Again this had nothing to do with the new Automatic Updates in Free - Other than the fact that 'New version' notification got turned on by default which I assume you had turned off before and is why you weren't seeing it.
(It's nothing to do with having v5.74 or not either).
It has always been the case that if you updated CCleaner from within the portable it would install the new version.
I'm not sure if the 'new version' notification was on or off by default previously, I'd have to check that. EDIT- It was on by default, see my next post.
In that respect then as Andavari notes CCleaner Portable is not a 'true' portable version, it is merely the basic programme files packaged as a zip so that you can unzip them onto your computer, or on a USB stick, without installing anything.
In that respect it's a simple way for developers to make available a programme so that it can be used without installing it, but it is the standard programme not anything special and so will behave exactly the same as the standard programme does.
If using it you need to be aware of that and not use certain features such as 'Check for Updates' etc.
A truly portable version would have those certain standard features disabled.
But that means more work for the devs, developing and maintaining another variant of the basic programme.
And you should remember that there is always a 3rd option - stop providing the zip at all and only have the installed version. (That already seems to have happened with Defraggler, Recuva, and Speccy).
I do note that as things currently stand Automatic Updates and Update Notifications will now be enabled by default each time you unzip a new version of the portable (unless you have a .INI file where you unzip them to modify that) and you will now have to remember to disable Automatic Updates each time you unzip a new portable.
To do some testing I've just unzipped/run the v5.62 portable and the notifications for product updates were enabled by default even back then.
I do note though that I also got a notification in the Windows notification area that v5.62 is now 17 versions out of date.
That notification is a different system and is issued as part of the changes in v5.75/5.76; Piriform are nudging everyone to get up to date if their Windows version allows it.
Is it that you saw which prompted you to update from within CCleaner and thus do an install?
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To do some testing I've just unzipped/run the <strong>v5.62 portable</strong> and the notifications for product updates were enabled by default even back then....Is it that you saw which prompted you to update from within CCleaner and thus do an install?
</p>
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Hi nukecad:
You didn't post an image of the message you saw so I'm not sure what you're seeing, but I previously stated that the built-in automatic updater was only added to CCleaner Free products in v5.74 (see the v5.74 release notes at https://www.ccleaner.com/ccleaner/version-history which states "Updates to CCleaner will now be applied automatically in CCleaner Free") so you won't be able to reproduce my results if you test with CCleaner Portable v5.62. If you want to try clicking "Update Now" in the new update prompt shown below you should test with CCleaner Portable v5.75.8238 (ccsetup575.exe, released 10-Dec-2020). I'm guessing you'll also need to ensure the settings at Options | Updates are enabled in CCleaner Portable v5.75 if you want that update prompt to appear on your screen after CCleaner64.exe is launched (note that the prompt shown below appeared as a pop-up in the middle of the CCleaner interface, not as a notification message in my Win 10 notification area) . If you can't find a copy of ccsetup575.zip you could try ccsetp574.zip but I skipped both the buggy v5.74.xxxx versions and can't guarantee the software updater in CCleaner Portable v5.74.xxxx will behave the same way as the software updater in v5.75.8238.
Prior to CCleaner v5.74 the "Check for Updates" link in the bottom-right corner of the interface of a Free product wouldn't offer to update your product. If I recall correctly clicking that link would just run an online check for a newer version and then open your browser on a support page on the Piriform site that included release notes and a download link for the latest "standard" .exe installer (which couldn't be used by Portable users) if your Free product was out of date.
In case it wasn't already covered higher up in this thread, just a reminder that there is no separate "regular", "slim" or "portable" version of CCleaner. Those terms apply to the installer wrapper (or lack thereof) around CCleaner Free.
CCleaner Free's own internal updating process can be configured via Options > Updates in CCleaner 5.50 and above. For someone using CCleaner in a portable fashion off a USB stick where storing settings in the registry aren't going to be appropriate between different machines, Options > Advanced > Save all setting to INI file should do the trick to ensure that your preferences regarding notifications and update delivery remain persistent.
