Thanks oberder!

May I ask - do you know how long this CCleaner will take, when I looked it up one person had had it running for days lol, but that thread was dated in 2012

Since I've never run it before I did figure it would take a while though!

I forgot to add earlier - I will be sure to do all those scans once a day etc

It depends how much disk space you're using. Two seconds per megabyte is the industry threshold before we call it a performance issue for server software(*). However, the first run can take much longer, since it doesn't clean any nasties until the end, so any you have resident will affect the performance of your anti virus/malware/whatever just as much as they affect the rest of your computer. For the desktop it's probably a bit slower - 3/4 seconds per megabyte is probably acceptable there, but I'm guessing.

(*) For regular readers who know I use Linux/BSD, we still have to scan for Win32 viruses because we have Win32 end users.

Thanks BouldRake,

I don't know how much disk space I'm using, hopefully not a lot - I removed a lot of things I don't use a few days ago which helped bring the physical memory down, is there a way to check the disk space?

Edit typo

Go to "Computer" in your start menu. Find the disc called c:. Right click and select properties. One of the tabs will tell you how much space is being used. I don't know which tab, I don't have a Windows box of my own to check.

Thanks, just done that, it says 56.7 GB used space and 92.1 GB free space

My Advanced system care from Iobit might be a little faster than CCleaner . But it takes a little work to install , even it is fast to google and download . It downloads and installs a lot more from Iobit that needs to be removed after finished installation . ASC works fine as stand alone program without the added programs . The added programs did everything from make my Laptop slowly freeze up like yours to making it constantly crash and performe reboot . I am guessing you got a similar problem .

It's good that all seems well

At most, CCleaner should take too long, unless you have a lot of files that were accumulated -- you can check how much data was and should be removed by clicking on the Analyze

BTW, have you removed any System Restore points? That should also give back some HDD Space -- tap the Windows key on your keyboard, then type on the Search Programs and Files the keywords Control Panel -- when it appears, click on it

In the Control Panel, click on System then click on System Protection -- if you have UAC active, a prompt will appear -- when you click on this, a small menu window will appear; on the System Protection tab menu, click on Configure

Inside the Configure, a new sub window will open -- here, you'll be able to see how much memory has been allocated to System restore ( the one I mentioned of not doing ) -- click on the Delete tab ( a prompt will appear, agree to that ) and in a few moments the status should read zero

Close both sub-windows, then check your Computer on your Desktop -- clicking on it, a window should appear; find and click on the Properties tab menu; a sub-window should appear, then click on Disk Cleanup -- now the process will take a while since it'll be locating other files that can be removed safely from your gear; when it's finished, the sub-window should appear showing how much data can be recovered -- now, don't click on it yet -- instead, click on the Clean Up System Files ( again a UAC prompt will appear, just agree to that )

When the clean up appears once more after a full check, it'll now show all the files that can be recovered, including the option to remove previous Windows Update installations/Service Pack Backup Files -- by default, it's not active, but if you want to clear these file out, just put a check mark -- a head's up: when you do want the previous Windows Updates to be removed from your gear, it'll prompt you for a restart so the gear can properly reconfigure itself

Ambrie, I hope you haven't done anything with the SpeeDefrag as yet. It seems they decided to go to the dark side and have added "extras" that won't go away even when you click on the "don't install" link. I decided to upgrade to it yesterday and found the changes.

I'm currently running 5.2.1 and am quite happy with it. It's still much better than the one loaded with Windows.

However, if you can't find that version, please don't load in the new one. You'll be finding even more files to get rid of, sadly.

Can`t you delete the added extra subprograms like I did with ASC ? From ASC 6 and up they are adding a lot of extra not needed subprograms .

Hi Susy,

No I haven't done the SpeeDefrag yet as I've just had the CCleaner running, thanks for letting me know

And I've done the Disc Cleanup and Clean Up System Files

Thank you all for the help, everythings running even better than before now

Hyldig, it's not that kind of program. At the beginning, it was "strictly" a defrag/disk cleaner/checker. Now, they've loaded in toolbars and shopping crap. I make it a habit to never deliberately post a program that has any of that junk in it. As it takes a LOT of time to find everything you don't want and clean it out. I only give out clean programs, as I wouldn't want anyone to wind up with malware or trojans or other nasties.

I also use IOBit and some of its other programs but this isn't at all what *could* download.

Ambrie, sounds like you've found what was going on, and that's good! Malware Bytes and CCleaner really are two good programs to run on a regular basis. Follow Oberder's lead, and you should be just fine. Don't forget, never allow anything to update automatically, and just keep comp clean as often as possible. And use your anti-virus program.

