Best way to clean up OS...

[silicon]

Trying to decide if I should format and reload Windows 7 or if there is some way to clean up remanats of load programs and old files etc. Is CCleaner the accepted program to do this?

 

[ArisVer]

Start with Programs and Features in Control Panel and remove any programs you don't want. CCleaner has that option too but I prefer the Windows application. Then run CCleaner and choose the tick boxes carefully of what you want to delete (I usually use it for registry cleaning).

Then unhide the folders and delete any leftovers left in Program Files, Program Files (x86), ProgramData, and /Users/username/AppData. BE VERY CAREFUL of what you delete in there. Even if you do not delete anything in the last step (this paragraph), it will only waste a very small space on your disk.

 

[mikeymikec]

OP, is there a particular problem you're experiencing?

 

[Berliner]

A format will always be cleaner than a clean up.

 

[silicon]

OP, is there a particular problem you're experiencing?

not any major problem to speak of but there are a lot of programs folders still left even when uninstalled.

 

[HOSED]

I have had good results with the free version, http://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download.html I am sure you know this but empty folders can be deleted also.

 

[TheELF]

A format will always be cleaner than a clean up.

Not allways a fresh install will mean a lot of updates straight away that will leave a lot of mess (and fragmentation for anyone without an ssd) behind,so only if you never cleaned up your system will a format be clean(er) .

Also wisecare 365 is excellent at cleaning up leftovers,but it is kind of add/bloat ware so be careful to do a custom install (or get the portable version)and uncheck all the "added value" stuff that you don't want.

 

[Puffnstuff]

A clean install is always the best way to begin again. It insures that random registry entries no longer exist. If you're having performance issues a clean install is always the best way to go especially if you've backed up your important files.

 

[mikeymikec]

not any major problem to speak of but there are a lot of programs folders still left even when uninstalled.

If you're not actually experiencing a problem, nuking from orbit for the sake of a few files/registry entries whose existence aren't slowing down your computer, seems like a sledgehammer to crack a non-existent nut.

 

[lxskllr]

If you're not actually experiencing a problem, nuking from orbit for the sake of a few files/registry entries whose existence aren't slowing down your computer, seems like a sledgehammer to crack a non-existent nut.

This is how I see it. I manually remove trash as the mood strikes, but it isn't necessary. Think of it as a crappy mobile game that gives you something to do for idle moments. It also has the benefit of familiarizing yourself with the system, and all the places installed programs puke files.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I can speak from experience when I say that letting your system go just slows it down and if you run a utility like Norton 360 it will muck up the registry with time. I used to try to image my drive but once I came to the realization that a clean install was always the best way to go I stopped. I do back up my critical files but not on the boot drive. It is best to get in the habit of storing your data files on a drive other than the boot drive so you don't lose them when it takes a dump on you. I also back my files up on optical disc for redundancy.

 

[Ketchup]

We are a good ways past Windows 98 with it's memory leaks and other fun little problems over time. The uninstal process can leave empty folders, but that is hardly a reason to format a drive, especially when no other issues areencountered.

 

[silicon]

We are a good ways past Windows 98 with it's memory leaks and other fun little problems over time. The uninstal process can leave empty folders, but that is hardly a reason to format a drive, especially when no other issues areencountered.

I may just leave it for now since no real problem is occurring.

 

[ninaholic37]

Not allways a fresh install will mean a lot of updates straight away that will leave a lot of mess (and fragmentation for anyone without an ssd) behind,so only if you never cleaned up your system will a format be clean(er) .

What if you slipstream a Windows 7 ISO with all the updates included in the original install? :hmm:

 

[Compman55]

I still have a mac mini (october 2009) model and it ran win 7 sp1 really great, but when I upgraded to dual 1080p monitors, I would have to reboot anytime I wanted to watch a 1080p youtube video without it being choppy. After a format and reinstall it now works fine, however you cannot play two vidoes at the same time and have on both monitors without a slowdown.

The system was spotless, never browsed questionalble material on it, never really added or removed many programs either. 3 yrs of running stable, I guess it must have been just a touch of bit rot.