The "Emergency Updater" (CCUpdate.exe) is a separate process introduced in CCleaner 5.35 to spring into life exclusively for emergency situations, but to do so rapidly when it is required. In the future we expect that most people will be automatically updating anyway, but we still arguably have a duty of care to the customers who don't. CCUpdate.exe may still be the best way going forward, or we may find that implementing a runtime block is a more expedient solution.
Some users have deleted the CCUpdate.exe file on their computer. I am not sure if I should be heartened by their confidence that CCleaner will never release a version requiring an emergency remedy, or concerned by their belief that Windows will never release an update that seriously breaks compatibility with utility software (again). Either way, it is disabling the fuses and not recommended:
We'll take a look at the use case of updates of CCleaner Free on portable media. In the interim, you may find that unchecking those update boxes and manually downloading ccsetupxxx.zip is the best option for you. If you suspect that there are many other CCleaner Portable users with a similar requirement, feel free to add your suggestion to https://ideas.ccleaner.com/ to rustle up some public voting.
I started getting spammed for an Update today in Windows 10. ... Finally checked ccleaner.ini and found UpdateAuto=1 by some sort of magic. I always check for UpdateAuto=0 & UpdateCheck=0 & UpdateBackground=0 & UpdateNotify=0. There is another entry, UpdateKey=01/01/2020 01:02:03 am which seems harmless = last time it spammed me. For those who are unaware, CC secretly hides from us: CookiesToSave= ... *.avast.com|. Message to Avast: I paid real money to buy CCleaner for multiple computers and really don't like any form of spam. Since I have paid, I do get an EMAIL about once a month, notifying me of an Update, which is FINE. Getting spammed with a nag popup is NOT. Maybe for Freebie users, a popup is part of the price they pay for "free". BTW, there is nothing wrong with saving an Avast cookie as long as you disclose it to people. Hiding tracking cookies is immoral, unethgical, and ought to be illegal. Got it? Otherwise, still actively using CCleaner.
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UpdateKey=01/01/2020 01:02:03 am which seems harmless = last time it spammed me.
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That's been in my CCleaner.ini for ages going back to 2014, oddly the same day 01/01:
UpdateKey=01/01/2014 05:55:24 AM
Edit:
I think it's safe to say we really shouldn't be calling CCleaner Portable a "portable", it's just a Standalone - albeit using the older flavor of it that I use it has never acted in an odd way of not being a "true" portable, but I've got enough experience with "portable" software misbehaving and creating either AppData, ProgramData, or Registry settings which I usually craft a Batch .bat/.cmd and .reg file to deal with.
Everything you list there is configurable under the Options menu.
8 hours ago, Paidup_User21 said:
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CC secretly hides from us: CookiesToSave [...]
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Not hidden. Configurable under Options > Cookies. The only thing that this tracks is the "I have already seen this one-time message and I don't need to see it again" flag for some reminder notifications. If you have deleted some of these then you may find yourself receiving some notifications more frequently than intended. If so, the fix for this is to go to Options > Cookies in the CCleaner console, right click in "Cookies to Keep", select Import and import the cookies.txt attached here.
8 hours ago, Paidup_User21 said:
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I do get an EMAIL about once a month, notifying me of an Update
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Sounds like you have subscribed to the CCleaner newsletter. If you no longer wish to receive that you can click "unsubscribe" in the footer of one of those emails.
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Hi nukecad:
</p>
<p>
You didn't post an image of the message you saw so I'm not sure what you're seeing,
</p>
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I didn't screenshot it because it went away before I could, and won't get shown again now that I've seen it once. (Unless I edit the registry entry to ahow it again).
But it was an orange thing in the Windows Notification area bottom right of the desktop so not what you saw/are seeing.
