ccleaner help

[Computer_Commando]

Sorry, but the size of the registry is unimportant. Anything a registry "cleaner" does is nominal and not noticeable. But if you think it helped, that's fine. That's how they work - the placebo effect

If that were the case, why would Piriform spend so much time & effort developing one for free?

[Quantos]

If that were the case, why would Piriform spend so much time & effort developing one for free?

I have mentioned this somewhere else.
For the same reason there used to be so many companies making and selling, and giving away RAM compression software.

Incidentally, none of those programs actually did anything useful, and generally created way more problems than they solved.  The public wanted it through their own ignorance, so somebody provided it.

Like people that think they will get a faster laptop or desktop by re-compiling a Linux kernel.

[Computer_Commando]

I have mentioned this somewhere else.
For the same reason there used to be so many companies making and selling, and giving away RAM compression software...

I never heard of "RAM compression software", but I don't doubt that it existed, if you say it did.  If the reason is money, all of Prifiorm's software is free, so where does their motivation lie?

I still don't understand why a software developer would provide something that people want, if he can't make any money from it.  That's a business plan for failure.  There are some that use this ploy to entice you to buy something "better".  But this does not mean that none of the software is effective. 

[Quantos]

I never heard of "RAM compression software", but I don't doubt that it existed, if you say it did.  If the reason is money, all of Prifiorm's software is free, so where does their motivation lie?

I still don't understand why a software developer would provide something that people want, if he can't make any money from it.  That's a business plan for failure.  There are some that use this ploy to entice you to buy something "better".  But this does not mean that none of the software is effective. 

What gave you the idea that Piriform gives their software away?
Because they have a version that you can use for free?  Open your eyes, they sell the FULL version.

[Computer_Commando]

...Open your eyes, they sell the FULL version....

Maybe they do, but I've never seen it and can't find it now.  They do accept donations.
http://www.piriform.com/
The Full version is free, the portable versions are free, the slim version is free.
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/builds

[Quantos]

Maybe they do, but I've never seen it and can't find it now.  They do accept donations.
http://www.piriform.com/
The Full version is free, the portable versions are free, the slim version is free.
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/builds

Run the program and take a look at it really carefully.  You don't get full functionality unless you pay to register it.

[Computer_Commando]

Run the program and take a look at it really carefully.  You don't get full functionality unless you pay to register it.

I'm looking at the latest version and everything appears to be functional; it doesn't say Unregistered Copy.  I don't see where to register within the program or on the website.
http://docs.piriform.com/ccleaner

[Quantos]

I'm looking at the latest version and everything appears to be functional; it doesn't say Unregistered Copy.  I don't see where to register within the program or on the website.
http://docs.piriform.com/ccleaner

I stand corrected, I had thought those greyed out areas were inaccessable unless you paid for it. 
The brain fart should allow for a more fluid thought process now though

In anycase, registry cleaning won't do a darned thing for you except possibly make matters worse. 

[Computer_Commando]

Trust me, there are greyed out areas that you can only select if you have a paid registered version.
...

Nothing is greyed out on mine.  I can select anything and everything.

[Quantos]

I had quite a few selections greyed out on mine, I'd never tried selecting them before, but they do function and go black once selected.

Who'd have thought it.

[Computer_Commando]

I had quite a few selections greyed out on mine, I'd never tried selecting them before, but they do function and go black once selected.

Who'd have thought it.

Now that we've got that cleared up:  it's free and there is no paid version; let's return to this:

I never heard of "RAM compression software", but I don't doubt that it existed, if you say it did.  If the reason is money, all of Prifiorm's software is free, so where does their motivation lie?

I still don't understand why a software developer would provide something that people want, if he can't make any money from it.  That's a business plan for failure.  There are some that use this ploy to entice you to buy something "better".  But this does not mean that none of the software is effective. 

Don't you think that there might be something more to it?  Maybe it really is effective?

[kpac]

I still don't understand why a software developer would provide something that people want, if he can't make any money from it.

Take SMF, this forum software, for example, here is a post by one of the original developers, explaining the idea behind free, open source software.

The idea of open source is simple and sweet; it is not an idea of communism or socialism like its critics sometimes say.

You see, throughout commerce and money-making, there are a few important things people have found make them money:
   1. The customer being treated well, such that they will come back and recommend the product and/or services to their friends.
   2. More people knowing about the product (advertising) and being able to get use out of it.

