CCleaner -v- Find Junk Files

I've used CCleaner for years. Recently I installed Find Junk Files.

Somewhere on the daily bulletins, one of the Major Geeks (Chas Lang?) said it would be interesting to compare the two programs. I did.

When I close my browser, I always run CCleaner. For the past couple of days, I've run CCleaner first and then I've run FJF. On each occasion, FJF has found additional junk files.

Anyone else tried it or have comments?

 

How do you have CCleaner configured? I do this;

Open the program then click on (left hand side) OPTIONS, then COOKIES. Any cookies you want to save (trusted sites, places you have usernames/passwords), highlight them in the left column, then (using the directional arrows between the panes), move them to the right hand column under "Cookies to keep".

Still under Options, click on Advanced. Remove the check mark from the box for "Only delete files in Windows Temp folders older than 24 hours".

Leave all other settings at the default.

Then click on Cleaner (on the top left). When that window opens, click on Run Cleaner (bottom right of the window.)

When it finishes, close CCleaner, and restart your machine. (Some files will not be deleted until a restart is performed.)

There are other RUN options as well as the above.

I run RegSeeker in conjuction with the above. These two take care of everything for me.

RegSeeker
Open it, click on Clean The Registry, then OK.

Once it's finished, along the bottom of the screen, (near the operation progress bar) click on Select, choose "Select All". Then click on Action, then "Delete selected items".

All deleted items will be backed up, just click OK for the default backup filenames/locations.

Close the program and restart the machine.

NOTE: This is a powerful tool. It has many other settings/tools/tweaks. Use more than what is mentioned above at your own volition/risk.

 

Prior to removing all crap files I always do the *analyze* thing in CCleaner to see what it is removing. I find it very safe, especially when cleaning the registry. I always save (backup) them to the default (My Documents) location. If something goes wrong (which it never has so far) I can *merge* them later by just right clicking. It has other features as well, such as the ones Dan Penny mentioned and more. I consider CCleaner (slim version) the safest to use unless others would prove me wrong.

 

Many thanks. Seems I wasn't using CCleaner to its full capacity. I've made the changes you suggested, will reboot and come back.

Thanks again.

 

I love CCleaner and I trust it, but I'm not sure if I have the slim version or not.

I've made changes to the program so I'll reboot and come back.

 

The only difference between the two versions is that Slim doesn't include Yahoo Toolbar. But, if you get the standard version, it gives you a screen to opt out of the Yahoo Toolbar during installation of CCleaner. I like to get the Slim version because, in addition to not having Yahoo Toolbar bundled with it, it's a smaller download.

 

I remember unticking the Yahoo toolbar, have no use for it, so I have the slim version. Thanks.

 

Many thanks, Dan. I made the changes you suggested and I'll run CCleaner before I run the other one to see if there's still a difference.

I downloaded Regseeker but I must have done something wrong. I'll uninstall it and try again.

I appreciate your help. I get nervous about changing programs like CCleaner, so there were many items I hadn't ticked, or ticked and got it wrong.

Wouldn't AdvancedSystemCare4 clean my registry the same as Regseeker? I often run the quick scan when I come off line, but the ASC4 is run every couple of days lately. Being hacked is not funny so I'm being extra careful with everything.

 

The slim version of CCleaner is a separate download from the regular one (with the toolbar). The newest slim version always comes out a bit later than the regular one. Major Geeks always offers the latest slim one in this link: http://majorgeeks.com/page.php?id=20

 

Thanks. It looks like the one I have.

 

I used to have both Advanced SystemCare4 and Advanced SystemCare3 installed, but I found that you have to be careful what it does. Too much bother for me. I find no need for ASC with CCleaner and RegSeeker.

 

I found the same issues with ATF. ("I found that you have to be careful what it does. Too much bother for me. I find no need for ASC (& ATF) with CCleaner and RegSeeker.")

 

Lavender,
If you want to really compare the two, then do as you proposed. Then next time run the other one first and run Ccleaner after to see what that finds that the first one missed.

