Copyright: © 2003 ToniArts
Citation: EasyCleaner documentation by ToniArts


Contents

Welcome to EasyCleaner 2.0!

EasyCleaner is designed simple to use. But if you encouter a problem or something about EasyCleaner makes you say "hmm.."; then this is the right place! Here you'll find interesting info & usage tips on EasyCleaner.

Choose a topic:

•	Requirements

•	History

•	FAQ

•	Options

•	Language packs

•	Registry

•	Duplicate files

•	Unnecessary files

•	Commandline parameters

If you have found bugs or you have something to ask about EasyCleaner or other things E-mail to me "toni.helenius@pp.inet.fi", you can also visit my homepage "http://www.toniarts.com". From my homepage you can get the latest versions of EasyCleaner!

EasyCleaner is fully free so you can distribute it freely as long as you don't modify it!

Special thanks to everybody who has helped me!

EasyCleaner is made by ToniArts, Toni Helenius. This help was made by Toni Helenius. I made this help with my FREE WYSIWYG help maker called EasyHelp. Please go and grap your own copy, today!


FAQ

Q1. Are all ToniArts products year 2000 compatible?

A1. In short, yes!

Q2. Why EasyCleaner's registry cleaning-part's date-column always show date as 01.01.1601 12.00 (or 01/01/1601 12:00AM)?

A2. This only appears in Windows 95/98/ME operating systems, Windows' bug. Doesn't seem to have affect on anything.

Q3. Deleting duplicates, can all duplicates be deleted on the same time and are duplicates unnecessary?

A3. All duplicates can't be deleted at the same time, because this is usually dangerous to your computer. Usually only one of the duplicates is important, but you'll have know which one of them:

E.g.

Duplicate files...

c:\windows\system\system.dll (important)

c:\temp\system.dll (unnecessary)

Q4. EasyCleaner's parts like registry cleaning- and unnecessary files-part list even thousands of unnecessary files/entries, are they save to delete?

A4. Usually yes, I recommend you to delete files first to the recycle bin (see Options), restart your computer and see if everything works fine then empty the recycle bin. In registry cleaning I haven't heard a single case where the computer has started to work strangely, but it is better be sure. EasyCleaner creates an undo-file from the entries deleted.

Q5. EasyCleaner's unnecessary files-part lists only a small part of the unnecessary files, e.g. my c:\Temp directory is full of *.tmp files, but EasyCleaner doesn't find them. Why?

A5. Yes it finds them, but they don't meet the requirements. Go to options and uncheck e.g. "Empty files" from "Ignore"-list.

Click here to see the contents...


History

EasyCleaner's programming history:

Version 2.0.5: The sixth public release!

Features:

•	Almost a complete re-write!

•	New interface

•	Registry cleaner now 110% accurate

•	New utility, add/remove cleaner

•	New utility, startup cleaner

•	New utility, undo-tool

•	Ability to clear IE temporary files, history and cookies

•	Ability to clear the most recently used list

•	Lots of more options in unnecessary file finder (IE cookies, history and temp files, temp dirs, MS Office recent, custom dirs)

•	Duplicate file finder re-writen, unbelievable speed!

•	Start-menu cleaner --> Shortcut cleaner, more efficient + ability to search the desktop

•	Auto-update

•	Blacklist, like the virus-definition file in anti-virus software. Fast fix to new found problems

Fixes:

•	The infamous bug in Windows XP/ME that made help & support unusable after registry clean

•	EasyCleaner broke Office XP after deleting unnecessary files

Version 1.7f.4: The fifth public release!

Features:

•	Normal and extra search was now possible do at the same time in unnecessary file finder

Fixes:

•	With large fonts the interface went unreadable

•	Problem in permanetly deleting files

Version 1.7.4: The fourth public release!

Features:

•	New unnecessary file types identified

•	Multilingual support

•	New utility, start-menu cleaner

•	Smart resize

•	Ability to save and print the listings

•	Duplicate file finder totally re-written for speed and stability

•	Other small things...

Version 1.5.3: The third public release!

Features:

•	Helps!

•	New unnecessary file types identified

•	Increased speed

Fixes:

•	All the selected registry entries couldn't be deleted at one time

Version 1.4.2: The second public release!

Features:

•	New interface

•	New utility, duplicate file finder

•	New utility, unnecessary file finder

•	New utility, space usage

•	Other small enchantments...

Version 1.0.1: The first public release!

Click here to see the contents...


