Can Anyone Recommend a Good PC Cleaner Program?

[Molevalence]

It's been 2 years since I reformatted my laptop but I want to keep going as long as possible as I have not archived everything I want yet. I know if I found a cleaning program to clean out all the useless files, junk and programs I would be set. By any chance could anyone recommend a good quality PC cleaning program?

[badbat111]

cillitbang

 

http://swfchan.com/1/383/?cillitbang

 

 

couldnt resist XD

[Spikes]

I use CCleaner myself.

 

When my HD died a year ago, took me months to find my stuff again(sadly not all). Now i do weekly backups of my HD to be sure.

[SilverWraith]

Spikes beat me to it, but CCleaner is what I use too! It's probably your best bet.

[bjornk]

It won't do much, but I also use a specific version of CCleaner:

 

CCleaner v4.17.4808

 

Newer versions feature some crappy service you probably wouldn't like.

 

Just beware of the bloatware/malware often packaged with any of the "free" software these days.

 

PS. You may find older versions at filehippo.com.

[Slammer64]

That or Advanced Systems Care, I use the paid version and am very happy with it, but there's a free version too: http://www.iobit.com/advancedsystemcareper.php

[windpl]

YAC, despite appearance it is quiet good and free, it is not deep cleaner but should be helpful.

 

http://www.yac.mx/

[bjornk]

TBH, none of these "cleaners" actually would do a thorough cleaning in your system. Actually they are arguably worthless. IMO, it's best to keep your system clean by not installing too many programs. If you want to test something then do it in a safe environment such as a virtual machine.

 

[Rokabur]

TBH, none of these "cleaners" actually would do a thorough cleaning in your system. Actually they are arguably worthless. IMO, it's best to keep your system clean by not installing too many programs. If you want to test something then do it in a safe environment such as a virtual machine.

 

Good for removing temp internet files, cached .swf files and lots of other things. Depending on how long it is between runs, can have several GB worth of old files not including recycling bin garbage.

[Molevalence]

Thank you all for the replies. I will try them out.

[bjornk]

 

TBH, none of these "cleaners" actually would do a thorough cleaning in your system. Actually they are arguably worthless. IMO, it's best to keep your system clean by not installing too many programs. If you want to test something then do it in a safe environment such as a virtual machine.

 

Good for removing temp internet files, cached .swf files and lots of other things. Depending on how long it is between runs, can have several GB worth of old files not including recycling bin garbage.

 

 

True, and also some very basic registry cleaning, which you can live without. However, aside from the convenience of "one stop browser junk cleaning", they are pretty much useless.

[bjornk]

I'd personally avoid IOBit products.

[Darkwisdom]

Learn to do it yourself. 

 

uninstall all of your programs that you don't use or don't want, remembering to delete the program folder (that never seems to get deleted) and so forth. CCleaner is okay, but it doesn't do a thorough clean. Defragging properly on a mechanical drive and NEVER doing so on an SSD are good tips. 

[FetishSergal]

Learn to do it yourself. 

 

uninstall all of your programs that you don't use or don't want, remembering to delete the program folder (that never seems to get deleted) and so forth. CCleaner is okay, but it doesn't do a thorough clean. Defragging properly on a mechanical drive and NEVER doing so on an SSD are good tips.

CCleaner is still important to clean your registry after deleting programs.

[Darkwisdom]

 

Learn to do it yourself. 

 

uninstall all of your programs that you don't use or don't want, remembering to delete the program folder (that never seems to get deleted) and so forth. CCleaner is okay, but it doesn't do a thorough clean. Defragging properly on a mechanical drive and NEVER doing so on an SSD are good tips.

CCleaner is still important to clean your registry after deleting programs.

 

 

I do that myself. 

[bjornk]

CCleaner is still important to clean your registry after deleting programs.

Heh, if only it could do such a thing. Run it and then go and check the registry and see for yourself. Unless you have some program that spies on the installation process in your system, there's no way to fully clean your registry. Also, aside from the Windows registry, there may still be files left in your AppData folder as well, which is another place once should always check.

[Vachnic]

I use IObit Advanced System Care 8.1 (the paid version) and I find it does a pretty decent job cleaning the registry as well. Not perfect, but pretty decent. It has in it's "toolbox" a program called Powerful Uninstall, that checks for left over registry clutter after uninstalling a program with that. And that does catch about 80% of the registry clutter. (yes, I checked)

 

But everyone has their favorite clean up program. Just go with what you like best.

[Molevalence]

The Ccleaner program seems to be working great. I cleaned out about 2 gigs of garbage but now there is something else that has caught my attention. I checked my hard drive space the past few days and I seem to be losing about 2 gigs of space a day. Not sure why but I checked many sorts and did a huge defrag, virus scan, malware check and no red lights yet. The only yhing I download is the occasional Skyrim mod here and there but I am starting to get a little suspicious. Or it's a glitch.

 

Update: Wow... I just found out my Windows Restore was using over 300 gigs of my hard drive space. Holy...

[Darkwisdom]

Those are temporary internet files as well. It's all of the information your computer retains after visiting websites. 2GB a day is quite a lot, or you visit a very large range of websites. It's not just downloading, things like cookies and temp files do clog up your PC. 

[Molevalence]

Those are temporary internet files as well. It's all of the information your computer retains after visiting websites. 2GB a day is quite a lot, or you visit a very large range of websites. It's not just downloading, things like cookies and temp files do clog up your PC. 

I dont visit too many websites. Mostly youtube, nexus and here with a couple others. Just updated my post turns out my Windows Restore was using over 300 gigs of hard drive space. Somehow my settings weregiving it 50% total access as restore space on my hard drive. I put a stop to that rather quickly.

[bjornk]

Yes, System Restore and Windows Update files also take up space. First of all, run "Disk Cleanup" (run it as administrator) and see if there's anything that can be deleted there. It goes by a different name in Win 8.x but it's still there.

You may also delete restore points, as well as whatever you can find the following directories:

<Windows Directory>\Temp

<Windows Directory>\SoftwareDistribution\Download

[Erundil]

Just keep in mind that using cleaner program is only a temporary solution, even supplemented with a defrag.

After 2 years your system is crying for a format.

[bjornk]

Only amateurs format their disk every two years.

[Darkwisdom]

Youtube produces quite a lot of temp files, being a video site. 

 

I don't understand this 'need' to format. If you actually maintain your computer, you shouldn't need to format at all. It's like my uncle who formats each time he gets virus, apparently it's just easier. I don't see how it is somehow. I have windows 8.1 and it runs as smoothly as the day I built it, 3 years ago. I have a 120GB SSD for OS and a few files, but most of it is empty space, and a large HDD for games, files etc. Boots in 6 seconds, why format it? 

[Ailsa]

I use Revo Uninstaller to remove un-wanted programs.  It also offers to clean the Registry of left over garbage after removing the program.  I find that it helps keep things very clean.