Using CCleaner to Clean & Control Your Computer
Don Trauger – Kennett
CCleaner, a free program available at www.filehippo.com, is a superior program to clean junk files and obsolete Registry items from your PC. I’ve recommended this program for years, explained its use at the PC Club meetings and have written about it. The program has improved its usefulness over time and includes a module to control programs that start up automatically when you start the computer.
If you don’t have it installed download it from the above site, save it to your Desktop screen and double click it to install it. Carefully observe the installation process and avoid installing additional bundled programs such as the Ask Toolbar. After it’s installed it should open automatically but if it doesn’t you can click the new CCleaner icon on the Desktop screen. Click the Analyze button and wait for it to scan your PC. Then click the Run Cleaner button. It will safely remove all the accumulated junk files safely from your PC. After removal click the Registry button on the left. Click the Scan for Issues button, wait for it to complete, then click Fix Selected Issues. This maintenance should be done monthly to keep your PC running in a stable environment.
Next, click the Tools button on the left then click the Startup button just to the right. Select the Windows tab, if it’s not already selected, and note the number of programs that have a “Yes” associated with them. You should not have more than 5-6 items with a Yes. Anymore than that compromises the startup time and puts an unreasonable resource load on the computer. The computer would perform its best if none of the items were checked. You can always click on a Desktop icon to start a program or select a program from the Start Menu. However, there some programs that should start up when you boot up your computer. For example, your antivirus program should start and any other program in the list that has the word update included should also say Yes. To control your startup programs, click to highlight a program that does start (says Yes) then click the disable button on the right. Now it should say No. I don’t recommend using the Delete button unless you are an experienced user. You can also control other functions such as your Web Browser, Scheduled Tasks and context Menu but these are less important.
Don’t be afraid to try this. You can’t harm your computer. It’s safe to do this because you are not uninstalling anything only preventing a program from starting when it doesn’t need to be started. Your computer will run faster and more smoothly with only a few items indicated with a Yes. I find this routine to be easier to use than using the Msconfig utility that many of you are familiar with.
PC help and answers to questions you may have are available at our monthly PC Club meetings which are the second Tuesday at