Ccleaner is a Microsoft Windows system maintenance program. It cleans your registry, deletes junk files left behind by programs, uninstalls programs, manages programs that run when Windows starts, and more.

File Cleaner

This cleans files on a program by program basis selected by you, rather than cleaning everything it can find like most other cleaners. However, it does a thorough job and might delete files you need. For getting rid of files that you definitely don't need, check everything except advanced and any internet browsers. Advanced will clear some system settings like menu order or window size. Cleaning your internet browsers can clear history and cookies easily, but be careful because it can also clear your stored passwords.

The program mostly deletes is logs and such, things you'll never need or use. The space gained by this on the first run may be large, however the cleaner is only worth running every few months. The files are tiny, measured in kilobytes. But, over the months these files can start to take up a significant amount of space.

On another note, Ccleaner displays your version of windows, processor, ram, video card and its own version on the top left corner.

Registry Cleaner

What norton leaves behind

This does what the file cleaner does, with the registry. Almost every time you do something on your computer a registry file is left. A registry can get large enough to slow the computer down, so you can clean out unused ones with the registry cleaner. The cleaner is very straightforward. Check the boxes you want to be cleaned, and then run the scan. You can check everything safely in this one because a backup file is made to the registry before you do anything. This allows you to undo the damage if something bad happens. Although nothing has happened to me yet with over a year of use, it’s always a good idea to make a backup.

Tools

Two things are in here, uninstall and startup.

Uninstall is a simple method to uninstall programs. However this shows the programs Windows hides, making it more useful than the default Windows add/remove programs menu. Ccleaner also gives you the option to rename or delete entries in the uninstall menu. Deleting something will insure it cannot be uninstalled unless you can find the programs uninstaller in its installation directory, and renaming it will only change how it appears in the add/remove programs menu.

Startup allows you to stop programs from starting with Windows. It’s very simple, just highlight whatever you don't want to start up and click delete entry. Some programs play nice and leave it at that, however others will add to the startup entry every time they are started. So beware.

Options

Unlike most other programs, Ccleaner has stuff you can use even in the options.

This contains settings for how Ccleaner runs and allows you to enable or disable context menu clicks, check for updates, change the language, and even control how securely the files are deleted. Unless you’re hiding government secrets or confidential files, a normal pass would do. Since a multipass delete simply deletes the file, fills up the space with junk data, and deletes it again (repeat however many passes) it takes a very long time.

This gives you a menu for keeping or deleting cookies from websites. Select a cookie and then move it to the right to save it or keep it to the left to delete it. However, it only cleans the cookies if you have cookies selected to be cleared in the cleaning options.

A way to delete several folders or files at once, works no different than just deleting via the delete key unless you have a multipass delete enabled. Like cookies, it requires you to have “Custom Files and Folders” checked under Windows > Advanced

Nothing good here sadly, just settings that you don't need to mess with.

Ending Notes

This is a program no Windows user should be without. It is very good to have it keep your computer from being bogged down from junk files and registry entries. If you have any suggestions about a program you want reviewed, Message me on Gotfrag.