MakeUseOf - Registry Cleaner

The Best Way to Clean Windows 10: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ben Stegner — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 13:00:16 GMT

Over time, every Windows installation builds up junk that takes up space and wastes resources. It's easy to neglect regular maintenance, so often the problem comes from old files and programs.

5 Tragic Computer Accidents You Can Prevent

Joe Keeley — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 16:00:23 GMT

Computers are vulnerable devices and can often seem to screw up by themselves, but user error is a huge problem causer. There might be things you aren't aware of being potential hazards and that ignorance could end up wrecking your system.

How to Fix Windows Registry Errors (And When Not to Bother)

Gavin Phillips — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 15:15:21 GMT

Did you hear that fixing your registry would speed up your computer? Or did you read somewhere that 'fixing' your registry will remedy any Windows malaise on your machine, that a quick registry clean-up will solve your computing problems for good?

Do Windows Registry Cleaners Actually Make a Difference?

Ben Stegner — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 18:27:41 GMT

Though they aren't as common as they once were, you'll still see ads for Windows Registry cleaners around the web. These programs claim that they can speed up your computer by fixing issues in your registry, and ask for a payment in exchange for the service.

How to Clean Your Windows Computer: The Ultimate Checklist

Dan Price — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 17:07:47 GMT

Over time, computers slow down. Of course, aging hardware plays a part, but for most people, a more common cause is poor operating system maintenance. It's time to clean your computer.

Is It Time to Trust CCleaner Again?

Ben Stegner — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 14:00:00 GMT

CCleaner has been around longer than most Windows utility cleaners, and was a go-to recommendation for some time. However, starting in 2017, the software ran into several problems that tarnished its reputation.

Top 5 Freeware Registry Cleaners That Improve PC Performance

Joel Lee — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 00:20:17 GMT

Like disk defragmentation, registry cleaning has fallen by the wayside.

7 Windows Maintenance Mistakes You Should Never Make

Ben Stegner — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 20:00:00 GMT

Every Windows user knows that you need to perform regular maintenance to keep your computer running smoothly. But what needs to be done has changed with recent versions, especially with Windows 10.

CleanMyPC, Rosetta Stone, and Pagico 8 - All Up To 62% Off

MakeUseOf Deals — Thu, 24 Nov 2016 01:30:08 GMT

Since we're all in the spirit of saving money this time of year, we're going to look at three awesome discounts on software from MakeUseOf Deals. There's CleanMyPC, Rosetta Stone in a variety of languages, and Pagico 8, one of the most powerful task managers under the sun. And they're all heavily discounted!

How to Clean Your Windows 10 PC Without Using CCleaner

Ben Stegner — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 13:30:51 GMT

CCleaner is the app to beat in the PC cleaning department. For those that want to go above the basic cleaning provided by the Windows Disk Cleanup tool, CCleaner allows you to clean out temporary files by program, and offers advanced features for power users.

3+ Myths Told about Windows that Aren't True (Anymore)

Ben Stegner — Sat, 23 May 2015 17:00:00 GMT

While the authors at MakeUseOf carry diverse preferences on computer OSes, we've written in defense of Windows, explaining why it's still a viable option in the world of Mac OS X and Chromebooks. Of course, people continue to hate things they don't prefer using and so stereotypes about Windows persist.

Use This PC Cleaner Software To Keep Windows Running Smoothly

Chris Hoffman — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 20:00:00 GMT

Overzealous PC cleaning can break things, but some cleaning will help you free up space and keep your system running quickly. Trimming down those unnecessary temporary files you don't need is particularly crucial if you have a small solid-state drive and you want to make the most of its storage.

Avast Launches GrimeFighter To Clean Up & Safeguard Your Windows PC

Mihir Patkar — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 18:30:26 GMT

Free anti-virus maker Avast is renowned to keep you protected from every type of malware. The company is looking beyond protection now with the launch of Avast Grimefighter, a new tool to clean up and safeguard your Windows PC.

Catch up on PC Maintenance & Clear Your System With Glary Utilities Pro

Andre Infante — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 21:00:00 GMT

PC maintenance is one of those tedious chores that most people postpone until their machine is just barely limping along. You know who you are. Yes, you, with the five hundred desktop icons and ten minute boot time. Glary Utilities is designed for you.

Cleaners Compared: CCleaner vs. Slimcleaner vs. IObit Advanced SystemCare

Danny Stieben — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 21:00:13 GMT

Although Windows is a very capable operating system, it is infamous for its deteriorating performance over time. This seems to occur with every system, and isn’t fully curable without performing a complete re-install of the system. However, with the help of some clever system cleaners, you can drastically increase the life expectancy of your system before you have to resort to a re-installation.

