Task Scheduler To Automate CCleaner ?

[wmckernan]

I found these (below) on the CCleaner help page. This is exactly what I want to do, i.e. use the Task Scheduler to run CCleaner automatically every day at 3:00am. I know how to run the Task Scheduler. I don't know how to add /AUTO to CCleaner.exe. I can't even find CCleaner.exe. I'm not very computer literate. Where do I find CCleaner.exe, and how do I add /AUTO to it? Also, if I do this, can I still run CCleaner manually, i.e., not silently, when I want to, as I do right now?

 

There are three parameters you can use when running CCleaner, as follows. You can use them in batch files, scripting, shortcuts, or the Task Scheduler to automate CCleaner operation. For example, you could set CCleaner to run automatically every day at 3:00am.

 

CCleaner.exe /AUTO CCleaner runs silently and automatically, using the current set of saved options to clean the PC. CCleaner then exits.

[wmckernan]

I recently edited this post. I am still looking for some help.

[Disk4mat]

You can locate ccleaner.exe a couple of ways. If you have a shortcut on your desktop or start menu, right click it and select properties. There you will see thw full path including the executable. Or you can do a search for ccleaner.exe.

 

If you installed it it to its default location then you may find it in C:\Program Files\CCleaner\ccleaner.exe

That being the case the program/file to execute in task scheduler would be:

 

C:\Program Files\CCleaner\ccleaner.exe  /auto

 

[wmckernan]

You can locate ccleaner.exe a couple of ways. If you have a shortcut on your desktop or start menu, right click it and select properties. There you will see thw full path including the executable. Or you can do a search for ccleaner.exe.If you installed it it to its default location then you may find it in C:\Program Files\CCleaner\ccleaner.exe That being the case the program/file to execute in task scheduler would be:

 

C:\Program Files\CCleaner\ccleaner.exe  /auto

 

 

Thanks for your help, but I'm not there yet.

 

When I click on Computer\C:\Program Files\CCleaner, I get several files, none of which say ccleaner.exe, the closest I get are files that end with the suffix dll, or ocx, none end in exe.

 

So, I right clicked the CCleaner shortcut icon on my desktop, clicked Properties, and found the following under the Shortcut tab:

Target: "C:\Program Files\CCleaner\ccleaner.exe"

Start In: "C:\Program Files\CCleaner"

At least I found something that ends in exe this time.

 

Why can't I find a file that ends in exe in the CCleaner program file? Now what do I do? From Shortcut Properties, do I have to change the Target, or Start In, or both, from what's already there to C:\Program Files\CCleaner\ccleaner.exe /auto? Or can I make all the changes in the Task Scheduler? And by the way, I have been successful in scheduling other tasks to run at night, like Norton Security, and HP Health Check, so I think that I know how to operate Task Scheduler.

 

I'm just really dense when it comes to computer literacy. I really need things spelled out one step at a time. I hope someone can help me with this, because I would really like CCleaner to run every night when I run all my other maintenance, and security, programs.

 

Further help would be greatly appreciated.

[Disk4mat]

You wont see the exe file ext. Its hidden by default. You confirmed the location/path of the executable from the shortcut. So you can just use that in task scheduler with the switch.

 

Are you running XP or Vista?

[wmckernan]

You wont see the exe file ext. Its hidden by default. You confirmed the location/path of the executable from the shortcut. So you can just use that in task scheduler with the switch. Are you running XP or Vista?

 

Thanks for the reply. So it appears that it's alright that I don't find the exe file in the Programs file. That's good news because I've spent a lot of time trying to find this exe file, with no success, except with the recent discovery of the exe file on the Shortcut/Properties screen.

 

I'm using Windows Vista.

 

So what's my next step? What's the "Switch" that is mentioned above? Do I have to add the / AUTO code to something? If so what do I add it to? To something in the Shortcut/Properties screen? And if so, do I add it to the Target, or the Start In, or both? Or do I go in a different direction and work with changing something in Task Scheduler?

