PC clean/repair programs, which is...

User 92156 Photo


Registered User
272 posts

I have problems with Menu Builder crashing instead of saving on my Windows 7 PC, so I uninstalled it, downloaded a new copy and re-installed - but it still crashed. Then I tried MB on my Toshiba Windows 7 laptop, it runs OK on that.
So, obviously my PC is sick - I recalled several posters mentioning CC Cleaner which I tried downloading but the download kept bombing (the internet where I am gets quite shaky at times).
Then I went onto Tucows and tried Reimage.
After I got it running it said the initial scan would be an hour - it went for 2 & a half hours before telling me my PC is basically a "basket case".
It froze towards the end of the repair process and I had to reboot the PC, that's when I gave up and tried MB on the laptop.
I haven't tried running a Reimage scan again (frankly I'm too scared to), but occasionally it pops up to cheerfully inform me I have over 1,700 issues on the PC, and would I like to repair now? Nope.

Has anyone had issues with Reimage?
What's the best PC cleaner/repairer?
User 187934 Photo


Senior Advisor
20,181 posts

I like CCleaner for fixing pc issues.
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It's easy to overlook something you're not looking for.

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User 271657 Photo


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3,816 posts

CCleaner to regularly get rid of junk.
IObit Advanced System Care for general maintenance: http://www.iobit.com/en/index.php

You should probably work through Windows first:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/wind … =windows-7

After that, it might be easier to install a maintenance program to run regular malware checks, clean up and performance improvement.

*Do you back up your PC regularly? ;)

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User 2147626 Photo


Ambassador
2,958 posts

I use Wise Care 365. It's not free though. http://www.wisecleaner.com/wise-care-365.html
I use a version I got for free however. They occasionally give it up here: http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/
You just have to keep your eyes open. :cool:
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User 188640 Photo


Registered User
895 posts

And, if malware is the problem, MalwareBytes has a free version that works great. I have to use it a lot on my neighbors computers. They just can't stay of off those questionable websites. :lol:
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User 2614236 Photo


Registered User
141 posts

Yeah coffee cup is a right questionable site. Hee hee
Tony
User 2614236 Photo


Registered User
141 posts

I agree malwarebytes does the job for me. Gets rid of those browser hijackers. Better still buy a Mac. You get very little problems in the way of viruses
Tony
User 474778 Photo


Registered User
215 posts

Zipper,

As described above, regular scanning with online tools is a good idea. Consider also trying an offline scanner, such as the one AVG provides free of charge. This requires downloading an .ISO file containing a standalone Linux variant, the scanner and related files. You burn the .ISO file to a CD, which you then use to boot the computer and run the scanner.

This allows you to "look aside" at your PC's files without running any of them. This foils possible malware attempts to suppress online scanners. I have used this technique to rescue PCs from nasty, escalating ransomware that was untouchable online.

You might also create a DVD from which you can boot & run a full-blown Linux system without actually installing it on your PC. The no-cost Ubuntu Linux installation download provides this capability, for example. You can use this to backup your data files before attempting any anti-malware cleanup. Data backup might require hours, but this is cheap insurance.

Note that malware "infects" only executable files (.exe), code libraries (.dll) and boot-related files. However, malware can create new data files and/or add information to otherwise innocuous data files. If such modified data files remain on your PC after you have otherwise cleaned it up, a subsequent infestation of the same malware might be able to read and use them.

Also, certain data files blur the distinction between data and executable code. The scripting capability available for inclusion in MS-Office data files provides a notorious infestation vector, for example. This is why MS-Office applications now disable scripting by default. Always treat with scepticism any instruction to allow running scripts baked into MS-Office data files you may have downloaded.

I run Linux as my primary OS. Linux is inherently less vulnerable than Windows. It also presents the bad guys with a much smaller, and frankly more knowledgeable, target population. I run MS-Windows inside a virtual machine on Linux, mostly to use Coffee Cup's products and to view my Web work in genuine MS-Internet Explorer. You might consider doing the same thing.

So ...
1) Keep your Windows image up to date with the latest updates.
2) Check your firewall and close any unnecessary entry points.
3) Scan regularly with one or more online tools.
4) Prepare and learn how to operate an offline scanning / repair tool and offline backup tool BEFORE you have a problem. Once you have a problem, you can't 100% trust the integrity of anything you attempt to download into your PC, since already resident malware could theoretically modify it.
5) Avoid running scripts. Take the time to understand a script before you run it.
6) Look into migrating away from Windows. This is lots easier now than it was a decade ago.
halfnium -AT- alum.mit.edu
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