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CCleaner can be dangerous


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I realize after 4 years or so of using it that CCleaners reg clean module can be dangerous, But I thought the program was smart enough to know a live shortcut from a dead one. Somehow, I think my wife, checked the cleaning box titled start menu shortcuts and CCleaner deleted about 50% of my good shortcuts. There didn't seem to be a way to undo the clean as there is in the reg clean module if you do a backup so I had to go and reinstall or repair about 7 different programs. Just saying be careful it is a very powerful program.

Thanks all!

btw, budman, my system is still running like a charm!

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Mistake #1 - letting your wife use your computer. That's why I bought mine a Macbook.

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CCleaner itself is fine, the registry cleaners of any app can be dangerous. Registry is an archaic method of data storage when space was scarce IMO. And should go back to nice portable ini files with software.

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I have been using Ccleaner for a few years and never had any issues with it.

Do you also use the ccleaner reg cleaner?

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That has nothing to do with the registry cleaner, that's just normal CCleaner, Cleaner - Windows - System - Start Menu Shortcuts, it's also by default unticked.

It's unfair to call a program dangerous because it deleted start menu shortcuts an option which you ticked. :blink:

I've used CCleaner and the registry cleaner and had no problems, that said it doesn't really do much deletes a few dead shortcuts that's about it.

Also if you right click the "Start menu shortcuts" option and click analyse it'll show you exactly what it intends to delete just tried it and it only deleted the dead shortcuts.

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That has nothing to do with the registry cleaner, that's just normal CCleaner, Cleaner - Windows - System - Start Menu Shortcuts, it's also by default unticked.

It's unfair to call a program dangerous because it deleted start menu shortcuts an option which you ticked. :blink:

I've used CCleaner and the registry cleaner and had no problems, that said it doesn't really do much deletes a few dead shortcuts that's about it.

Also if you right click the "Start menu shortcuts" option and click analyse it'll show you exactly what it intends to delete just tried it and it only deleted the dead shortcuts.

As stated "I" did not tick "Start menu shortcuts", I had been planning on doing this but my system is now bios password protected. Problem is my wife has her own laptop but is ALWAYS screwing around with my desktop as she has vista and has a free upgrade disc for 7 so she wants to play with it before she takes the leap. Her book club uses E-Mule which does not work 100% on Windows 7 and it does not look like they will be coming up with an update anytime soon.

I guess I was a bit harsh calling CCleaner dangerous. Powerful is more like it. Check the wrong thing or delete the wrong reg entry and your in trouble unless you do a backup each time. I will probably keep using it but will make damn sure what is and isn't checked before running it. Cost me about 2 hours of time to recover.

Also why is it every time I run CCleaner it requires elevation?

Thanks,

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Yeh the program isnt dangerous, its just that your wife didnt actually know what she was doing by the sounds of things. I personally have never used the shortcut remover because i remove them myself but im pretty sure it would of had a pop up saying what shortcuts it was going to remove and a normal person would select the ones you wanted to keep. All thats happend is an inexperienced user has had a mistake, i use to get calls from my dad all the time "Ive dne something what do i do?" now he's brought a stupid mac i say "best asking adi, i hate the stupid things and will not waste my time searching for an answer".

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CCleaner is only supposed to delete shortcuts to files that no longer exist. The fact that the option is unticked by default is irrelevant, and no, CCleaner wasn't just "doing it's job". It deleted good shortcuts (unless the OP is wrong) so in this case, CCleaner messed up.

A few years ago, a bug in CCleaner deleted all of my Firefox passwords. Not only that, but the developers were very stubborn to admit there was a problem and provide a fix. CCleaner isn't perfect and sometimes it messes up. This should be expected of any cleaning software.

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CCleaner is only supposed to delete shortcuts to files that no longer exist. The fact that the option is unticked by default is irrelevant, and no, CCleaner wasn't just "doing it's job". It deleted good shortcuts (unless the OP is wrong) so in this case, CCleaner messed up.

A few years ago, a bug in CCleaner deleted all of my Firefox passwords. Not only that, but the developers were very stubborn to admit there was a problem and provide a fix. CCleaner isn't perfect and sometimes it messes up. This should be expected of any cleaning software.

Is there anything available that's like CCleaner?

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Is there anything available that's like CCleaner?

CCleaner is still the safest solution around. I would disable the Start Menu option for now and post a bug report in their forums - http://forum.piriform.com/

If you really want something else, there's also BleachBit which looks safe, but I've never used it myself.

A few tips:

- Avoid anything that deletes files by extension (e.g. delete all *.tmp and *.bak files). This is stupid and can cause serious problems with your system.

- Avoid cleaning "suites" or all-in-ones. These are often half-baked attempts which aren't as well developed as individual programs.

- Just because one program frees more space than another, doesn't mean that program is any better.

- If you use Windows 7, you probably could have used Previous Versions to restore the deleted shortcuts in your start menu.

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Ccleaner always finds its way onto a clean install in my case, although, when not checking over the items, you can do some minor damage, so next time keep it locked down :)

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Every time someone says that CCleaner messed up their system, I have to assume that they made a mistake, or the PC was screwed up in the first place.

I'm sure CCleaner has some bugs though, and once in a while, they must crop up. However, EVERY application has bugs, and I don't believe they come up as often as you'd believe based on what people around here say. I use CCleaner, including the registry cleaner, on each and every one of the few dozen computers I work on every month, as well as the four technician work stations, and I've never seen it screw up an install. I've been doing this job for 9 months, and I'd say it averages to 35 computers a month, so... I've been using CCleaner for 26.25 years. :p

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All Registry cleaners can be dangerous ; some are less dangerous than others, but they all are.

PS: It's funny, no one seems to think women can do anything good with a computer...well, I'm a man, but still... :huh:

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