 

Another point I don't like about Advanced SystemCare is that it AUTOMATICALLY adds a "Toolbar" to the System Tray, and it must be turned off/removed. I can't stand programs that start/run without my permission/desire.

(My post on this element was too late to edit.)

 

I agree. I have ASC and do like the features, but hate it when devs try to shove their product down your throat by doing just what dan penny said, I feel the same way about it, I HATE that .

 

Hi Dave,

Usually, I run CCleaner first but I tried running Find Junk Files first. It found 106 items, mostly log files. Those logs are huge.

I then ran CCleaner and it did it's usual good job. I went back to FJF and it found another 106 items, mostly logs.

So, do I keep both and run both?

ASC is booted out.

 

Hi Lavender, it was probably me who suggested the comparison.
Check out : From today's MajorGeeks Home page-Jul 2011, post #28 at
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=240368

In case you missed the August column, go to :
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=241764 for this months submissions

Bazza

===

 

Yep, it probably was you. Sorry I blamed Chas Lang.

FJF is an interesting program. It finds the occasional IE temp file that CCleaner missed deleting, but I will always run CC after I sign off the internet.

It might have been you who posted the percentage comparison of the three top browsers, as well. I had trouble navigating one forum when I used IE, so I installed Chrome and had no problem.

IE is for the boot. Is there anything I should watch for when I uninstall it? Do I need to keep two browsers?

And what do you think about FJF? Should I keep it?

Lavender

 

I use CCleaner for my lite, usually daily cleanup of temp files and cookies I don't want to keep etc
I use ASC4 for my weekly cleanup of registry, check for disk errors, old unnecessary shortcuts etc
I like and recommend both softwares but ASC has many more features than CCleaner so I don't think it's fair to compare them.
I do advise caution when using the ASC Toolbox, there are some powerful tools in there and problems could arise if the user just goes around deleting things that 'look' unnecessary. Clone Files Finder is a good example, I have never found a clone/duplicate files finder by any company that was worth using, the scan results always offer too many possibilities and too many ways to make a mess.

When you say "AUTOMATICALLY adds a "Toolbar" to the System Tray" do you mean the icon that appears in the Systemtray when you launch ASC? This has a menu when you right click it.
It is quite common with many software to put an icon in the systemtray on launch of the software. It is done to make it convenient for the user to get to often used features, I like it and it disappears as soon as I exit ASC.
You just need to go to ASC Settings > General Settings and untick "Minimize to systemtray when program is closed"
When you say "start/run without my permission/desire" it seems you have it set to start with Windows, again go to Settings > General Settings and untick "Execute at Windows Startup"
Unticking both these options will make ASC 'on demand' software

I also have Regseeker but I only use it for reference, it does have good explanations of the registry entry but since it hasn't been updated in many years (2007?) I am wary of using it to clean.
Where possible, I prefer to use software that has up to date forums I can read and ask questions in.
This is the sort of thing that worries me, from the HoverDesk User Forums link

There was no reply to this and the last quesstion was in 28th December 2010 with no reply.
Looks like it is bordering on abandonware.

 

Most people leave IE alone as some insist that you have to have it, to download/install MS Updates. Nowadays hard drives are so big that space is not a problem, so not much advantage would occur even if you delete IE.

I, personally, use Opera as my Browser. I am lost when I have to use IE.:-D
As for FJF, I haven't used it. :confused I use CCleaner and others.

BTW this thread has proven most interesting to read the various comments/suggestions, etc.

Bazza

===

 

Okay, I'll let IE sit there. At least I can use it if Chrome decides it isn't working one day. I have masses of space on my computer but I hate carrying duplicate programs. Browsers are different.

I'll also keep FJF. It's such a small program, fast to use, and it picks up the occasional item CC misses on the Privacy scan. After an invasion on Gmail, I feel safer having the two.

Btw, IOBit and Comodo are excellent programs and I'm glad I downloaded both and managed to get a free key from MG before you ran out. I feel more secure with them on board.

I rely heavily on MG for help and I hope you guys never go away.

Love you all,

Lavender