Beginner's Guide Link

[driven]

It would be really useful if there was a link to the beginner's guide or a download option on the home page or main download page. I frequently recommend and/or install CCleaner on other people's machines and, almost inevitably, I am asked what the various options are and what they mean. It isn't obvious that the beginner's guide exists at all.

 

Also I think it would help to quieten the voices of people who want to knock CCleaner when it is clear that they don't know how to use it (or haven't bothered to find out, or just like moaning).

[Andavari]

You've got my vote on that suggestion, which is something I've eluded to in the past to try and get some of the redundant "same" posts from appearing all the time, because after awhile one does get rather tired of saying "read the beginners guide." I however think the beginner's guide should be included with the CCleaner installation, and see absolutely no reason why it shouldn't be!

[driven]

..... after awhile one does get rather tired of saying "read the beginners guide." I however think the beginner's guide should be included with the CCleaner installation, and see absolutely no reason why it shouldn't be!

I know exactly how you feel except my 'here we go again' is person to person.

 

Your suggestion for including the guide with CCleaner installation is much better than mine. However I would like it in a different format from compiled HTML though - no rational reason, just prefer the flexibility of PDF, WORD and similar apps.

[hazelnut]

There is a zip file version available for download here as well

 

http://forum.piriform.com/index.php?showtopic=1504

[TwistedMetal]

The original Beginner's Guide was in PDF, but it only had half the content the guide has now, and it was double the size. I will be sticking with the complied HTML since it is widely used, great user ability, and very small in size. As far as doing anything with the Beginner's Guide, it is not up to me. I have already suggested a few things awhile back.

[Whiteshark]

What about to make translations at least of "Quick Tour" pages?

I've tried to do it in italian...

[driven]

Hey, Twisted Metal, I am full of admiration that you took the time and trouble to create the guide at all.

 

My comment about compiled HTML was not a complaint, rather that a lot of the people I deal with are the type of PC users who kinda like ink on paper with pretty margins etc a la manual (don't ask!). Strikes me that a little knowledge could be a very dangerous thing in such hands but there you go...

 

Thanks for your response Hazelnut, I was aware that there was a zip version (in fact I've already downloaded it).

[JDPower]

I suggested this a while back, if nothing else to stop the constant stream of 'Read the beginners guide' threads. So it certainly gets my vote.

Personally I would just put a link in CCleaner to the guide next to the 'Online Help' link already present in CCleaner. That way its not increasing CCleaners download size. At the very least a beginners guide link could be added to the page that the 'Online help' link takes you to.

[Whiteshark]

Clicking the "Online Help..." users can access to the Quick Tour, Features, FAQs and Screenshots pages.

IMHO is enough for understand what CCleaner is, and how it works. However, i think that put there (i mean

on the website, not in CCleaner) another link to the online Beginners Guide isn't a bad idea.

[fireryone]

I agree,

Something should be done to make the beginners guide more obvious to beginners, and for those who may never enter or join a forum!

Either a full inclusion of the gude in the download or even the link idea would be beneficial.

[Whiteshark]

About Beginners Guide, what do you think about something like this ?

 

Scan for Issues Flash Demo

 

It's just a test, it can be done better

 

(i had no issues to show at that time, damn! )

[driven]

I think your Flash demo is brilliant and certainly something that would help inexperienced users.

 

Apologies for the soapbox monologue that follows!

 

There are a frightening number of people who, through no fault of their own, are not computer literate and are either terrified of doing anything new or, worse, assume they know it all. They buy a computer, plug it in and try things without any real understanding of what they are doing. When this involves deleting programs without uninstalling, having no firewall or antivirus/spyware (or having multiple instances) and don't download updates to Windows, eventually their PC grinds to a halt which is when people like me are called in.

 

Suddenly they have to comprehend a whole lot of stuff that they never even knew existed. It would be wrong of me to clean their PC, install stuff and just leave them to it because that will inevitably be a temporary fix. So I try and give them a bit of a teach-in (glazed eyes common) but, for example, if I ask them if they use Internet history, before I can determine whether or not to uncheck/check the CCleaner option I have to show them what the history is. Ditto many of the other options. (There are some options I tell them to leave alone on pain of death!)

 

However these people are not stupid just inexperienced, and the beginners guide acts as a comfort blanket until they gain more experience.

 

...

Something should be done to make the beginners guide more obvious to beginners, and for those who may never enter or join a forum!

Either a full inclusion of the gude in the download or even the link idea would be beneficial.

 

How I agree with you. The Beginners Guide is an asset to CCleaner and should be obviously available to anyone who wants to access it

 

Phew, a marathon.