I agree that the check for updates used to go to the webpage rather than updating, and believe it's that change that is the issue here.
In effect they have taken a couple of steps out to make it easier to update CCleaner.
(Sorry it took me a while to realise that those steps had now been removed, I've just run through the whole update process from a portable and can see just what has changed).
I believe from previous discussion that was changed because we used to get complaints here that the update was unintuitive and 'clunky'.
Users would land on the webpage but didn't know that they then had to click the 'No Thanks' to decline a paid version and send them to <em>another</em> webpage, where they could then download/install the Free.
It's those webpage steps that have been removed, and it's certainly a much simpler update process now.
I see that Dave CCleaner has promised to take a look at if that new behavious can be modified for portable/uninstalled setups.
In the meantime it's a case of remembering to disable the Automatic Updates and Reminders then saving that to an INI file on the USB stick so that they stay off, and if you do get an update notification don't accept it or it will install the new version.
(I did note on my machine there was plenty of time to cancel it during the download if you had accepted it by mistake).
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I believe from previous discussion that was changed because we used to get complaints here that the update was unintuitive and 'clunky'.
Users would land on the webpage but didn't know that they then had to click the 'No Thanks' to decline a paid version and send them to <em>another</em> webpage, where they could then download/install the Free.
It's those webpage steps that have been removed, and it's certainly a much simpler update process now.
</p>
</div>
We used to get complaints everywhere. Getting rid of that process was by far and away the #1 ask that we had from our customers - after 9+ years of forcing our free users to go through a cumbersome manual update flow, we'd become a bit of a meme in that regard. We've made a collection of them as a reminder in case we're ever tempted to revert to that kind of thing.
33 minutes ago, nukecad said:
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I see that Dave CCleaner has promised to take a look at if that new behavious can be modified for portable/uninstalled setups.
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While my mind went first to something complicated with drive type detection, I note that there is a portable.dat in the zip files and we may be able to shape behaviour based on that. I would imagine that a common scenario for a USB stick of portable fix tools would most likely have it set to read-only, which would stop updates anyway.
On the other hand, we do have a number of third party sites who have been touting the portable installer as a mainstream download, so we'd probably also need to estimate how many active users are likely to fall into that category, so we still have a solution for them as well.
I don't think drive type detection would work, we know that some use the portable on their system drive rather than installing.
Couldn't you simply check the registry for one (or a few to make sure) of the 'installed' registry entries, and if not found then query if the user wants to install or not?
("You are about to install CCleaner - Click OK to continue").
That would allow for first time installs by new users or existing users with a new machine, whilst warning anyone who is using the portable that if they continue they will get an install.
OK that would also be adding an extra step/click back into the update process, but at least it's a clearly understandable step.
<div class="ipsQuote_contents">
<p>
...We'll take a look at the use case of updates of CCleaner Free on portable media. In the interim, you may find that unchecking those update boxes and manually downloading ccsetupxxx.zip is the best option for you. If you suspect that there are many other CCleaner Portable users with a similar requirement, feel free to add your suggestion to <a href="https://ideas.ccleaner.com/" rel="external nofollow">https://ideas.ccleaner.com/</a> to rustle up some public voting.
</p>
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Hi Dave CCleaner:
Thank you for responding to my concerns about the new built-in software updater in CCleaner Portable.
I'm guessing that it was an oversight on the part of the software developers when they added a built-in software updater to all CCleaner Free products in v5.74 and didn't realize that it would add the Emergency Updater (which isn't included in ccsetup5xx.zip files) to CCleaner Portable, and I'm glad to hear you say that Avast / Piriform might need to take a second look at their use case for the Portable build to see of there's a better approach than a "one size fits all" software updater for the CCleaner Free Standard, Slim and Portable builds. I've written a few use cases in my time and know that its difficult to think of every possible exception and variation when you're in the design phase, and problems sometimes aren't caught until the end users finally get a chance to start testing the actual interface.
