Is CCleaner Free compatible with Windows on ARM (Surface Pro X)?

[bradavon]

I'm assuming Yes as Windows 10 is still Windows 10 on ARM PCs, but want to check before installing and maybe breaking something.

There's this on Reddit but unhelpfully they've deleted the actual comment:
 

Thanks

[AverageJoeNY]

Hello,

I have an HP ENVY x2 Detachable 12-e091ms with the Snapdragon 835 ARM processor running Windows 10 Pro (1909) that I installed CCleaner, v5.65.7632.  CCleaner works well on Windows 10 for ARM64, with one exception.  Under Registry Cleaner, "deselect" "Windows Services".

With Windows Services selected on Windows 10 for ARM64, it would corrupt the Windows Hello PIN login feature.  I am not sure if it will corrupt the Windows Hello Face feature, since I have it turned off.

 Under Custom Clean, I have all options selected under Windows and Applications with the exception of Wipe Free Space, just because it takes so long.  And under Registry, all the options selected with the exception of the aforementioned Windows Services.

Piriform/CCleaner needs to look into this issue as Windows 10 on ARM gains popularity.

Hope this helps!

Joe

[bradavon]

1 hour ago, AverageJoeNY said:

With Windows Services selected on Windows 10 for ARM64, it would corrupt the Windows Hello PIN login feature.  I am not sure if it will corrupt the Windows Hello Face feature, since I have it turned off.

Hi Joe,

You mean you are not sure as you've not re-ticked it?

Thanks for the heads up. I figured the File Deletion aspect cannot do harm but may not use the Registry part whilst CCleaner on Windows on ARM devices hasn't been signed off. Like you say especially not Windows Services.

Thanks again.

 

[nukecad]

It is not reccomended to use any Registry Cleaner with any version of Windows 10. (or any other Windows version really).

Registry Cleaning is an advanced tool that can sometimes be useful when fixing a computer that is having issues.
It should not be used on a regular basis, it will not 'speed up' a computer, or save anymore than a few bytes of disc space.

Unless your computer is having issues, and you are familiar with the registry and how it works, then don't use a registry cleaner at all.

Here is what Microsoft have to say about it:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/2563254/microsoft-support-policy-for-the-use-of-registry-cleaning-utilities

[AverageJoeNY]

16 hours ago, bradavon said:

You mean you are not sure as you've not re-ticked it?

Hello bradavon,

Like the Surface Pro X, the HP ENVY x2 has the "Windows Hello Face" sign-in capability.  I never set this feature up under Windows Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.  Only the "Windows Hello PIN" feature.  With "Windows Services" selected under Registry of CCleaner, I only know that it would corrupt the registry key related to the Windows Hello PIN feature.  Since they are both sign-in features, I can only assume that it would have the same effect.

I agree with nukecad's comment above.  For me, I am not afraid of tinkering with the registry and starting over with a fresh factory image.  That is the case with how I discovered the "Windows Services" was the culprit for corrupting the sign-in registry key.  When this happened, I started over with a clean slate, and kept checking the boxes in CCleaner until I reproduced the issue again.  Then started over with a fresh factory image.  In hindsight, I should have backed up the registry, and just reverted! 

However, the HP ENVY x2 is not my main computer.  I picked it up on eBay for a fair price to learn Windows 10 on ARM.  Let me know if there is anything you would like me to try.

I hope I answered your question!

Joe

[bradavon]

13 hours ago, nukecad said:

It is not reccomended to use any Registry Cleaner with any version of Windows 10. (or any other Windows version really).

Strange comment for a moderator of a forum which sells an app that's one of it's primary functions is this.

Thanks for the reply.

[bradavon]

38 minutes ago, AverageJoeNY said:

38 minutes ago, AverageJoeNY said:

Like the Surface Pro X, the HP ENVY x2 has the "Windows Hello Face" sign-in capability.  I never set this feature up under Windows Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.  Only the "Windows Hello PIN" feature.  With "Windows Services" selected under Registry of CCleaner, I only know that it would corrupt the registry key related to the Windows Hello PIN feature.  Since they are both sign-in features, I can only assume that it would have the same effect.

Thank you.

I misread where you said Pin and Face .

40 minutes ago, AverageJoeNY said:

Hello bradavon,

However, the HP ENVY x2 is not my main computer.  I picked it up on eBay for a fair price to learn Windows 10 on ARM.  Let me know if there is anything you would like me to try.

How are you finding Windows on ARM?

40 minutes ago, AverageJoeNY said:

I agree with nukecad's comment above.

So do I.

[nukecad]

11 minutes ago, bradavon said:

Strange comment for a moderator of a forum which sells an app that's one of it's primary functions is this.

Thanks for the reply.

Not realy, you'll find the same comment(s) made by any one of the moderators here over the past few years.

PS. The Moderators are simply  users who have shown they are helpful, responsible, and capable of keeping a forum 'tidy', most of us moderate other sites/forums as well as here.
We are not employed or paid by Piriform, it's a voluntary (by invitation) role.

