That process of elimination was the only way this was going to be solved.
I've never used Windows Defender, so I've no idea if there's a facility within it to stop it scanning CCleaner on opening?
I'm guessing it's scanning CCleaner as it launchs, and if we can do this the other way around, exclude CCleaner from Windows Defender's clutches?
Thinking out loud really, but we do have members on here using Windows Defender and CCleaner, who don't appear to have the same problem, so if we can generate some input from them, maybe we can reach a solution.
I thought to have a look at the Windows Defender Newsgroup section covering "Application compatibility questions", but hitting the link generated this:
Who would have believed that?
Thanks for doing that so promptly, and I'll watch this thread for any further input.
I apologize that I did not follow through with some of the suggestions and/or answer some of the questions in this thread, I've had a great deal of things on my plate recently. I appreciate all the replies in my thread, I read every one of them. Based on what I read I decided to try one thing first: I instructed Windows Defender not to scan CCleaner. It worked. Now CCleaner executes as it always has before.....quickly.
To anyone who has CCleaner and Windows Defender installed together on an XP machine and is having the same trouble I was, open Windows Defender, click on Tools (at the top), then Options (top, left column), scroll down to Advanced Options, "Do not scan these files or locations", click the Add button (to the right), browse to the CCleaner folder (via Add/Remove Programs), highlight the CCleaner folder then click OK to your selection. Be sure to click Save (at the bottom/right of the Options menu) to save your change(s).
Don't know why this just started within the last 3 (or so) versions of CCleaner, whether it was a Windows Defender definition update or something that has changed in CCleaner's code, but I'm happy to have found at least a temporary solution to this problem. My only fear at this point would be malware vendors who read this and may now target CCleaner knowing it has been excluded from Windows Defender scans.
Thanks, everyone who helped. The internet is not a safe place, it hasn't been for some time, and it's only getting worse. I found the suite of antivirus/antispyware applications that I use through trial & error, they worked very well together until this issue arose. I'm happy it has been resolved, at least temporarily. Thanks again everyone, -kd5-
Don't forget to have another look at what you have running. There will be some cost, if not immediately evident, from having Spyguard and Windows Defender both "active" at the same time.
I wouldn't be too worried about CCleaner and security if you're running Avast as your A/V. Personally, I don't have anything actively running except Avast. And Sandboxie.
It may be worth your while having a look at a layer of "virtual" protection with Sandboxie.
Here is another strategy for fixing this problem: Ditch Windows Defender and install the FREE Microsoft Security Essentials (formerly the pay-for MS One Care Live).
Windows Defender functionality is absorbed by Security Essentials and thus - they are Mutually Exclusive. If you try to install Security Essential (without uninstalling Defender); Security Essentials will disable Windows Defender.
Note: You shouldn't run more than one Anti-Virus Active Real Time Scanner at the same Time. So for me, that would mean uninstalling my current Avira AntiVir (active Anti-Virus application) and uninstalling Windows Defender - then installing Microsoft Security Essentials.
Hopefully - MS Security Essentials is compatible with CCleaner - can anyone out there confirm or deny ????????
- CCleaner and Windows Defender (real-time active Anti-Spyware application) played together nicely on my XP Machine(s) for many years - NO Problems.
- In the March thru May 2010 Time Frame (CCleaner versions high 2.20s and low 2.30s) something changed: CCleaner started to open only after a 3 to 5 second delay.
- Troubleshooting verified that Windows Defender and CCleaner were interacting in some problematic fashion that was causing the opening Delay (see my previous post this thread).
- Here is what recently (June 2010) solved the problem:
-- Uninstalled Windows Defender and Avira AntiVir
-- Installed Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) to replace both functions (Single Application providing Free Anti-Malware: both Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware).
-- CCleaner (now version 2.32.1165) opens instantaneously.
-- OK Problem Fixed !
Thanks to all CCleaner Forum Posters for their help on this topic
BVR
Johnny M!
PS: To Microsoft Windows Defender, MS Windows XP and CCleaner Programmers: Hope you guys keep an eye on these User Forums. We find the Bugs and count on you to Fix them !!!!!!
Nice of you to post back Johnny and let us know how you are getting on.
Good to near that you are back to your instant ccleaner opening again. MSE seems to be quite a good piece of software, and the people I know who have it on their machines really like it.
Looking forward to seeing more posts from you although hopefully not problem ones
Johnny, why not try MSE on your machine and give it a try? It might work very well for you.
I know the very first scan takes a while but after that it is quite quick to scan.
Only you can tell how it will run on your machine
Let us know if you do give it a try.
I noticed the huge slowdown weeks ago. Not in scanning just in opening the program. I didn't think a lot about it - I assumed it was when I updated CCleaner (I keep it updated). There have been many theories here, but here's my experience:
Dell Vostro 1500 Laptop - WinXP SP2
I recently ran into an unrelated problem and had to revert to an old image that was a year old. It's the image I call "minimal" with my mainstay apps installed (it's an apps only partition). The old CCleaner started up fast just as it always did with the old version. The FIRST thing I did was update CCleaner. I then went to open the program and - surprise! - it was very, very slow.
This tells me that the system image exactly as it was 10 months ago and updated ONLY with CCleaner gave me the --- slow CCleaner.
What does that tell me? It's something in CCleaner's latest updates. But, maybe there's another explanation. I'm really not offering a real cause or correction - just my experience.
Thanks, Piriform, for CCleaner. No matter the load speed, it's sweet.
So....will that fix the CCleaner problem? Unless your post was on-topic as it relates to the CCleaner slowdown, I have reasons for running with SP2. Did you mean that all those with XP SP2 will have a very slow-loading CCleaner? That's the solution to the problem up for discussion? Thanks.
Well, Service Packs mostly contain hotfixes. A hotfix is something that fixes a very specific and hardly encountered problem, but is not released to everyone because it would need lots of tests each time. Service Packs are a way to test all the hotfixes only once (XP's SP2 and Vista's SP1 were exceptions).
Upgrading to SP3 might fix the problem. It might not fix it. But it's worth a try.
