfig. CCleaner also allows you to delete entries, where msconfig only allows disabling them. This is a very useful function that many times I have recommended people use. There is also a save to text file option that will record/save a log showing all your startup entries. This is helpful when diagnosing slow boot up times.

There are other options as well within the startup tools option.

-The internet explorer tab will show all addons that are installed in internet explorer. (Same with firefox)
-The scheduled tasks tab lists all scheduled tasks in windows.
-The context menu Tab lists all the programs that have added themselves to the right click option.
This can be useful to clean up a long right click menu.

See this tutorial for more information on startup programs: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1401-startup-programs-change.html

3.) File finder
File finder allows you to search for duplicate files of the same file types and extensions.

4.) System restore
This function allows you to see all your restore points individually. You can delete certain ones that are no longer needed, verses deleting all of them. Which is the only option windows provides. (Windows does not delete the latest system restore point unless system protection is turned off.)
CCleaner allows you to delete certain restore points or all of them. (Except the latest restore point)

5.) Drive wiper

This allows you to wipe any drive (excluding the drive windows is installed on) and format the drive securely. There are also options to delete and wipe just the free space on the drive.
This can be useful if you wish to make it impossible to recover a deleted file using third party recovery tools.
OPTIONS

Options is options.

1.) *Under Options/Cookies, users can choose which cookies to keep, say, for site logins.*
You can find more information about this here: Piriform - Choosing which cookies to keep

   Tip

If you would like to schedule CCleaner to run automatically for you, you can see the link below for steps on how to do this.

Piriform - Scheduling CCleaner

Might expand into the options later if necessary, but a normal user would not go in here.
(Or have a reason too)


CCleaner has a FAQ site, please see here: CCleaner - FAQ

That's it,

-Andrew

If there are any questions or you feel I could explain better, please leave a comment here. Also suggest the rewritten text as well please.

Related Tutorials

---

• http://www.sevenforums.com/software/712-latest-ccleaner-version-released.html
• How to Open and Use Disk Cleanup in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Delete System Protection Restore Points in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Free Up and Recover Hard Drive Space in Windows 7

 

[Britton30]

Andrew I would include Options, that's where program settings are, what drives to clean, what cookies to save, delete only temp flies older than 24 hours, how many cleaning passes, etc.

 

[Golden]

Nice tutorial. One suggestion I have is to clean-up the images by using Jing or similar to make nicer boxes/arrows/text annotations.....it just makes everthing look more professional.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Andrew I know loads of folks use the reg cleaners that usually turn the OS into a nightmare and end up in threads to be sorted out.
So I as well as the tip on backing up the registry - which I always do straight after an install and things have settled down - found this way to reinstall the reg items that have been fixed is this as described by piriform CCleaner - How do I restore registry backups? as rule I usually keep the last four or five reg back ups.

I have never had to use it but have tested it on the test machine I have with no probs. I think it is worth adding this to the tutorial for the folks who are going to use the registry fix feature come what may.

 

[illiterate1]

Hello,

That's some guide you've written there, I was of the opinion that we just press a single button and 'go'. You have certainly opened my eyes. Why do you people go to all this trouble for absolutely 'free' ? Amazing !!!

Best Wishes to you all,

Illiterate.

 

[Britton30]

We enjoy giving good, and proper, advice to help people.

 

[andrew129260]

 

[Britton30]

Here's a nice snip of the Piriform D/L page.

 

[mjf]

Andrew I know loads of folks use the reg cleaners that usually turn the OS into a nightmare and end up in threads to be sorted out.
So I as well as the tip on backing up the registry - which I always do straight after an install and things have settled down - found this way to reinstall the reg items that have been fixed is this as described by piriform CCleaner - How do I restore registry backups? as rule I usually keep the last four or five reg back ups.

I have never had to use it but have tested it on the test machine I have with no probs. I think it is worth adding this to the tutorial for the folks who are going to use the registry fix feature come what may.

I'd suggest you also have an acceptable system image as well in case things go wrong.
I've had problems restoring the registry backup following the recommended guidelines. It's probably something I'm doing wrong but the error from memory is along the lines of "cannot access registry" even from the main administrator account. I'm storing the registry backups on a separate internal HDD.

 

[andrew129260]

Thank you Britton30. Edited and added.