 

When I found the following on the CCleaner help page, "You can use ... the Task Scheduler to automate CCleaner operation. For example, you could set CCleaner to run automatically every day at 3:00am", and then found, "CCleaner.exe /AUTO: CCleaner runs silently and automatically, using the current set of saved options to clean the PC. CCleaner then exits", I thought that this would be a good option instead of running CCleaner manually when I remember to do it. I never thought that this would turn out to be so difficult. I feel like such an idiot.

 

I look forward to some more advice from this forum, so that I can set this automatic task soon. Thanks agian.

[Disk4mat]

Let me save you some time and trouble if I can. I created a task to run CC at 3am daily with the auto switch and attached it below. Save the XML file to your desktop. Open Task Scheduler and goto the action menu and select import task. Set the time since my time zone is different and your good to go.

 

Manual instructions

Open Task Sched and goto the Action menu. Select create task.

In the new task dialog, check the box to run the task with the highest privileges.

Triggers tab, new. Set for daily and time.

Actions tab, new. Enter the path for CC with " " so it would be

 

"C:\Program Files\CCleaner\CCleaner.exe"

 

In the Arguments box type /Auto

 

Conditions and Settings tabs you can leave as default.

 

Right click, save as...

CCleaner.xml

 

Or in a zip file. Extract the XML and import it

CCleaner.zip

 

Screenshots

 

CCleaner.xml

CCleaner.zip

[wmckernan]

Let me save you some time and trouble if I can. I created a task to run CC at 3am daily with the auto switch and attached it below. Save the XML file to your desktop. Open Task Scheduler and goto the action menu and select import task. Set the time since my time zone is different and your good to go.

Manual instructions

Open Task Sched and goto the Action menu. Select create task.

In the new task dialog, check the box to run the task with the highest privileges.

Triggers tab, new. Set for daily and time.

Actions tab, new. Enter the path for CC with " " so it would be

 

"C:\Program Files\CCleaner\CCleaner.exe"

 

In the Arguments box type /Auto

Conditions and Settings tabs you can leave as default.

Right click, save as...

CCleaner.xml

Or in a zip file. Extract the XML and import it

CCleaner.zip

 

Almost, but almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.

 

I got up this morning to find the CCleaner screen on my computer, but with nobody available to click "Run Cleaner" at 5:00 a.m., of course, nothing got cleaned.

 

I used the manual method (from above). Here's what I did:

1) Opened up Task Scheduler

2) Clicked on Action, Clicked on Create Task

3) Under General tab, checked Run with highest privileges, typed in Name (CCleaner), Description (CCleaner), and clicked OK

4) It asked for an Action, Clicked New, Under Program/Script, I typed in "C:\Program Files\CCleaner\CCleaner.exe". In Add arguments (optional) I typed in AUTO, Clicked OK

5) Clicked Triggers tab, New, Checked Daily, Changed Time to 5:00 a.m., Clicked OK

6) Everything else was left as default

 

Now that I've gone over the steps in this post, I realized that I typed in AUTO, instead of /AUTO after Add arguments. Maybe with this change, i.e. with the slash, it will work tonight. I'll let you know tomorrow. But just in case it doesn't work, have I missed any steps in the six steps above that I listed?

 

Also, I couldn't enlarge the screenshots. And I couldn't open the xml file. I could open the zip file, but I had no idea what to do with it. I didn't think I needed it if I used the manual method?

 

I feel so ignorant. Thanks for all the help.

[Disk4mat]

Everything looks great except in step 4. Your right about the missing /. Tonight you should have no problem with the task executing. If you want to test it sooner, you can go into Task Scheduler, right click the task and select Run.

 

Oddly I cant open the screenshots either. Maybe its a forum issue. Here is one of the screens hosted on an image site...

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/145/tasksched.jpg

 

[hazelnut]

As an aside Andavari is also having issues opening forum screenshots, other folk are having none.

 

May be a combination of forum software/and or firefox.

[Disk4mat]

Hmmm... Im using IE8 under Vista x86 SP1. It wasnt a problem until recently. The only thing that has changed for me is that my 2Wire DSL modem got a (pushed) firmware upgrade recently. But on several other php based forums I dont have any trouble.

