CCleaner does a fine job of cleaning applications, but when one of those applications is removed, it appears that CCleaner does not take it off the list. In the next release, CCleaner should check your programs every time it is run to remove apps that no longer exist from the list.
An example of this would be Paint.NET, which I removed shortly after installing version 1.26.218 of CCleaner; Paint.NET still shows up on the applications list.
Also, I think Anwar had a good idea when he said that a file shredder should be included in CCleaner. It could be included under the Tools list, with the Uninstall and Startup options.
And on the same line of thinking, a couple other tools that would be helpful are a process starter/killer (kinda like the Processes tab in Task Manager, but possibly with a faster response time?) and a Services starter/stopper.
By including these tools in CCleaner, you would have a way to access the features offered by msconfig, services.msc, and Task Manager, all in one easy to use program.
I would much rather perform these tasks quickly and easily with CCleaner than have to fumble around with half a dozen Windows apps to do the same thing.
There will probably be many different opinions on your suggestion.
I think that Ccleaner should continue to concentrate on what it does best: cleaning unwanted/unneeded files from the HD. The more functions that are added to the product, the more confusing it will become for the average user.
... CCleaner should check your programs every time it is run to remove apps that no longer exist from the list.
As far as I know, it does. The problem is probably that the uninstall didn't remove the registry key that CCleaner uses to detect the application. Open C:\Program Files\CCleaner\winapp.ini and find the entry for Paint.NET, "Detect=" indicates the registry key that causes the app to be listed. Use regedit or your preferred registry editor to find and remove that entry from the registry.
Yeah, as soon as I made that post, I brought up Regedit and searched for Paint.NET. There was one folder and one key. After deleting both of them, the Paint.NET checkbox disappeared from the applications list. It would be convenient if CCleaner could do that automatically when it starts up so that I wouldn't have to.
And I understand what pwillener was saying when he said that CCleaner should stay simple, but I figure since it already gives you the option to remove Startup apps, why not have it give you access to other features that can positively influence your computer's performance as well?
All of these utilities would be neatly organized under Tools, so it wouldn't visually clutter the program. And CCleaner could show you a default message saying that these features should only be accessed by advanced users. That way, novices who just want to remove useless files wouldn't accidently meddle with important processes or services.