Looks like you're ready to go now! Good luck!

In the case of AlienMommy, I'll add my own experience as well -- don't use any program from Auslogics

Auslogics programs have a tendency to use scareware tactics on users to buy their products to 'make sure their PCs are in tip-top condition' -- clicking on one of their service tabs ( I believe it's the last one on most ) to check your gear will trigger this

Another program to avoid is Foxit PDF Reader -- I can't remember the version when it started bundling OpenCandy, but if you do install this program, the malware OpenCandy gets to 'hide' in your gear's Temp Files, and when you start surfing the Web, it'll start downloading it's components without your knowledge. Though a tip was to run MBAM after you installed Foxit ( to remove the instances of OpenCandy ), it be best to use instead other PDF readers; I'll recommend Sumatra PDF Reader -- it's Free-to-use and is specifically a bare-bones no-nonsense PDF reader ( as in, no editor or unwanted components )

In terms of Defrag programs, Windows own defragging system is good, but there are some third-party programs that help it; Piriform Defraggler is a good option to use

Quote:Another program to avoid is Foxit PDF Reader -- I can't remember the version when it started bundling OpenCandy

Foxit used to come up on the El Reg forums all the time. There was a huge kerfuffle over OpenCandy for a while, then much rejoicing later when it was removed - followed by much face palming when it was discovered they were sending telemetry back to China even without the added malware.

So, before anyone says "it's fine, they don't do that anymore", it's true, they don't - they spy on you directly these days, which is even worse.

Can you get Okular on Windows? Okular is awesome, and not even slightly evil.

BouldRake wrote: Foxit used to come up on the El Reg forums all the time. There was a huge kerfuffle over OpenCandy for a while, then much rejoicing later when it was removed - followed by much face palming when it was discovered they were sending telemetry back to China even without the added malware.

So, before anyone says "it's fine, they don't do that anymore", it's true, they don't - they spy on you directly these days, which is even worse.

For the sake of the discussion, I tried to locate the Forum that mentioned about Foxit 'calling back home' but the closest one I could find (* don't worry, the Forum there is in HTTPS, so it's safe to visit ):

Reference source -- App "telemetry" - SANS Internet Storm Center

According to the Forum Thread there, along with a screen cap of the Foxit PDF for Mobile's behavior -- showed how it compromised the Forum user's identity, location and device; the Thread also discussed that the members tried to get the side of Foxit but for some reason the posts from the Publisher's side 'disappeared' ( taken down, obviously to avoid showing them in a bad light due to the issue )

Sidenote: Imagine that, more than a year ago... not a lot of users knew about that

Don't know why you guys stir the pot to other sites that is not known among newbies. You know newbies has to go look and see and might even give it a go around just to see if you know what your talking about.

Does that work?

If that works, you definitely shouldn't use Rusty Razorblade. The huge surplus of developers mean I definitely don't need any more of them, and you definitely shouldn't donate your time to the project.

Well, the concept of spoon-feeding information to newcomers is a case-to-case issue, IMO

If you ask me, this is my way of paying back gratitude to a user who helped me before; I was in the same situation as Ambrie was more than a decade ago, when I needed help with my WinXP -- and in those days of dial-ups, the concept of Forums weren't like today, it was more of a message board

I couldn't remember the username, let alone that user's gender, but whoever he/she was did a lot for me -- from simple posts teaching me the tools to have ( it was from that user I learned about MBAM ) as well how to maintain my gear in the best way possible, linking other sites by giving clues where there were and so on

I don't know if that user is still around the Web, but the least I can do is return the favor back -- the same way he/she did for me

Guess that's the only reason I have why I 'kept stirring the pot'

Quote:I don't know if that user is still around the Web, but the least I can do is return the favor back -- the same way he/she did for me

Which is exactly why we'll spend hours helping some people, and thirty seconds helping others.

Quote:What we are, unapologetically, is hostile to people who seem to be unwilling to think or to do their own homework before asking questions. People like that are time sinks — they take without giving back, and they waste time we could have spent on another question more interesting and another person more worthy of an answer. We call people like this “losers”

How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

I'm very grateful for everybody taking the time out to help, normally I really don't like to ask.

I've learned a lot of valuable things, and hopefully I'll be able to help someone in return someday

Or maybe others have too found this thread helpful.

Thank you again everyone

My mouse is frequently moving automatically towards the sides of my screen.? Once it's start then it become uncontrollable. Anybody has a solution?