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... I installed CCleaner Portable last version via the <strong>PatchMyPC app</strong>. Is the new built-in software updater in CCleaner Portable gone now?
Because when I run CCleaner, it didn't prompt me with any message.
</p>
</div>
Hi Aelson:
What are your current CCleaner settings at Options | Updates? Even if the option to "Send notifications when there is a new version of CCleaner" is enabled, you aren't going to see the prompt shown below asking you if you want to update since PatchMyPC should have already updated you to the latest v5.76. The online update check by the new built-in software updater won't detect an available update again until CCleaner v5.77 is eventually released.
When PatchMyPC updated your CCleaner Portable did it add the Emergency Updater (i.e., did it add a file called CCUpdate.exe to the same folder where your CCleaner.exe / CCleaner64.exe executables are located, and do you have a scheduled task called CCleaner Update in your Windows Task Scheduler (Start | Windows Administrative Tools | Task Scheduler)?
The new built-in updater added to all CCleaner Free products in v5.74 isn't the real problem, since it works as expected for installed (Standard/Slim) builds of CCleaner (i.e., it's normal for the Emergency Updater to be bundled inside installers for the installed versions of CCleaner). The problem is that this new built-in software updater has glitch that adds the Emergency Updater (CCupdate.exe and the scheduled CCleaner Update task) when it updates CCleaner Portable, which it shouldn't do.
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I didn't have time, nor was I in the mood to read all the messages here.
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<p>
I installed CCleaner Portable last version via the PatchMyPC app. Is the new built-in software updater in CCleaner Portable gone now?
Because when I run CCleaner, it didn't prompt me with any message.
</p>
</div>
@AelsonDo you realy want/need the Portable (uninstalled) version?
As you got it through a 3rd party app then I'm not sure.
Unless you are a computer technician or an advanced user then the standard <em>installed</em> CCleaner is probably better for you.
To answer your questions:
The new automatic software updater is still there in the Portable.
If you do want it to remain portable then be sure to go to Options>Updates and disable (untick) 'Keep CCleaner updated automatically' to stop Portable updating and so installing automatically.
You won't see any notification of a new version unless/until there is one available.
You can also disable (untick) 'Send notifications ...' if you don't want to see those.
If you leave notifications on then when you get one DON'T click on 'Update Now' if you want to stay portable.
The thing to remember is: DON'T UPDATE FROM WITHIN CCleaner Portable. If you do it WILL install CCleaner.
(That has always been the case, even before the new updater).
If/when a new CCleaner version is available and you want the new Portable then go to the CCleaner builds page and download the Portable zip file.
Unzip that file wherever you want the Portable CCleaner to be located (not installed).
PS. This is one reason that CCleaner Portable is for Advanced users - it can't be 'updated' like the standard product can, instead of 'updating' you have to manually download and unzip each new version.
<div class="ipsQuote_contents">
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Hi Aelson:
</p>
<p>
What are your current CCleaner settings at <strong>Options | Updates</strong>? Even if the option to "<em>Send notifications when there is a new version of CCleaner"</em> is enabled, you aren't going to see the prompt shown below asking you if you want to update since PatchMyPC should have already updated you to the latest v5.76. The online update check by the new built-in software updater won't detect an available update again until CCleaner v5.77 is eventually released.
