Tools

[reddswiss]

I am really ignorant but trying to learn and hope this is not a stupid question.

 

On the Tools option a list is generated. Programs to remove. Is this a list of old applications and updates. Is this list what CCleaner thinks are safe to remove, or do I need to somehow know if these programs are needed. To me it looks like old updates and prior versions of installed software? Can I safely remove these programs?

 

I did a search and could not see this question.

 

Thanks for your help.

[JDPower]

I am really ignorant but trying to learn and hope this is not a stupid question.

 

On the Tools option a list is generated. Programs to remove. Is this a list of old applications and updates. Is this list what CCleaner thinks are safe to remove, or do I need to somehow know if these programs are needed. To me it looks like old updates and prior versions of installed software? Can I safely remove these programs?

NOOOOOO. Thats your installed programs, remove them you'll have a very empty computer. Its basically whats listed in Add/Remove programs with some extra programs that Windows doesn't display.

[reddswiss]

Thanks, Seeing the title Programs to remove confused me.

[Andavari]

Welcome to the CCleaner Forums reddswiss!

Thanks, Seeing the title Programs to remove confused me.

Well at least you asked first before removing anything.

Also check out the CCleaner Beginner's Guide for a more in-depth explanation of features.

[Oliver]

reddswiss asked:

To me it looks like old updates and prior versions of installed software? Can I safely remove these programs?

and

JDPower answered:

NOOOOOO. Thats your installed programs, remove them you'll have a very empty computer. Its basically whats listed in Add/Remove programs with some extra programs that Windows doesn't display.

That is not particulary true.

 

The Windows-Add/Remove Programs are indeed listed there, but the Information provided is not always displaying the current and correct load of Programs that are actually installed on your Windows-System - more on the contrary - the Information provided by the Windows-System (that also CCleaner-Tools is depending on) can be sometimes defective as it belongs to the Install-Section of the Windows-MSI-Installer. That one might also defectively announce previous Versions of Programms that actually don?t exist anymore, especially if you have installed a newer Version of a Program over an existing older one without completely uninstalling the older one beforehand. The MSI-Installer then displays the old and the new Version. Same happens if a Program hasn?t been properly uninstalled.

 

The correct path for deletion in the Registry would therefore be:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Installer/Products/{Number-ValueXXX}/ProductName or PackageName [Date]

 

so it is actually true to say, old Versions of Programs or old Programs might be displayed within the Tools-Section of CCleaner - just try to be careful with the Program (or Version) you want to delete - there I agree with JDPower.

 

 

Oliver