CCleaner Tips & Tricks: A Pro Guide
Unlocking the Full Potential of CCleaner
While commonly recognized for its one-click cleaning functionality, CCleaner offers a significantly broader range of capabilities than simply initiating a quick scan and removal of temporary files.
This widely-used application, designed for the removal of unnecessary files and the protection of user privacy, incorporates a diverse set of features.
Beyond the Basics: Customizing Your Cleaning Experience
Although CCleaner is remarkably user-friendly for novice users – a single click on the 'Run Cleaner' button initiates the process – a deeper exploration reveals extensive customization options.
Users can refine the cleaning process to precisely target specific files and data types.
Advanced Features and Tools
The application isn't limited to routine maintenance. It also provides powerful tools for more comprehensive system management.
- Drive Wiper: A secure tool for completely erasing all data from a hard drive.
This ensures data cannot be recovered, offering a robust solution for data security.
In essence, CCleaner is a versatile utility capable of both simple, automated cleaning and advanced, user-defined system optimization.
Evaluating What Data to Remove
By default, CCleaner removes a substantial amount of data. It's prudent to carefully evaluate whether clearing browser caches – also known as Temporary Internet Files for Internet Explorer – is truly necessary.
These files are retained by browsers to enhance future browsing speed. Revisiting a website will be noticeably quicker when images and other elements are already stored locally.
While clearing the cache can reclaim disk space and potentially improve browsing privacy, particularly if that is a concern, repeated cache clearing can negatively impact your web browsing performance.
Deleting the thumbnail cache within Windows Explorer can also lead to slower performance. If you frequently access folders containing numerous image files, rebuilding the cache will require additional processing time.
Although clearing the thumbnail cache frees up storage space, this benefit is offset by the time needed to regenerate it.
Furthermore, many options within CCleaner target the clearing of most-recently-used lists (MRUs) across various Windows applications. These lists generally consume minimal disk space.
However, they can present potential privacy implications. If you regularly utilize a specific MRU list, ensure it remains unchecked during the cleaning process.
Maintaining Important Cookies with CCleaner
By default, CCleaner removes all cookies during its cleaning process. However, there are instances where retaining certain cookies is desirable. If you consistently find yourself needing to re-enter login credentials for frequently visited websites after using CCleaner, accessing the Cookies section within the Options is recommended.
CCleaner provides a feature for whitelisting cookies. A right-click within the Cookies pane allows you to select "Intelligent Scan." This function will automatically identify and add cookies from popular services like Google, Hotmail, and Yahoo Mail to your exclusion list.
Adding Custom Cookies to the Whitelist
Beyond the automatically added cookies, you may wish to include others. To do this, locate the specific cookie you want to preserve within the list. Then, click the right arrow button to transfer it to your whitelist.
For instance, if you frequently visit howtogeek.com, find its corresponding cookie and add it. CCleaner will then ensure this cookie remains untouched during cleaning, preventing the need for repeated logins to How-To Geek.
The Potential Downsides of Registry Cleaning
Although CCleaner features a registry cleaning tool, it is generally advisable to avoid its use. The Windows registry is a complex database comprised of a vast number of entries – often numbering in the hundreds of thousands.
Eliminating a relatively small quantity of these entries, typically a few hundred at most, is unlikely to result in any noticeable performance improvement. The potential for unintended consequences outweighs the minimal benefits.
Risks Associated with Registry Cleaners
Registry cleaning utilities carry the risk of inadvertently deleting crucial registry values. This can lead to system instability or application malfunctions.
Therefore, the practice of using such tools is often discouraged due to the limited potential gains and the inherent dangers involved.
Using CCleaner's Registry Cleaner (With Caution)
Despite the general recommendation against registry cleaning, if you are determined to proceed, CCleaner is considered one of the more secure options available.
However, it is absolutely essential to create a backup of the registry before initiating any cleaning process. This safeguard allows for the restoration of deleted entries should any issues arise.
Backing Up Your Registry
- Ensure a complete backup is performed prior to running the cleaner.
- The backup file will enable you to revert changes if problems are encountered.
By following this precaution, you can mitigate the risks associated with using a registry cleaner and potentially resolve any adverse effects.
Controlling Startup Applications
Within the Tools area, the Startup feature provides a method for managing applications that launch upon computer boot. Rather than permanently removing entries, which could impact functionality, it is recommended to disable programs that automatically start.
This approach ensures that important autostart items are preserved and can be readily re-enabled if needed.
Utilizing the Startup Panel
The Startup panel offers a convenient way to control which programs initiate when your system powers on. Disabling an application prevents it from running in the background, potentially improving boot times.
Should you later require the application to launch automatically again, the disabled entry can be easily restored to its previous state.
