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Utilities question
I just downloaded a free copy of Glary Utilities Pro, an offer from CNET. How
reliable and safe are these utility programs that supposedly clean up your Windows system? I just ran one thing, which searched for empty folders on my system, and it found 4,400 of them. I manually checked a number and sure enough, they were empty folders. So, I deleted them (but they're still in my recycle bin for now.) So are programs like this safe to use? I donwloaded this one because it was a CNET offer and I always took them to be reliable. Thanks. |
Utilities question
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Utilities question
I wouldn't trust CNet for anything. Any software
you want should be downloaded from the author's website. If they don't have a website that's a bad sign. I don't know anything about Glary Utilities. Aside from cleaning TEMP files, browser cache and emptying the rubbish, I can't think of anything that really needs to be cleaned. Empty folders do no harm except when you've created them yourself and they're part of disorganization. Then again, 4,400 is a lot. I can't imagine how you could have got so many. |
Utilities question
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Utilities question
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Utilities question
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Utilities question
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Utilities question
On Fri, 20 Mar 2015 18:43:56 -0400, Paul wrote:
wrote: I just downloaded a free copy of Glary Utilities Pro, an offer from CNET. How reliable and safe are these utility programs that supposedly clean up your Windows system? I just ran one thing, which searched for empty folders on my system, and it found 4,400 of them. I manually checked a number and sure enough, they were empty folders. So, I deleted them (but they're still in my recycle bin for now.) So are programs like this safe to use? I donwloaded this one because it was a CNET offer and I always took them to be reliable. Thanks. If it came from CNET, your next job will be finding the adware and toolbars. Always be careful with downloads from there. Only a few downloads are completely clean. Developers who pay CNET for a certain level of service (Macrium being an example), there's no adware. ******* Programs which needed the empty folders, and find the folder missing, can put the folder back. But not every software developer "expects the floor to open underneath them", and then their program will fail when not finding some installed folder. I would not remove empty folders here, except when I find them in a casual visit in my Downloads area. Not elsewhere. Windows comes with Disk Cleanup, and that would be an example of some trivial cleanup. If you need a little file space, that's an easy way to get some. But cleaning up empty folders, that would be pretty far down my list. That issue has about the same status as Registry Cleaning. I've never had any indication my registry files are unhealthy, so I just leave them alone. The registry is actually pretty fast, if you look at what the OS is doing to it. As you're sitting there right now, the OS may have consulted (read) a registry entry 200 times a second. Even when the machine is "quiet", the registry is very busy. And yet it's fast, even when the file behind it is huge. The only time I might consider a cleaning product, is if I had "punished" the registry by running a special test program that fills the registry with crap. Ordinarily, there's no reason to bother with it. Paul SInce a couple of replies said to stay away from downloading from CNET, I just wanted to say that I went directly to the software providers website for the download. I didn't download from CNET. But I hear you all. Doesn;'t sound like these types of programs are of any use. So I'll restore the deleted folders and uninstall the program. Thanks for the feedback. |
Utilities question
wrote:
On Fri, 20 Mar 2015 18:43:56 -0400, Paul wrote: wrote: I just downloaded a free copy of Glary Utilities Pro, an offer from CNET. How reliable and safe are these utility programs that supposedly clean up your Windows system? I just ran one thing, which searched for empty folders on my system, and it found 4,400 of them. I manually checked a number and sure enough, they were empty folders. So, I deleted them (but they're still in my recycle bin for now.) So are programs like this safe to use? I donwloaded this one because it was a CNET offer and I always took them to be reliable. Thanks. If it came from CNET, your next job will be finding the adware and toolbars. Always be careful with downloads from there. Only a few downloads are completely clean. Developers who pay CNET for a certain level of service (Macrium being an example), there's no adware. ******* Programs which needed the empty folders, and find the folder missing, can put the folder back. But not every software developer "expects the floor to open underneath them", and then their program