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Maintaining a healthy computer is not restricted to only keeping malicious software away; it’s a matter of troubleshooting a variety of operating system issues as well, including those related to Windows Registry, junk files and other types of redundant OS information. When it comes to ensuring smooth functioning of the PC, utilities like CCleaner are nearly indispensable.
CCleaner by Piriform is a world-renowned solution designed for computer optimization and cleaning. Along with providing operating system maintenance features proper, it also accommodates online privacy protection capabilities. Being very light-weight and fast, this program can assist in cleaning both native Windows components and third-party applications which it easily detects upon installation. Furthermore, the built-in Registry Cleaner allows checking your system for potential problems that tend to deteriorate its performance, for instance obsolete software, missing shared DLLs, ActiveX and Class Issues, MUI cache, etc.
Important enough for the current state of the cyber threatscape, CCleaner is also known to help combat digital threats such as browser hijackers and rogue antiviruses due to its ability to handle startup programs – this way you can bypass persistent malware interference with your cleanup effort. By and large, this software delivers a fantastic feature set even to free version users, which is an additional huge plus to it. In this regard, the only significant advantage for those using CCleaner commercial copy is personalized support, but frankly, the overall simplicity, reliability and trouble-free essence of this app leaves barely any room for serious problems occurring along the way.
This review will highlight technical specs, usability peculiarities, features, support, pros and cons of CCleaner in detail.
Before installing CCleaner you are asked which version you would like. Alternatives are: standard installer (4.276 kb), portable (4.083 kb) and “slim” (3.225 kb). While standard variant features a complete installation with an opt-in offer to also get Google Chrome and Google Toolbar as a bundle, portable means it’s a zip file which you can keep on a USB drive and do not have to install if there’s currently no need to, and slim implies absence of any additional components such as new browser or toolbar install.
We picked the standard option for our test. The installer downloaded within seconds and, once clicked on, triggered the setup wizard screen with clear prompts to proceed. All in all, CCleaner was up and running really fast, which is great to know. The only thing that we recommend you pay special attention to during installation is the offer of also installing Chrome and Google Toolbar – you will have to deselect the check marks on one of the screens if you’re not willing to get those. Also, you can have the application add context menu entries to your Recycle Bin shortcut, which is quite handy.
The user interface is fairly simple to understand and convenient in terms of navigation. Its top section is occupied with CCleaner version data and the system parameters which the program determines automatically. The left-hand navigation section is composed of 4 components: Cleaner, Registry, Tools, and Options. By simply clicking on each you can view a complete structure of the selected item in the right-hand part of the GUI, with the entire multitude of options listed within a single screen. All menu items except for Registry Cleaner contain sub-tabs for viewing a deeper internal hierarchy of features. The bottom of the main panel is occupied by 2 items: Online Help to the left, and Check for updates to the right. Generally, the interface is very compact and quite a pleasure to use for anyone regardless of their skill level.
CCleaner performs all assigned operations without noticeable lags and causes no processing load on the system. One of the noteworthy things about this utility is the fact that its default configuration will not lead to the loss of data you would most likely want to keep, for example webmail passwords, site preferences, saved form information and the like. If you wish to select some of these in the Cleaner menu, the app will come up with a confirmation pop-up. Furthermore, whenever you decide to get your System Registry cleaned, you will be offered to save a backup to a specified location so that you can roll back the changes in the future if needed.
The first superficial impression you might get about CCleaner delivering only a few features vanishes once you start delving deeper into the structure thereof. As we already mentioned, the main menu components expand to quite a few additional options, so the feature set is abundant and simply splendid no matter if you are using a free of commercial version of the product.
CCleaner proved to be reliable in terms of accomplishing any assigned tasks. Analysis of Windows components and installed applications is a matter of literally seconds, and the cleanup process is pretty much just as short. Some users may mistake this amazing processing speed with lack of thoroughness, but that’s not the case with this utility. Same applies to System Registry troubleshooting: the software scans for issues and fixes the selected ones in the blink of an eye. Efficiency of fulfilling more sophisticated tasks such as drive wipe does not arouse any doubt, even with free version, while speed of this process does actually depend on the overwrite complexity selected by the user. On the whole, as far as provision of all declared features is concerned – there are barely any flaws one could reproach CCleaner of.
The so-called Priority Support is provided to users of CCleaner Professional, Network and Business editions. This mode of getting product help has obvious benefits due to the ability of contacting the company reps directly with an enquiry, as well as short response times.
Support for free version users is restricted to using the FAQ section on Piriform official website, downloading the necessary documentation, and browsing / joining the Community Forum to ask questions and discuss problems with other members. More scarce support is probably the only noteworthy disadvantage that free users have to put up with as compared with those who have the commercial CCleaner installed. However, the good news here is a fairly high degree of the program’s stability and fairly comprehensive information provided in Frequently Asked Questions and product documentation.
Without exaggeration, CCleaner is an excellent system optimization tool. Regardless of whether you are using free or professional version, this software provides a complete range of OS, application and Registry cleaning services, performing those fast and rigorously. In the meanwhile, chances of doing harm to the system are minimal because once you try to activate something that’s not default – you get a warning message to consider. In general, everyday PC maintenance is easy and trouble-free as long you’re doing it with CCleaner.
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