What do you use to clean your system?

[daamon]

Hi All,

I've tried out a number of Windows cleaning tools and have tended to hang around the trials for Webroot's Window Washer.

However, after over a year of checking back, it's still not compatible with versions of Firefox beyond something like 1.0.7!!! I've mailed Webroot, but there's no workaround and no response on when they intend to update it. I've tried the latest trial, and now the behaviour is a bit erratic.

I've tried CCleaner, but it's lacking in a few features that I like in Window Washer - notably the autowash on either browser and / or Windows close.

I want to move to Firefox for a whole load of reasons, but also want something that'll keep my system cleaned regularly. Is there anything out there that covers Firefox and has the depth of functionality like Windows Washer.

Cheers.

[Rudyard]

Hi Daamon,

I dont know how it compares but I have used Iobit advanced windows care v2 personal.....got it from the majorgeeks.com website.

It may be what your after (ive never used windows washer)

[daamon]

I dont know how it compares but I have used Iobit advanced windows care v2 personal.....got it from the majorgeeks.com website.

I've downloaded the pro trial - I've got 15 days to have a play and do some comparisons. I'll report back. Initial impression are that it's got a broader scope of functionality, where as Window Washer does just that - clean all the crap left behind by normal use of a PC and the net. Your Windows Care also covers spyware, security defense and system optimisation.

An initial reservation is that, although it clears cookies, you can't dictate which ones to keep like you can in Window Washer - a very handy little idea.

The write up, even on the home site, for the cleaning aspect didn't give much away so we'll just have to see how comprehensive it is.

Cheers for the suggestion.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

Anti Tracks cleans up your Firefox history, you perv.
That's why I use it.....

[daamon]

Even though I've 15 days with the trial, I've had time to do basic comparisons with my current Windows Washer and the suggested Windows Care Pro.

I do agree that Windows Care Pro is a great little utility mostly aimed at protecting and optimising a PC rather than cleaning up crap left by normal usage and internet use.

However, I already have a few apps that I'm happy with that mean Windows Care Pro doesn't add anything in that department. As for cleaning, it does basics like cookies and URL history, but doesn't even empty the recycle bin.

I've established that Window Washer and Windows Care Pro have two different focuses and so can't be compared. So, thanks for the suggestion, but it's not what I'm after.

@ Xylob the Destroyer: I'll have a read up of Anti Tracks.

EDIT: The write-up on Anti Tracks sounded good on the homepage, but I wanted to see what the independent www.download.com had to say, and it got good reviews there too.

So, I've downloaded the trial and it is directly comparable to Webroot's Window Washer (in terms of purpose), but it also covers the latest version of Firefox. My only criticism is that there's no option to run when the last browser closes, but you can set it to run on Windows start-up and / or shutdown. That's fine by me - I'm now on Firefox and will still have an unclutterd PC!

Thanks all!

[Jim44]

I'm not sure what specific things in Firefox you want to clean up, but in the "Options" of Firefox there are settings for FF to clean up after itself (I'm sure you've already seen these options, and that they don't meet your needs, but I felt the need to mention it anyway ). History, Cache, Download History, etc are all there, and there is a setting for what to clean and when.

BTW, I'm referring to v1.5.0.11 of FF - I haven't yet moved to v.2.

Hope that helps,
Jim

[daamon]

I'm not sure what specific things in Firefox you want to clean up

Any and all crap that gets downloaded as part of using it.

but in the "Options" of Firefox there are settings for FF to clean up after itself (I'm sure you've already seen these options, and that they don't meet your needs, but I felt the need to mention it anyway ). History, Cache, Download History, etc are all there, and there is a setting for what to clean and when.

I'm glad you mentioned it - I'm so new to FF that I didn't know about those settings. This explains why washing tools don't have a Cookie Manager.

BTW, I'm referring to v1.5.0.11 of FF - I haven't yet moved to v.2.

They appear to be the same in v2.

Hope that helps

Greatly! Much appreciated. Thank you!

[Jim44]

I'm not sure what specific things in Firefox you want to clean up

Any and all crap that gets downloaded as part of using it.

Ahh, I guess that's "specific" enough

I'm glad you mentioned it - I'm so new to FF that I didn't know about those settings.

Excellent! The cookie control in FF has some good, fairly new, options.

They appear to be the same in v2.

Good to know - I'll be upgrading in the next week or two (security updates for 1.5.xx stop on 4/24, I believe)

Greatly! Much appreciated. Thank you!

You're welcome!

Jim

[daamon]

I do agree that Windows Care Pro is a great little utility mostly aimed at protecting and optimising a PC rather than cleaning up crap left by normal usage and internet use.

After running the optimisation functionality in Windows Care Pro I found that I could no longer use the "Fast User Switching" capability - where one user can log off but still have their programs running while another user logs on.

Lesson learnt: Be sure to read the list of what's about to be changed. Don't proceed unless you're sure you know what's going to happen.

For anyone that's encountered this, it's easily corrected: set the "Terminal Services" service to Automatic and start it, then do the same for the "Fast User Switching Compatibility".

However, during my investigation of what the cause might have been, I saw that there are other causes out there besides the services being stopped.

[Faustus]

I don't really worry about that type of software. Most things can be cleaned manually and this is windows so about ever 6 mothers the format command cleans everything else for me.

[ricardouk]

... this is windows so about ever 6 mothers the format command cleans everything else for me.

same here

[daamon]

I don't really worry about that type of software. Most things can be cleaned manually and this is windows so about ever 6 mothers the format command cleans everything else for me.

I'd do the same if I could be bothered to reinstall everything (I'm assuming you have to). Also, the PC's used by more than one person so it's a pain to back up all their stuff too...

But it'd be nice if I could - "Mmm.... Nice clean PC" [said in Homer Simpson style voice]

[JimboS]

Has not anyone used the Disk Cleanup function of windows????????????
It actually works...

[jimmalenko]

I don't really worry about that type of software. Most things can be cleaned manually and this is windows so about ever 6 mothers the format command cleans everything else for me.

1 in 6 mothers respond to the format command ?

What about the in-law ?

I'd do the same if I could be bothered to reinstall everything (I'm assuming you have to). Also, the PC's used by more than one person so it's a pain to back up all their stuff too...

But it'd be nice if I could - "Mmm.... Nice clean PC" [said in Homer Simpson style voice]

Maybe you should look into imaging such as Norton Ghost or Acronis True Image ?

I have a base image which I reinstall every 6 months or so. All you really need to do is either tell or forcibly make the users restrict their data storage to their My Documents folder or another logical drive apart from C:. Then you copy the My Documents, Desktop and Favorites folders to another logical drive prior to restoring the image so that you can copy them back afterwards. It is really nice to be able to "clean" your PC in about 20 minutes tops without having to reinstall everything.

[daamon]

What about the in-law ?

Hey - You're gonna have out-laws soon!

I have a base image which I reinstall every 6 months or so.

I have Acronis True Image - I'll consider the idea of a base image. It'll be pretty straight forward.

[lordsmurf]

Soap with a rag on a stick.

[Faustus]

1 in 6 mothers respond to the format command ?

What about the in-law ?

Lets pretend I said "everyone 6 MOTHERFU**ERS I bring out the format command"

Seriously I've done everything suggested over the years and I've worked in the PC industry for a while now and NOTHING beats a format for Windows.