CCleaner is a program that’s been around for a while, but I’m finding more frequently that people have not heard about it. Seeing as how I’ve used it numerous times throughout the years, I figured I’d give a little overview and mini review. Tons more information can be found with a quick Google search.
Purpose
CCleaner’s purpose is to help the user clean up his or her Windows based computer. It has a more powerful uninstall program as well as cleaners for registry items, and internet data files. If properly used, it can help streamline your computer.
The Good
CCleaner is very powerful and easy to use, which is also one of its downfalls. It will scan your system registry and look for values that can be removed; i.e. items that were left behind after an uninstall, etc. It also gives you the option to back up your registry in case one of the issues you fixed has a bad result inside Windows.
Also, in order to clean up your hard drive, it will search all browsers at once for temporary internet files, and can find temporary program files left on the computer as well. These can be deleted from the interface making the act of keeping your computer clean much easier.
My favorite feature of the program is its ability to change what starts up when the computer is booted. You can delete entries outright so that they do not start when Windows starts. This can greatly decrease boot time and improve general system performance since they will not be running in the background.
The Bad
The only drawback of the program is that if improperly used it can break your system. Any and all registry cleaners have this effect. If the user is not careful, he or she can either delete a registry value that’s still needed or potentially delete a program from the startup queue that’s actually needed. I’ve done the latter a couple of times, and have since learned to be careful and search each program before deleting from startup.
The Bottom Line
CCleaner is a wonderful addition to your arsenal of computer programs. It can enhance performance, clean your system, and keep your Windows machine in top performance. Just be careful, however. You can do a lot with this program, but if you are uncomfortable with something, it’s better off to leave it alone. The program is free and can be found at http://ccleaner.com.
Feel free to email me questions about CCleaner. If I can’t answer them, I’ll try to find someone who can!
Filed under: Software
Hi,
Can my wife, for instance, hire an IT expert, to see whether I visit porn sites after I used the ccleaner?
Bennie,
There’s always a trace… Ccleaner doesn’t do a military style overwrite. When something is deleted from a hard drive, it’s simply hidden and allowed to be written over by something else. Until it is written over, it’s still able to be seen with the right tools.
That said,
Pornography is a destroyer. It can lead to a serious addiction that can really harm your marriage. I realize I have approved and replied to this comment very late, but google XXXChurch. They have resources for people struggling with porn addiction. I don’t know that you’re addicted, but it couldn’t hurt to check them out anyway.