Hard drive cleaner

Can anyone recommend a free scan plus cleaner for the hard drive? I heard CCleaner is good but can't find the free download.thanks

 

Here is the link to CCleaner http://www.majorgeeks.com/CCleaner_Slim_No_Yahoo_Toolbar_English_d4191.html

Not sure what you mean by a free scan.

 

there's a lot of info. on the link - exactly where do I click to clean my registry - FREE. thanks

 

You're welcome

 

The Issue scan is the part of CCleaner that cleans the registry. I suggest you repeat the scan immediately after the first scan; it sometimes finds additional items during a second scan.

Before you tell CCleaner to delete the items it found from an Issues scan, it will ask whether you want to backup the registry. Do so, and then delete everything it found. You would not need to backup the registry again after a repeat scan that was run immediately after the first scan.

 

Opps I missed that in the rush, but you got a good answer above.

 

sorry - I think I must be blind - when I click on to the site mentioned I don't see the item I need to click on to get the free registry cleaning!!!!!!!!!

also, can you tell me how I find what is on my computer start up menu - takes a while to start up windows.
thanks

 

To clean the registry using CCleaner, please do the following:

1. Launch CCleaner
2. Hit ALT+I (or select the 'Issues' section)
3. Press the 'Scan For Issues' button

CCleaner will now scan your registry for problems, and produce a list of what it finds. You can review each in detail, or press the 'Fix All Selected Issues' button to automatically correct them all. This will prompt you to create a backup, and you ABSOLUTELY SHOULD. This will allow you to revert changes with a double-click should something go wrong. (Not that I expect anything to).

As for startup programs, CCleaner will do that too!

1. Launch CCleaner
2. Hit ALT+T (or select the 'Tools' section)
3. Select the 'Startup' section

Here, CCleaner will list all the user-defined programs set to run at startup. Delete everything you can without compromising your security. Antivirus, anti-spyware, and firewall applications should be running all the time. Most others, however, can be run when needed, so that they aren't trying up resources when they're not in use.

I'd also recommend that you follow up by managing operating system defined startup programs (called services), as this will also help to speed up your machine. To do so, please follow the instructions in the Disable Unneeded Services In Windows XP thread. You may have questions on which services can be disabled. Just post back with any concerns.

EDIT: I'm sorry, is the issue right now GETTING CCleaner? If so you can download it directly from this link. Alternatively, you can use musksnipe's link, but you will then have to select a Majorgeeks server to download it from

 

msconfig > startup tab works better than deleting stuff out of your startup like ccleaner does. If you click start > run > type msconfig > click on startup tab > uncheck programs you don't want in your startup. If you use ccleaner, you take the risk of deleting something you actually needed in your startup.

 

very helpful info. thanks

re. start up menu - is there another simpler version? i recall seeing something else that allowed you to tick or delete each box eg I don't want Limewire, or quick time etc. to start every time I turn on the computer. thanks again

 

padams is right in that using MSCONFIG makes it easier to set something BACK to starting up with Windows, but I have to disagree that it is "better" to do it this way, because:

1. Malware often undoes the work done by MSCONFIG (being a more permanent removal is a GOOD thing in this case)
2. CCleaner will consolidate ALL startup programs for a user profile, whereas MSCONFIG omits ones in the 'RunOnce' portion of the registry.
3. Startup programs almost always have a means of putting them back into the startup list. Even if they don't we can help you get it back.
4. Most startup items AREN'T needed. Most just tie up memory and CPU time unnecessarily. There's very little to no chance you'll do any serious damage.

CCleaner is the majorgeeks preferred method. Major Attitude posts about it here:

This sounds just like CCleaner's startup management!

 

ok then in msconfig under the startup tab there are several little check boxes, find the programs that you don't want to in startup and simply uncheck them. reboot and bam it's done.

 

I think people have the wrong idea about the startup section in ccleaner. This section is not used to disable programs in startup, it's used to cleanup all the programs in msconfig that aren't set to run at startup. If you have 15 programs unchecked in msconfig it makes it a little messy. With ccleaner you can delete all those out. After all it is a cleaning utility.

 

MS Config. is what I wanted - thanks. I have the following ticked - NvCPL, LVCOMSX, ISSTART, Logitray, realsched, CCAPP, OSCheck, CTFmon, M. Office. I know about CCAPP (norton a.virus) & M. Soft - do I need the rest? Thanks

 

So, you still haven't downloaded, installed, and run CCleaner? Is that right?

 

could you post everything you have in msconfig checked and unchecked?

 

system config. utility - for checked - see below
unchecked -apdproxy, lsstart, logitray, nerocheck, nvmctray, opware32, qttask, jusched, google toolbar notifier, wfxswtch, msascui, wfxsnt40, samsung media studio agent, adobe reader speed launch, limewire on start up

 

To keep Limewire from replacing the start up option open Limewire and go to:

Tools > Options > Advanced > System startup > and uncheck the box beside run on system start up.

 

did as you suggested. thanks for your help

 

So, all you've done is implement selective startup? You still haven't done any cleanup, still haven't downloaded, installed, and run CCleaner? Is that right?

 

@usafveteran: Yes he's run it, we were helping him get the junk out of startup.