We have raised the issue of the Registry Cleaner many times, we see the posts from users who have damaged their system using it unecessarily.
The Piriform staff agree and have promised to move it into the advanced tools so that non-techinical users aren't tempted to use it willy-nilly.
It's showing as 'Planned' in the CCleaner improvement roadmap, but we are still waiting for it to happen.
https://ideas.ccleaner.com/roadmap

Think of it like a chainsaw. - It can a useful tool if you know how to use it properly, but can cause serious damage if used indiscriminately by an amateur.

[Dave CCleaner]

10 hours ago, bradavon said:

Strange comment for a moderator of a forum which sells an app that's one of it's primary functions is this.

Thanks for the reply.

Registry cleaning has not really been a primary function of CCleaner for a few years.  Registry cleanup was of great utility for Windows 7 and earlier, but arguably less so for Windows 10.  Back in the days when CCleaner was a tool used primarily by technical specialists it made perfect sense to have it there on the main menu - in recent years the user-base has increased significantly to a broader audience , many of whom probably shouldn't be clicking on it.

Of course, we are expecting complaints when the button is finally moved ...

[bradavon]

Thanks guys. Let's stick to topic:

Are Piriform working on official ARM compatibility?

Cheers

[AverageJoeNY]

23 hours ago, bradavon said:

How are you finding Windows on ARM?

Hello bradavon,

So far, the battery life of my ARM device is phenomenal compared to its Intel counterparts.  Even though the reviews for the Snapdragon 835 was criticized for its speed running Windows 10 on ARM, I find it nimble.  I believe the Microsoft SQ1 processor Qualcomm built for Microsoft for the Surface Pro X is a derivative of the Snapdragon 835.

It runs both Microsoft Office 365 and Adobe Acrobat 2017 smoothly.  There are only a couple of programs that I have run into that are not compatible with Windows 10 for ARM; the Western Digital (WD) Discovery software to tap into my WD NAS, and the ActivClient software that I use with my Smart Card to access some work website.  At some point, I believe a lot of these issues will be worked out as Microsoft expands into the ARM environment.  They have been there for a long time with Windows Phone, and even earlier ARM devices.  But it seems as if only recently that Microsoft is finally bringing all their assorted flavors of Windows together, opposed to working independently.

Do you have the new Surface Pro X, or are you in the market for a new device?

Joe

[bradavon]

7 hours ago, AverageJoeNY said:

Hello bradavon,

So far, the battery life of my ARM device is phenomenal compared to its Intel counterparts.  Even though the reviews for the Snapdragon 835 was criticized for its speed running Windows 10 on ARM, I find it nimble.  I believe the Microsoft SQ1 processor Qualcomm built for Microsoft for the Surface Pro X is a derivative of the Snapdragon 835.

Hi Joe,

Nice. Sounds great. Qualcomm Snapdragon 8CX. Their first "made for PC" SOC I believe.

7 hours ago, AverageJoeNY said:

There are only a couple of programs that I have run into that are not compatible with Windows 10 for ARM; the Western Digital (WD) Discovery software to tap into my WD NAS, and the ActivClient software that I use with my Smart Card to access some work website.

Yeah I can see those not working. My VPN (Windscribe) isn't compatible but some Googling and I was pleasantly surprised to find Viscosity has been upgraded to be ARM compatible and it's only $14 USD.

Bizarrely the Facebook Messenger Windows 10 (UWP) app isn't compatible. I thought all UWP apps were , but it's the only Microsoft Store app I've not been able to  install. It's by no means a problem I've just set Messenger as a Web Ap (messenger.com) using Edge. They're barely any different.

They're not really designed for "business machines", except employees who use Business Web Apps, Microsoft Office and Cloud Storage. You have a choice of using the equally equipped Microsoft Teams and Slack Desktop or Web Apps too. You would also be able to access a work Remote Desktop Server in conjunction with DirectAccess.

Third party VPNs, Citrix, AntiVirus you'd likely want the Intel Surface Pro 7.

7 hours ago, AverageJoeNY said:

Do you have the new Surface Pro X, or are you in the market for a new device?

I picked up a Surface Pro X from eBay the other day to replace my ageing Surface Pro 4. I just love the form factor and mostly use Web Apps + Outlook these days. It's gorgeous and nibble. But I'm still installing the few 32-Bit apps I use like Spotify.

Thanks

Edited April 23, 2020 by bradavon

[super62down]

Still looking for a solution to loading CCleaner Pro onto a Surface Pro X. I can see that bradavon was able to find a work around by unchecking a cache button in the properties, but how do you get the CCleaner properties to open if the program isn't loading to begin with?

Edited May 13, 2021 by super62down

[bradavon]

1 hour ago, super62down said:

Still looking for a solution to loading CCleaner Pro onto a Surface Pro X. I can see that bradavon was able to find a work around by unchecking a cache button in the properties, but how do you get the CCleaner properties to open if the program isn't loading to begin with?

Hi. I've replied to the thread where I discussed it:

https://community.ccleaner.com/topic/60006-ccleaner-wont-open-on-windows-on-arm-surface-pro-x-pc