- Disable vs. Delete: Opt for disabling to retain the autostart entry for future use.
- Improved Boot Times: Reducing the number of startup programs can lead to faster system startup.
Consider carefully which programs are essential for immediate operation, and disable those that are not. This practice contributes to a more streamlined and efficient computing experience.
Securely Erasing Data from Drives
When a file is deleted through Windows or any other operating system, the data isn't immediately removed from the storage device. Instead, the system removes the references to the file and designates the space it occupied as available. Specialized data recovery software can then scan the drive.
If the operating system hasn't overwritten that space, the original data remains recoverable. CCleaner provides a Drive Wiper tool to mitigate this risk by securely erasing free space on your hard drive.
Understanding Drive Wiping
Contrary to common belief, multiple overwriting passes aren't necessarily required for effective data sanitization. A single pass is generally sufficient to render files unrecoverable. However, for heightened security, especially when discarding a hard drive, a complete data erasure is recommended.
Automating Free Space Wiping
CCleaner allows for automatic free space wiping with each system cleanup. This functionality can be activated by checking the Wipe Free Space box located within the Advanced settings of the Cleaner section.
Be aware that enabling this feature will significantly increase the time required for CCleaner to complete its cleaning process. The developers of CCleaner suggest keeping this option disabled for regular use.
Important Considerations for SSDs
Before utilizing drive wiping techniques on a Solid State Drive (SSD), it's crucial to review specific guidance regarding SSD data erasure. The methods suitable for traditional hard disk drives may not be optimal or even effective for SSDs.
Secure File Deletion with CCleaner
CCleaner provides a method for securely deleting files, leveraging its Drive Cleaner tool during the deletion process. This ensures data is overwritten, making recovery significantly more difficult. However, it's important to note that secure deletion is a more time-consuming process than standard file removal.
Because of the increased time required, operating systems typically do not employ secure deletion as the default method. If robust data privacy is a priority, this feature can be activated within the Settings tab, located in the Options section of CCleaner.
Understanding Secure Deletion
Standard file deletion simply removes the file's entry from the file system, but the data itself often remains on the storage device. Secure deletion overwrites this data multiple times with random characters.
This overwriting process prevents the possibility of data recovery through common methods. The Drive Cleaner tool in CCleaner facilitates this secure overwriting when enabled.
Adding Custom Files and Folders in CCleaner
CCleaner allows for the inclusion of files and folders not automatically recognized within its standard application list. This feature enables users to schedule regular cleaning of specific temporary file directories. When CCleaner is executed, these designated files will be deleted and folders emptied.
To configure custom cleaning rules, navigate to the Options section within CCleaner and select the Include tab. Exercise caution during this process, as incorrectly added files or folders could be unintentionally removed, leading to data loss.
How to Access the Include Tab
The Include tab provides the interface for specifying custom files and folders. It’s located within the Options settings of the CCleaner application.
- Open CCleaner.
- Click on Options.
- Select the Include tab.
It's important to remember that the custom files and folders you define will only be cleaned if the "Custom Files and Folders" checkbox is activated under the Advanced settings. This ensures that the custom cleaning rules are actively applied during the cleaning process.
Defining Exclusions in CCleaner
Should CCleaner repeatedly remove files or settings you wish to retain, the application allows for the creation of exclusions within its Options menu. This functionality enables users to protect specific data from being inadvertently deleted during cleaning processes.
Exclusion Options
A variety of exclusion types are supported. Users can designate an entire drive, a specific folder, an individual file, or even a registry key as exempt from cleaning.
Furthermore, exclusions can be refined to apply only to files possessing particular file extensions. This provides granular control over what CCleaner targets.
How Exclusions Work
By adding an exclusion, CCleaner will bypass the specified item during its cleaning routines. This ensures that important data or customized settings remain untouched. The exclusion feature is a valuable tool for tailoring CCleaner's behavior to individual user needs.
It's important to carefully consider what you exclude, as overly broad exclusions could diminish the effectiveness of the cleaning process.
Managing Installed Applications
Within CCleaner, the Uninstall feature provides a comprehensive list of programs currently installed on your system. This utility extends beyond the standard Windows uninstaller, offering functionalities like renaming and deleting entries.
Any modifications implemented through CCleaner’s Uninstall tool are synchronized with the Windows Control Panel, ensuring consistency across platforms.
Furthermore, the list of installed applications can be exported to a text file. This serves as a convenient backup, allowing for easy reference and potential reinstallation of software.
Automating CCleaner
After initial configuration, CCleaner can be scheduled to run automatically on a nightly basis. Alternatively, a shortcut or hotkey can be created for silent, on-demand execution.