@mjf

Agreed.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Maybe and only if you like I use Unchecky Unchecky - Keeps your checkboxes clear to avoid the downloading of the
"extras" perhaps a mention of it would help.
I also set it up with the update reminder ticked. I am only making these suggestions as it is your tutorial

 

[andrew129260]

I use unchecky as well. Most people would not have it though, so that is why I include that.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

I use unchecky as well. Most people would not have it though, so that is why I include that.

Sorry hadn't noticed it in the tutorial and just saw mention of it in the replies. The other bit I added I find the best feature though because it flicks up any new update when I start CCleaner.

 

[bawldiggle]

Unchecky:
- a little risky in that some sneakware (by other programs) use double negative options.
- ie, check to not install extras

CCleaner:-
- I use portable version of CCleaner dedicated to the one PC to minimise registry entries
- I do not use the portable version between machines
- portable version saves white lists to CCleaner.ini (file)
Why ?
- CCleaner update notifications link to the PRO version, for the unwary you can end up with a trial version.
- simplest way to update CCleaner portable is to replace the extracted ZIP contents, new for old ...
How:
- close portable CCleaner located on your PC
- copy save the old ccleaner.ini file to a safe location ... A MUST ... !
- extract the new downloaded version of CCleaner to a safe location
- copy all new/update files to the old location (or delete all old files in your old CCleaner folder first)
- then replace the new ccleaner.ini with the old ccleaner.ini file you saved above
- without changing the old folder name your shortcuts to CCleaner. exe will still work
TIP:
I name all program folders that hold portable programs with a trailing "_p"
eg. "CCleaner_p" ... makes it easy to identify portables from installed programs/apps
- or a dedicated folder for portable programs/apps eg, C:\ProgramsPortable

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Yes mate I have been using Unchecky for some time now saves an awful lot of missed tick boxes eh?

 

[bawldiggle]

@ ICIT2LOL

Hi John,
How does Unchecky identify double negative (trick) options ?
- I never assume that checkboxes "unchecked" means ... "do not install extras"
- some installs also use option buttons (and not checkboxes) , how does Unchecky handle option buttons ?

It is about 2 years (more or less) since I trialed Unchecky.
- at the time it was not very reliable. I got caught with "Open Candy" thru a double negative option.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Well I must admit I have been caught a couple of times by things that are missed by Unchecky and I am not really up on how it picks out the check boxed sites either.

I like it for when I am installing and you have to get Adobe stuff for example on as it always has those wretched add ons I think it is for Goolge toolbar or some such.

The stuff I really am peed off with are the sites you go to download the gear and click on what you think is the site but is some wretched PC Tune site and the download site you are wanting is stuck way down below and tiny compared to the Reg cleaner or whatever.

I am also not a great lover of zipped stuff either I know it decreases the download but heck getting some of the stuff you want out them is a nightmare - to me anyway.

 

[Callender]

Ccleaner updates

I use unchecky as well. Most people would not have it though, so that is why I include that.

Sorry hadn't noticed it in the tutorial and just saw mention of it in the replies. The other bit I added I find the best feature though because it flicks up any new update when I start CCleaner.

In my opinion the best method of updating Ccleaner is to uncheck the auto update option and when an update becomes available (check manually for this) - wait a few days then visit this page:

CCleaner - Builds

Only download the Slim Build and ignore the others.

The Slim Build has no toolbars or add ons and is only made available a few days after each new release.

Edit: The Slim Build only appears on the page when it's available. It won't be displayed at all times.

 

[andrew129260]

@ ICIT2LOL

Hi John,
How does Unchecky identify double negative (trick) options ?
- I never assume that checkboxes "unchecked" means ... "do not install extras"
- some installs also use option buttons (and not checkboxes) , how does Unchecky handle option buttons ?

It is about 2 years (more or less) since I trialed Unchecky.
- at the time it was not very reliable. I got caught with "Open Candy" thru a double negative option.

You do realize it is one guy working on it right?

It is better than nothing.

For what it does I think it does a great job. Could it be better? Sure. Anything can. He has to update each installer to work with it. I heard on his blog though he is working on identifying the more risky installers and blocking them entirely. It's free and donation supported.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

No I didn't Andrew thanks for the heads up and as you say it does a great job just that I like to keep half an eye out for the downloads one tries for that land on a link that is really not what one wants and there seem to be a lot of that on mirror sites which I try to avoid but it seems increasingly difficult to find direct downloads.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok I have a almost full drive on my main desktop and done most of those features except the File Finder one - I am just wondering though it free space wipe might clean some bits and pieces??