CCleaner Backups

[Riicky]

Hi,

I am using CCleaner for the very first time.

My System configuration: XP Home SP3 (all Updates).

As of some months my system seems to stall on occasions (Windows freezing / Applications not responding),

I thought perhaps applying CCleaner will assist in stabilizing the system?

But before I start to delete files and items in the registry etc, my question is: Does CCleaner backup EVERY change ? so that if neccessary I will be able to restore the system to the state before I initiated the Clean operation? i.e. not only the registry but also files / folders etc.

Would gratefully appreciate your answer and also recommendations.

Ricky

[login123]

Hi, Riicky.

Good place to start reading is here: http://www.piriform....ducing-ccleaner

There is quite a bit of reading there, but it would be best to read all those links first.

It sounds like you want to proceed carefully, and that is wise.

CCleaner is a "careful" windows cleaner, but changing any of the fundamental windows settings can always be a bit risky.

Be especially careful with registry changes.

[Andavari]

As of some months my system seems to stall on occasions (Windows freezing / Applications not responding),

Maybe look for driver updates, etc. Also some antivirus software doesn't live well on some systems so trying a different antivirus can help in some circumstances.

[hazelnut]

Also if you have a tower pc make sure dust hasn't built up inside. Overheating can have some strange affects on pc's

[Super_Fast]

Ricky, I would say that the 3 main causes of locking up:

- Ensure your case/GPU/CPU fans are clear of dust. Else, heat will slow & kill your PC over time.

- Ensure you have enough RAM. Else, PC will crawl when it reaches your RAM limit.

- Ensure your PC is clean/defragged/eliminate all unnecessary startup items.

[Riicky]

Hi ISO-Later,

Had already read the recommended article thoroughly, which did not provide me the answers to my backup considerations, therefore my specific questions in this context. Any answers?

Hi All Others,

Thanks for the recommendations.

An initial registry analysis by the CCleaner showed 1027 defective registry entries and therefore I believed, that this could be the cause of my Desktop-PC stalling, But From your answers it seems, that the stalling has other reasons than those I suspected.

Correct?

By the way, just to provide a more complete picture - I am using a Comodo Firewall and MS Systeminternals Antivirus.

Ricky

[TheWebAtom]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Systeminternals Antivirus a rogue?

[login123]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Systeminternals Antivirus a rogue?

Looks like it. Google, MBAM, and Bleeping think so.

Riicky, if you wish to remove it start here http://forum.pirifor...showtopic=34786 .

Follow the instructions at those linked sites.

Also maybe check out other free antiviruses.

Good place to start is here: http://forum.pirifor...php?showforum=9

Once it is gone, then you can think about cleaning up w/ CCleaner. More about that in a minute.

[Alan_B]

Specific answer to specific question :-

Cleaning the registry can be dangerous.

Do NOT attempt it unless you know that your computer can merge (restore) a registry backup file.

When you clean the registry you should be offered the option for a registry backup of the items about to be deleted.

You should accept that option.

If something is broken then it should be corrected by restoring the registry backup.

Cleaning Files is less dangerous, BUT there may be no way back if you break something.

CCleaner is intended to be safe and generally is,

but sometimes damage is done.

Unfortunately what CCleaner deletes is NOT sent to the recycle bin.

in which case you MAY be able to restore normality by using the Restore Point system,

and hope that the file was sufficiently important to Windows that it made a copy before it was deleted.

N.B. User documents are NOT important to Windows)

Partition Image Backups should fully restore both Registry and File deletions.

I use them when Microsoft Windows Update Patches trash my system.

I have never needed my backups for any damage due to any malware intrusion or CCleaner actions,

but I know that whatever happens I am under "Golden Protection".

EDIT

In view of the two posts above I suggest that you defer any action with CCleaner until a malware specialist specifically advises, or has declared your system clean.

Also I suggest that you defer taking a "lucky dip" from http://forum.piriform.com/index.php?showtopic=23330 until your system is clean because :-

your existing malware may prevent operation of anything which it considers an enemy ; AND

you will be adding extra layers of confusion for the malware specialist to evaluate.

[login123]

More about backing up and cleaning after the malware is gone.

I use windows xp home 32 bit, don't know much about later OSs. I have never had a cleaning session go

bad on any system, but I always err on the side of caution and back everything up before starting.

You may want to back up your entire registry before you start. Andavari uses ERUNT for this purpose. It works well.

For the system image Alan referred to, many members here use the free version of Macrium Reflect to make system image backups.

You can read about it here: http://www.macrium.c...eflectfree.aspx but I would download it from FileHippo here http://www.filehippo...acrium_reflect/ because I don't like to fool with CNet. That's just me.

In addition to what Alan said, yes, the registry cleaner will offer to back up before it changes anything.

Let it do that: Click yes when the backup is offered.

Take baby steps. Only change one check box at a time.

Make sure everything works OK before you check the next box.

If it doesn't work, you can add the original registry entry back in by double clicking it.

I have never had this fail, but as Alan suggested, some users report that it has.

I always make a new folder for each "cleaning".

Its the only way I can remember where the backups went.

For example, I just now created a folder called "CC_backups_20121123" . . .

to contain a registry backup files called "cc_20121123_074128.reg" and "cc_20121123_081157.reg".

By default, CCleaner reg backups be named like that: CC_ , then the date, then the time.

These functions will not back up changes they make as far as I know: (pls correct me if they do)

(This is where the system image Alan referred to comes in.)

- The Windows tab and the Applications tab, next to the broom.

- The Uninstall, Startup, System Restore, and Drive wiper boxes in the "Tools" section.

- - That uninstaller uses the application's built in uninstaller. Some of those leave traces behind.

And, last but not least, welcome. i don't work here, just hang around by the leave of very patient moderators , but welcome to the forum Riicky.

[Riicky]

Hi,

Thanks for all the helpful answers.

I am progressing this step by step: Have today applied a vacuum cleaning in the Desktop Bady to clear up the dust and checked the Startup items (msconfig).

Correction: My Antivirus is not System Internals (Sorry my mistake), but from Microsoft's Security Essentials. Is this OK for me to proceed on with the cleaning?

The baby steps suggested by ISO-Later will make the cleaning process in my case (1027 defective entries) a never-ending story?

Cheers,

Ricky

[login123]

CCleaner will take out unnecessary "stuff" whether you have malware or not (usually).

". . . My Antivirus is not System Internals (Sorry my mistake . . . Is this OK for me to proceed on with the cleaning?"

That means you don't have the known malware that TheWebAtom spotted, but it does not mean that you are free of malware.

Edit: There is really no reason in your posts (now) to suspect that you have malware.

It's something to check if all else fails to speed you back up.

If my computer showed a sudden, unexplained slowdown, I would just go over to one of those linked sites and ask them to check it out.

Takes them a while, sometimes, they are very busy hardworking for free volunteers. http://forum.pirifor...showtopic=34786

"The baby steps suggested by ISO-Later will make the cleaning process . . a never-ending story? . . ."

Ha. Well, it will take longer than one fell swoop, but if something crashes you'll know just which reg entry to put back.

You gotta BE CAREFUL with that registry. < - - Shouting for emphasis.

Don't forget ERUNT. You can back up the whole registry really quickly with it.