This tool might change to BleachBit
Windows PC's are notorious for 'clogging' up. That is, over time, Windows will slow down over many things from temp files, startup programs and background services. CrapCleaner is not open source, but currently a free and trusted tool that is used to perform decluttering and increase performance.
Customer Info to Give
- Over time, Windows computers slow down and need yearly maintenance like a car. If you dont change the oil in your car, it will work, but ultimately slow down and stop costing more $. Same with Windows, over time, system will slow until it crashes.
- Crap Cleaner is free, if you buy it, will work automatically in the background for you. The free version also works for basic maintenance, the free version needs to be manually ran (vs paid that automatically works in the background).
- Recommend to customer to run monthly and just the areas noted.
- Do not recommend customer create an account, otherwise will be bugged to buy Pro license.
How to do Manual Install
- Download CrapCleaner - https://www.ccleaner.com/ccleaner/download.
- Install, pay attention to license agreement as sometimes they include additional software. Use the 'Customize' and 'More' install option to uncheck these if they show up. If no additional software is listed to be installed, the other options to add shortcuts and context menu are okay. Sometimes it will ask to install software after you install, do not install anything. Install to default location.
- If asked to install the Browser extension of Crap Cleaner - decline. Only adds to less resources and uBlock origin does a much better job.
- Run CrapCleaner.
- Select the 'Free' option, not the Professional license.
- Do not 'Run First Scan' (click the 'X' at top right) as it will default to selecting and cleaning on its own. We will do manual.
- Decline any option to use or try the Professional version.
- You will not use all options, use only the following:
- CUSTOM CLEAN - Run 'Analyze' (Yes to closing any browsers or other software it says needs to close to run).
- Once scan complete 'Run Cleaner', then select 'Continue' to delete files.
- Go to the APPLICATIONS tab, do the same process.
- TOOLS | UNINSTALL - Run 'Uninstall'. This is tricky as experience helps here (call a Tech Manager), but this is where software is launched when Windows boots up. The stuff listed here is what causes slow boot times, this area controls what is allowed to launch and does not delete anything.
- Typical list of items to remove is AntiVirus (if Windows 10+, remove any virus software like Norton, AVG, McAfee as they already have a built in AV and will only slow machine down - WARNING - do not remove if the product is purchase, run program to ensure. If it doesn't have a user profile that shows a purchase licensed, remove).
- If McAfee will not remove, you will need to use the McAfee Antivirus Removal Tool (see article in knowledge base).
- While Windows has a Startup list in Task Manager, it will not allow you to remove Windows apps like Cortana and Edge. Crap Cleaner is able to remove these.
- TOOLS | REGISTRY - 'Select All', then run the 'Scan for Issues'.
- Registry contains the DNA of all hardware and files in system, needs to be 'pruned' like a tree of old or missing entries.
- After scan, 'Review Selected Issues', then 'Yes' then 'Save' to make backup of registry (the default location in documents is okay, filename leave as date).
- Select the 'Fix All Selected Issues' option then close.
- TOOLS | STARTUP - This is where we can find the list of startup items that run when Windows starts. This is where the majority of the slow boot happens. It is important to note that nothing is deleted here, but unselected to startup when Windows boots. Customers can still load the programs manually.
- This is also an area where experience helps (call a Tech Manager, but you can also use the PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZER menu option which does this for you in Pro version, run it to see a list of items that are in LOW performance to get an idea which to deselect) to know which to disable, typically we leave anything that says Microsoft or programs they would use like HP printing services (you can unselect all and do a quick test to see if boot times are affected).
- Select the items you want to disable/enable on the right. Disable CCleaner from startup as during the 30 day trial, CCleaner will run in the background and 'bug' the customer to purchase.
- OPTIONS | PRIVACY - Uncheck the options for all 'Offers'.
- (See Knowledge Base Article on TechCenter Customization). Create a shortcut on desktop TechCenter folder AND copy and paste customer maintenance process from Knowledge Base to Ticket for customer care instructions. for customer as we disabled from auto startup. Customer will need to be instructed to run manually.