TonyKlein

"Samenvoegen" in Dutch equals "Merge" in English Alternatively, you can simply doubleclick the regfile, which will have the same effect.

Yes, wouldn't that be nice... However, most applications' uninstallers do leave an astonishing amount of garbage behind. Only solution: an install monitor to take snapshots before and after, like Ashampoo Uninstaller, Total Uninstall, and so on... we've discussed this before somewhere...

Ah, well done, Gents!

Not really; as I said, I don't have Opera installed, so I can't check my own Registry. Maybe someone who is himself an Opera user can have a look and tell you what it could be that CCleaner detects here.

I'm not an Opera user myself, but try the following: Close CCleaner. Now see whether you still have the "Opera" folder in C:\Program Files; if so, delete it. Next, Copy the text inside the 'Code' box to Notepad, and save in a location of your choice as Fix.reg (make sure you save as type: 'all files') Doubleclick Fix.reg, and answer yes when prompted to add its contents to the Registry.: REGEDIT4 [-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Opera Software] [-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Opera Software] [-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\opera.exe] Now relaunch CCleaner, and see whether the issue is resolved.

Here ya go. http://majorgeeks.com/page.php?id=12 I strongly advise you to annotate what you disable, though; many services are interdependent and you want to be able to retrace your steps if necessary...

As far as I know PCTools uses the VirusBuster AV engine, while AOL Active Virus Shield uses Kaspersky, which is far superior. I'd stick with AVS, if I were you...

I use the Classic View as well, but the problems you're having don't sound familiar. CCleaner shouldn't delete any desktop.ini files except possibly for those in the History and TIF folders, if you set that option, but even that shouldn't produce the effect you're mentioning. Are you having CCleaner delete any "Custom Files and Folders"??

Thanks for the compliment. However do take in account the advantages of the Premium edition: * Integrated detection of ad/spyware * Extra protection through email scanner (POP3) * Exclusive download server for faster updates * User-defined update intervals * Scan function for selected directories At only ? 20 ( $ 25,80 ) it is a relative bargain, and IMHO well worth the price. As for AOL Antivirus Shield, I believe it has been discussed here previously (don't remember where tho...). It is a seriously slimmed down version of KAV, without HTTP scanner, heuristic detection and more. Here's a list of what it lacks in comparison with KAV: http://www.kaspersky.com/faq?qid=194134869 It also (still, I believe) contains an unnecessary toolbar, which however it is possible to opt out of during setup. It is still way better than NO ativirus, of course...

Well, you can't expect us to whip up 'statistics' just like that... And things are a little more complicated as well: folks who are aware of the need to secure their systems will naturally take a more active interest in these matters, and will thus be motivated not to go for the most common or cheapest, but the most effective (and sometimes a lot lesser known) AV solutions, such as Nod32, Kaspersky, and the like. They will also be cogniscent of the need to stay current with critical Windows updates, and they will refrain from downloading at, or even visiting the shadier sites. Some of them may also be running additional antitrojan software. Those are as a result the people who are least likely to get infected....

I download and test a LOT of malware and upload anything unknown to sites like Jotti and/or VirusTotal. I an only say that in my experience AntiVir offers the best detection of ALL freeware AV's. Do not look any further if you're looking for a freeware solution...

This one is pretty good: http://www.prestosoft.com/ps.asp?page=edp_examdiff

Nod32 does a good job there too, although admittedly its forte lies in detecting "fast moving" threats like worms and viruses. I also very much like its heuristic qualities (behavioral and generic detection of entirely new malware). I just like BOClean a lot. It's probably the best AT available today, with a vast database, and a different approach from most others: you can't have it run an on demand scan (although you can have it scan a single file) but instead it runs silently in the background, watching memory, registry, and the file system waiting for malware to load up and then shuts it down before they have a chance to operate. Kaspersky is also an excellent choice though. It's database is one of the largest in the business, and updates are frequent. Still, I think it's useful to have a layered defense, with one program to take over if the first fails to notice or stop an intruder.

As you well know, with new Windows and IE vulnerabilities being detected all the time, one sometimes doesn't even need to click a link or open an attachment in order to get infected... As for "tons of popups", that's only true the first couple of days as the application 'gets to know' your operating system and its processes. You can compare it somewhat to when you first installed your firewall. Most of these applications also have a whitelist listing certain trusted applications and actions they're allowed to take. As for some of the other questions, Proces Guard isn't freeware although it has a free trial. My own setup comprises Look n Stop firewall, Nod32, BOClean Antitrojan, and GSS (AppDefend + RegDefend) And I do still use AAW and SpyBot for scanning on demand. I'm currently also looking at Sunbelt's Counterspy. Note that, if you're an average computer user who doesn't take frequent "walks on the wild side", has all critical updates installed, runs a decent quality antivrus, a firewall, and uses common sense, you're already doing a lot better than most... I would recommend some sort of real time registry montoring, be it Windows Defender Real Time monitoring, SpyBot's TeaTimer or something else.

Aargh, I'm unable to get my Wikikpedia 'HIPS' link to work; here it is: http://wiki.castlecops.com/HIPS_FAQ And yes, these applications ARE good, because they're not retroactive, but proactive, and much more effectively so, I might add, than say, Windows Defender or AAW real time protection. Note that ideally you also need Registry protection, for example by GSS RegDefend: http://www.ghostsecurity.com/index.php?page=regdefend System Safety Monitor too comes highly recommended: http://www.syssafety.com/ The apps do have a learning curve, but if you're intrerested in really effective protection, it's worth it!

The problem is that almost none of these familiar antispyware apps are really very good at removing the current generation of ever more sophisticated adware and spyware, making use of cloaking technologies, code injection, and what have you. AAW 2007 will almost certainly not represent a significant improvement in that respect either. The future lies in hardening of the operating system, making it more difficult for malware to infect it, and in kernel based HIPS technology (Process Guard, Ghost Security Suite and so on) That said, I still have Ad-Aware and SpyBot installed myself as well, I sometimes think mainly for old times sake... But both can certainly be useful, I hasten to add.

OK, add the following to your Winapp2.ini, and this key will be purged each time you run CCleaner: [Wallpaper MRU]LangSecRef=3025Detect=HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\WallpaperDefault=TrueRegKey1=HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Wallpaper\MRU

The registry key lists all recently used wallpaper image files. It can be deleted in its entirety (which is in fact what Kelly's Regfix does), and Windows will recreate it as needed. It shouldn't be too hard too have CCleaner do that. Give me a couple of mins and I'll cook something up...

Hi and welcome. That option is already there.

Merry X-mas and Happy Holidays to everyone.

The Url fix is meant for internet shortcuts; not at all sure it will fix your problem ...

That's good to hear - glad that helped.

I just noticed that Doug's REG file association fix is itself a regfile as well, in which case you'll also be unable to merge its contents by doubleclicking it... Unzip the regfile, then go to Start > Run > Regedit In the Registry Editor, go to File > Import . Browse to the regfile in question, highlight it, and hit 'Open'. That should hopefully do the trick

Your file association for regfiles would appear to have become corrupted. Try running the "REG file association fix" found here: http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm (this is assuming you're running Win XP!)

If you downloaded the executable (exe-file), just double-click it, and it will automatically install the files in the correct location.