 

Also I can right click the thumb, copy the address, remove the _thumb and view the image just fine. Example...

 

From: http://forum.piriform.com/uploads/monthly_08_2009/post-15598-1249390966_thumb.pngTo: http://forum.piriform.com/uploads/monthly_08_2009/post-15598-1249390966.png

 

 

I've also tried copying the shortcut and pasting it into a blank tab to rule out the popup blocker. Really odd.

[Alan_B]

I got up this morning to find the CCleaner screen on my computer, but with nobody available to click "Run Cleaner" at 5:00 a.m., of course, nothing got cleaned.

 

I can only think of two explanations for that :-

1. You launched CCleaner and it was left on the screen when you went to bed ; or

2. You have perfectly configured the scheduler to launch CCleaner,

and you need not make any changes other than inserting that missing "/".

 

Alan

[wmckernan]

I got up this morning, and my computer was cleaned, including a file that I had purposely placed in my recycle bin, as a test.

 

I had one problem this morning, that was, probably, independent of my automatic CCleaner task. I awoke to find my internet connection down, but easily fixed it by turning my modem off, and then on. This never happened before, and, hopefully, it won't happen again.

 

Thanks for all the help. Special thanks to Disk4mat, and hazelnut.

[wmckernan]

100% success. Thanks for all the help.

[Disk4mat]

Your welcome! Happy that worked out for ya.

[wmckernan]

For the benefit of those who may be less computer literate than me, probably no more than a few dozen people in the whole world, here's a step by step list of how to use CCleaner with Task Scheduler:

 

CCleaner And Task Scheduler: CCleaner runs silently and automatically, using the current set of saved options to clean the PC. CCleaner then exits.

1) Open up Task Scheduler

2) Click on Action, Click on Create Task

3) Under General tab, Check Run with highest privileges, Type in Name: CCleaner AUTO,

Type in Description: CCleaner AUTO, Click OK

4) Under Actions tab, Click New, Under Program/Script, Type in:

"C:\Program Files\CCleaner\CCleaner.exe"(be sure to include the quotation marks),

In Add arguments (optional), Type in /AUTO (be sure to include the slash), Click OK

5) Click Triggers tab, New, Check Daily, Change Time to 5:00 a.m. (or whatever time you prefer),

Click OK

6) Conditions, Settings, and History tabs: Leave everything as default

7) Note: When you run CCleaner.exe using the /AUTO parameter, CCleaner does not run

the Registry cleaner. You cannot currently run the Registry cleaner through a command-line

parameter.

[hazelnut]

Thanks wmckernan for taking the trouble to post the instructions in that manner.

 

I'm sure it will be found useful

[psceri]

Let me save you some time and trouble if I can. I created a task to run CC at 3am daily with the auto switch and attached it below. Save the XML file to your desktop. Open Task Scheduler and goto the action menu and select import task. Set the time since my time zone is different and your good to go.

 

Manual instructions

Open Task Sched and goto the Action menu. Select create task.

In the new task dialog, check the box to run the task with the highest privileges.

Triggers tab, new. Set for daily and time.

Actions tab, new. Enter the path for CC with " " so it would be

"C:\Program Files\CCleaner\CCleaner.exe"

In the Arguments box type /Auto

 

Conditions and Settings tabs you can leave as default.

 

Right click, save as...

CCleaner.xml

 

Or in a zip file. Extract the XML and import it

CCleaner.zip

 

Screenshots

 

[psceri]

I downloaded the XML file that was recommended and made various changes to satisify my windows 7 computer, but it still is not working. Here is a copy of the XML file. If anyone can see a problem and send me a solution, I would be very, very happy.

CCleaner.xml

[perzaklie]

I have a Vista laptop. I followed all the instrutions above to the letter. CCleaner appears to have run,according to History for the task, but my Recycle Bin is still not empty. If I select Run in Task Scheduler, same thing. Recycle bin does not empty. If I start and run CCleaner manually from my desktop icon, it cleans the Recycle Bin This happens only on my Vista laptop. All my XP machines run perfectly.