Further, it has been concluded that the following contribute to those goals:
   1. Being able to modify the code such that you can change anything you don't like about the product, given motivation.
   2. Having the opportunity to receive the product and/or service for free or at the least possible cost.

Why are these two things important?  Because if the software is free, anyone can download it.  If anyone can download it, then anyone who could possibly get use out of the product has a chance to use it, however much money they may have.  These people then contribute by referring other people (who can also get it for free) and by:
   1. Creating and developing solutions to other peoples problems, such as modifications, which are also open source.
   2. Developing advocacy for the software because it is well written and well maintained.

So, in other words, by not charging for the software, and by even letting anyone download it... we increase the yield.  Marketting strategy.  We also develop advocacy much better and stronger (there are people who like paid products too, just not as strongly in most cases) than otherwise.  We're adding significant fuel to the fire that is the project.

Most small business that don't fail in their first few years operate on a net loss, as is commonly known.  If you want to make money, it's going to be in the long run not the short.  Open source is just a widening of this; if we have a million users (0.5% of which paid), and you have only 100 ones (who all paid, and more) we still got more money than you did.  100 * 100 < 5000 * 50.

There's also the point of support.  As we do here, most open source projects charge for advanced support.  While this isn't for everyone, this is how they make money.  The idea is to grow the client base from which the few paid ones come; again my numbers above.

Another very important and often ignored point is education.  How hard is it to enter the programming market?  Not that easy in some cases.  Sure, you can go on google and learn some things... but you're still a yellow novice.  No one would hire you like that!  Open source is a way people who aren't quite experts yet can grow and expand their knowledge such that they can become attractive employees.  Yes, they're offering their software to you for free.... but you're offering to use and test it, and give them legitimacy for free too!  They're giving you products, and you're increasing their resume.

It's barter, and it's done everywhere on this planet.  Just because open source does it so well that it's starting to threaten "paid" companies like Microsoft only proves how good a strategy it is.  If it weren't, if it weren't a gain to people... it wouldn't happen.

We're not crazy hippies, us open source people... we're programmers and I at least am a big fan of the free market.

-[Unknown]

http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=16971.msg140624#msg140624

[soybean]

In anycase, registry cleaning won't do a darned thing for you except possibly make matters worse. 

I disagree with this.  CCleaner has over 400 million downloads.  I've used it for years, including the registry scanner, and never had a problem with it.  Granted, many users will not notice any difference in computer performance by running CCleaner's registry scanner because their registry is not terribly cluttered with hundreds of obsolete entries accumulated over years of use.  But, there are such users who fit the latter description and they can benefit from registry cleaning and CCleaner is a very safe cleaner to use. 

And, I've seen cases where running CCleaner's registry scanner can fix problems.  I recall one case where the user had removed an older version of MS Office and was trying to install a newer version but the installation would not properly execute.  Running CCleaner registry cleaner was suggested.  He did that and then had no problem installing Office.

It's unfortunate that some members of this forum repeatedly, flatly say the no registry cleaner should ever be used.   I would agree that many of them should be avoided but to just make a blanket statement that none of them should ever be used is not the best advice to be perpetuating, and it's unfair to the developers of an excellent product such as CCleaner.

[Quantos]

Don't you think that there might be something more to it?  Maybe it really is effective?

You won't see any speed difference by cleaning your registry.  The size of the registry is inconsequential to how Windows runs.
As to whether or not it CAN actually be beneficial, well the last person I will call a liar is Soybean, and I've run into some similar reported cases before.  HOWEVER, the registry is some place that the masses should ever play, irregardless of how fashionable it may seem to them.  I've seen and heard about horror stories even from people who have followed directions to the letter.  NOBODY should blindly give these utilities an opportunity to change anything UNLESS they know what they are doing.

[Computer_Commando]

...It's unfortunate that some members of this forum repeatedly, flatly say the no registry cleaner should ever be used.   I would agree that many of them should be avoided but to just make a blanket statement that none of them should ever be used is not the best advice to be perpetuating, and it's unfair to the developers of an excellent product such as CCleaner.

That's all I was attempting to point out, but you stated it very eloquently and diplomatically.

You won't see any speed difference by cleaning your registry.  The size of the registry is inconsequential to how Windows runs.
... the last person I will call a liar is Soybean, and ...the registry is some place that the masses should ever play, ...

Soybean and I are in agreement and I agree with you, Quantos, that the "masses" should never play with the Registry and you won't normally see any speed difference by cleaning.  However, you really can't mess it up with CCleaner.  It actually has a Registry backup feature before deletion, but I have never used it.
CC