</p>
<p>
<a href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2021_01/1554831950_CCleanerPortablev5_76_8269UpdateSetings30Jan2021.png.f54a5e216123eb0868a3d06fa57eb11c.png" title="Enlarge image" data-fileid="14420" data-fileext="png" rel=""><img alt="1554831950_CCleanerPortablev5_76_8269UpdateSetings30Jan2021.png.f54a5e216123eb0868a3d06fa57eb11c.png" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" data-fileid="14420" data-ratio="21.69" width="885" src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2021_01/1554831950_CCleanerPortablev5_76_8269UpdateSetings30Jan2021.png.f54a5e216123eb0868a3d06fa57eb11c.png" /></a>
</p>
<p>
<a href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2021_01/305158422_CCleanerPortablev5_75_8238AutomaticUpdatePrompt14Jan2021.png.c8ddedc5028130873086b0eb02eb069e.png" title="Enlarge image" data-fileid="14421" data-fileext="png" rel=""><img alt="305158422_CCleanerPortablev5_75_8238AutomaticUpdatePrompt14Jan2021.png.c8ddedc5028130873086b0eb02eb069e.png" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" data-fileid="14421" data-ratio="45.12" width="461" src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2021_01/305158422_CCleanerPortablev5_75_8238AutomaticUpdatePrompt14Jan2021.png.c8ddedc5028130873086b0eb02eb069e.png" /></a>
</p>
<p>
When PatchMyPC updated your CCleaner Portable did it add the <strong>Emergency Updater</strong> (i.e., did it add a file called <strong>CCUpdate.exe</strong> to the same folder where your CCleaner.exe / CCleaner64.exe executables are located, and do you have a scheduled task called <strong>CCleaner Update</strong> in your Windows Task Scheduler (Start | Windows Administrative Tools | Task Scheduler)?
</p>
<p>
<a class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image" data-fileext="png" data-fileid="14423" href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2021_01/1041044022_CCleanerPortablev5_76_823869CCUpdateCCleanerUpdateTaskScheduler14Jan2021.png.b20c6ed75675e18cd71d4deeb2d8ce16.png" rel=""><img alt="1824209443_CCleanerPortablev5_76_823869CCUpdateCCleanerUpdateTaskScheduler14Jan2021.thumb.png.8d497a37a741b0f48b9d73f1d2cda82a.png" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" data-fileid="14423" data-ratio="23.50" width="1000" src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2021_01/1824209443_CCleanerPortablev5_76_823869CCUpdateCCleanerUpdateTaskScheduler14Jan2021.thumb.png.8d497a37a741b0f48b9d73f1d2cda82a.png" /></a>
</p>
<p>
The new built-in updater added to all CCleaner Free products in v5.74 isn't the real problem, since it works as expected for installed (Standard/Slim) builds of CCleaner (i.e., it's normal for the Emergency Updater to be bundled inside installers for the installed versions of CCleaner). The problem is that this new built-in software updater has glitch that adds the Emergency Updater (CCupdate.exe and the scheduled CCleaner Update task) when it updates CCleaner Portable, which it shouldn't do.
-------------
As long as you remember to turn off Automatic Updates each time you unzip a new portable, and don't update from within the portable, then it won't install.
A true portable should only prompt that there's an Update available, and if the user clicks to Update it should then open the appropriate download page to allow the user to manually download the "portable" version.
A "portable" software that downloads and installs an installation version is NOT portable!
Just an FYI that I launched CCleaner Free Portable v5.76.8269 today from my removable USB thumb drive and immediately received a CCleaner Product Update pop-up notification asking me to update to v5.77.8448.
I clicked Remind Me Later this time and confirmed that all options at at Options | Updates | Control Product Updates For CCleaner (including "Send notifications when there is a new version of CCleaner") are disabled .
If I click the "Check for Updates" link in the bottom-right corner of the user interface it just shows the same CCleaner Product Update pop-up notification shown above. Nothing seems to have changed since I started this thread on 14-Jan-2021, so I assume if I had clicked the "Update Now" button today that the updater would have incorrectly added the Emergency Updater (i.e, by adding the CCUpdate.exe file to my removable USB stick and creating the CCleaner Update task in Task Scheduler) when it updated CCleaner.exe and CCleaner64.exe to v5.77.8448.
I unzipped the latest ccsetup577.zip for CCleaner Portable v5.77.8448 from https://www.ccleaner.com/ccleaner/builds and confirmed that CCUpdate.exe is not included.