will fail when not finding some installed folder. I would not remove empty folders here, except when I find them in a casual visit in my Downloads area. Not elsewhere. Windows comes with Disk Cleanup, and that would be an example of some trivial cleanup. If you need a little file space, that's an easy way to get some. But cleaning up empty folders, that would be pretty far down my list. That issue has about the same status as Registry Cleaning. I've never had any indication my registry files are unhealthy, so I just leave them alone. The registry is actually pretty fast, if you look at what the OS is doing to it. As you're sitting there right now, the OS may have consulted (read) a registry entry 200 times a second. Even when the machine is "quiet", the registry is very busy. And yet it's fast, even when the file behind it is huge. The only time I might consider a cleaning product, is if I had "punished" the registry by running a special test program that fills the registry with crap. Ordinarily, there's no reason to bother with it. Paul SInce a couple of replies said to stay away from downloading from CNET, I just wanted to say that I went directly to the software providers website for the download. I didn't download from CNET. But I hear you all. Doesn;'t sound like these types of programs are of any use. So I'll restore the deleted folders and uninstall the program. Thanks for the feedback. Truly empty folders don't take up any hdd space but I still don't like them and delete them when found. Never had a problem doing that since most progs will recreate the folders as needed... so far. |
Utilities question
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Utilities question
On 21/03/2015 06:48, T wrote:
On 03/20/2015 03:04 PM, wrote: I just downloaded a free copy of Glary Utilities Pro, an offer from CNET. How reliable and safe are these utility programs that supposedly clean up your Windows system? I just ran one thing, which searched for empty folders on my system, and it found 4,400 of them. I manually checked a number and sure enough, they were empty folders. So, I deleted them (but they're still in my recycle bin for now.) So are programs like this safe to use? I donwloaded this one because it was a CNET offer and I always took them to be reliable. Thanks. Hi rfdjr1, If you are suffering from junkware due to this, drop me a line under a new thread (Ping Todd) and I will walk you through how to remove it/them -T That is a very kind gesture. Good for you! :-) Do you have a view on the effectiveness of CCleaner from Piriform? https://www.piriform.com |
Utilities question
In message , Paul in Houston TX
writes: [] Truly empty folders don't take up any hdd space but I still don't like them and delete them when found. Never had a problem doing that since most progs will recreate the folders as needed... so far. Me neither (XP) - and I agree with the endorsement of Jonas John's RED. At least it lets you scan without deleting, so you can see where they are. Whatever may be the verdict on the system drive, I can't think of any reason deleting empty directories on your data drive/partition(s) should cause any problem - though they're less likely to appear there in the first place, of course. -- J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf Veni, Vidi, Video (I came, I saw, I'll watch it again later) - Mik from S+AS Limited ), 1998 |
Utilities question
wrote in message
... I just downloaded a free copy of Glary Utilities Pro, an offer from CNET. How reliable and safe are these utility programs that supposedly clean up your Windows system? I just ran one thing, which searched for empty folders on my system, and it found 4,400 of them. I manually checked a number and sure enough, they were empty folders. So, I deleted them (but they're still in my recycle bin for now.) So are programs like this safe to use? I donwloaded this one because it was a CNET offer and I always took them to be reliable. Thanks. Glary's one of those all-in-one rock 'em sock 'em cleaners. The one you downloaded doesn't include free updates, so I don't know if you'll be able to update the malware component. Beware the registry cleaner!!!! And I'm always wary of tools who claim to do everything. It's a good way to end up doing too much and hosing your system, in spite of what they claim. IMO, if you just want to do some good, basic crap cleaning, I'd recommend CCleaner. I've used the portable version forever. Again, I'd recommend you stay clear of the registry cleaner component. https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download/portable Just extract it to a directory of your choice. |
Utilities question
On Fri, 20 Mar 2015 18:04:23 -0400, wrote:
I just downloaded a free copy of Glary Utilities Pro, an offer from CNET. How reliable and safe are these utility programs that supposedly clean up your Windows system? I *strongly* recommend that you avoid this and all such programs like the plague. They are much more likely to cause problems than to solve them. |
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