4 Steps To Completely Remove Troublesome Or Bad Software [Windows]

Aaron Couch — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 08:31:17 GMT

We’ve all had that one program that no matter what we’ve tried, it wouldn’t go away. Or perhaps you didn’t even know what to try and thought you were simply stuck with this annoying program (or programs, if you’re really unlucky) for the life of your computer. Well, worry no longer – there’s hope. And it is fairly easy to achieve as well.

2 Lesser-Known & Portable Alternatives To CCleaner [Windows]

Craig Snyder — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 04:31:07 GMT

If your argument is that CCleaner is the best resource to cleaning out Windows' junk and temporary files, then I won't be the guy to argue with you. I've even made a post in the past complimenting and appreciating all of the Piriform applications, as I believe they are some of the best on the entire web. That being said, there are those of you out there who have no interest in using CCleaner.

Keep Your PC Running Smoothly With Glary Utilities Pro

Saikat Basu — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 04:30:36 GMT

The word PC maintenance immediately conjures up head-cringing images of wading through loads of settings, booting and rebooting the computer a few times, uninstalling applications, and still not be sure what went wrong. In most cases, it ends up with a call to tech support or the neighborhood geek. But for most of us, a trip down the do-it-yourself computer troubleshooting part shouldn’t be like a walk on burning coals.

Piriform's Suite of Tools Puts You In Control Of PC Maintanence [Windows]

Craig Snyder — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 06:31:55 GMT

Individual tools such as CCleaner and Defraggler have received their fair share of attention here at MUO, and deservingly so. As a bigger picture, Piriform (the brains behind those two pieces of software and others) has really solidified their name in the world of PC maintenance and optimization, and they continue to push out awesome tools that remain updated. For years, these guys have kept our systems in top shape.

Don't Believe The Hype: Registry Cleaners Don't Make Windows Faster

Tina Sieber — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 21:01:16 GMT

Much advice has been given on how to keep your computer running smoothly, as well as how to fix it when it has become slow. We have even published a Windows on Speed guide, written by yours truly. One thing that hardly ever makes Windows faster, however, is cleaning the registry.

A Spring Cleaning Checklist For Your PC Part 2: Delete Junk & Free Wasted Space [Windows]

Tina Sieber — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 03:31:40 GMT

Regular PC maintenance is often neglected, leading to lost hard drive space and a bloated operating system that runs increasingly slower. To avoid a dreaded Windows re-installation, you should perform a thorough cleanup at least once a year. In part 1 of this article, I took you through a physical cleaning checklist for your computer. For part 2 I have created a spring cleaning checklist for the digital environment, to remove obsolete files and regain storage space.

Full Version of CCleaner Now Released For The Mac

Bakari Chavanu — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 00:01:54 GMT

No matter how intuitive and reportedly "trouble free" Macs are to run, believe me, several months after you add hundreds of files, applications, and download thousands of webpages, your shiny new iMac or MacBook Air is going to run slower than when you first booted it out the box. That's because like any computer, digital junk files pile up in the hard drive; and eventually it just needs to get cleaned out.

Keep Your Windows Fresh Like New With DrivePurge

Erez Zukerman — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:31:58 GMT

Windows systems get cluttered and become slow over time. This is a known problem that many companies and products have been trying to fix for years. There are a bunch of established players in the field, such as Soluto and CCleaner, but today I’m here to tell you about a small, free utility that you’ve probably never heard of before, called DrivePurge.

Optimize Your System To Run At Its Best With CCleaner

Danny Stieben — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:01:16 GMT

Of all the tools out there, CCleaner is probably the top solution that everyone recommends. Heck, we mention CCleaner numerous times here at MakeUseOf (such as here or here or even here), but it has indeed been quite a while since we've last written about CCleaner in an article dedicated to nothing but it.

Get Your Windows PC Back Into Shape With WinUtilities

Ryan Dube — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 12:31:57 GMT

If there is anything that a Windows user can't deny it's that the Windows operating system is an irritating thing to maintain. There are so many hidden stockpiles of temporary, log and history files that before long your hard drive is looking like the disappearing beer supply at a redneck wedding. Honestly, who has time to hunt through all of the system and Internet folders, the registry and the history and log files just to "clean up" the mess that other OS processes and installed applications leave behind?

Clean Your PC with Microsoft's OneCare Safety Scanner (Free)

Karl Gechlik — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 16:01:01 GMT

We have all used applications to try and fix up our computers. It goes back to the early 90's and a little program called Norton Utilities. Then lots of other similar products showed up and yet Microsoft still did not feel the need to release one themselves - maybe they were just looking to help consultants like myself along with tons of work.