Requirements

EasyCleaners's requirements aren't really tested, but here is somekind of speculation:

486/DX2 66MhZ

8MB RAM

about 4MB of free harddrive space

Windows 95/98/ME/NT 3.51 (or newer)/2000/XP

EasyCleaner is most likely to work in every future 32 (or more) bits operating systems.

Click here to see the contents...


Registry

Windows' registry stores huge amount of data about system, programs, settings etc. Registry can be found from every Windows except from 3.xx (or earlier), Windows NT/2000/XP's and 95/98/ME's registries have only slight differences, EasyCleaner can read both of them.

When you execute a program it is most likely to save it's settings to the registry, then registry's size increases and reading from it gets slower. If you delete or uninstall a program it's saved settings might not disappear from the registry so the registry fills up with unnecessary data, registry will become "dirty". Dirty registry slows the computer down quite much.

EasyCleaner searches registry for entries that point to a non-existing directory or file. When you delete those unnecessary entries registry's size decreases and reading from it gets faster!

On every succesful startup Windows takes backup from your registry, you can do this by yourself by copying SYSTEM.DAT- and USER.DAT-files located in Window's directory. This ain't necessary though, thanks to EasyCleaner's ability to create UNDO-files (ECUndoXX.reg). EasyCleaner creates .REG-file from all entries deleted on the same session, and by double-clicking the *.REG-file you can add those previously deleted entries back to the registry. More from options.

Skip: List of directories and/or files. Any entry containing one of them will be ignored, separate directories with comma and directories which name contains spaces need quotes. E.g. Windows, "Program files", Ohjelmatiedostot.

Click here to see the contents...


Duplicate files

Duplicate file means a file which has one or more copies. You can find even thousands of megabytes of duplicates. Common reason to existant of these is backups, programs installed more than one time and programs using external libraries (DLL, OCX), which the program usually installs to it's own directory which is completely unnecessary if the same file is found from one of the directories defined by PATH-variable (Windows, System, System32, etc.).

Usually only one of the duplicates is important, rest of them can be deleted. You must know which one of the duplicates is the important one (or is there more than 1 important). If you have got more than one operating system (ms-dos isn't counted), be careful, because different operating systems contain many same files. You might want to delete duplicates to the recycle bin (options).

E.g.

Duplicate files....

c:\Temp\windows.exe (unnecessary)

c:\Windows\windows.exe (important)

Duplicate files....

c:\Ohjelmatiedostot\Programname\file.dll (unnecessary)

c:\Windows\System\file.dll (important)

Find: List of files to be searched, comma separated and asterix including list allowed. Files with spaces on their name need quotes. E.g. *.hlp, "memo date*.*", *.doc.

Skip: List of directories and/or files not to be searched, separate items with comma and items which name contains spaces need quotes. E.g. Windows, "Program files", Ohjelmatiedostot.

Click here to see the contents...


Unnecessary files

Unnecessary files fill up your harddrives fast when you use many programs. Unnecessary files are usually created when you use programs (or when they crash). Usually you can find even thousands of megabytes of unnecessary files. Deleting them is perfectly safe, but you may still want to delete them to the recycle bin.

Normal search-setting searches these files: *.tmp, ~*.*, *.~*, *.?~?, *.aps, *.bak, *.bk?, *.bsc, *.dmp, *.ilk, *.pch, *.rws, *.sbr, backup*.wbk, *.$$$, *.ncb, *.~mp, *.old, *.da0, *.chk.

These files are mainly backups, temporary and other unuseable files.

Extra files-setting searches these files: *.fts, *.gid, *.mtx, *.nch, *.ftg, *.$db, *.db$.

*.NCH files are created when you read newsgroups with Microsoft Outlook. *.MTX files are created when a scanner-device is used. *.GID files are created when you execute *.HLP files. Usage of these files is currently quite unknown, but these files are still save to delete. You get mainly temporary free disk space when you delete these, because programs (or scanners) create these again when executed.

Other settings search *.* files from specified folders!

Find: List of files to be searched (in addition to the defaults), comma separated and asterix including list allowed. Files with spaces on their name need quotes. E.g. *.hlp, "memo date*.*", *.doc.

Skip: List of directories and/or files not to be searched (in addition to the defaults), separate directories with comma and directories which name contains spaces need quotes. E.g. Windows, "Program files", Ohjelmatiedostot.

N.B! data.bak, folders.nch, user.dmp, bg050409.bkc, bg040409.bkc, ~desktop, 2141.chk, .tmpl, .bkg, .bk6, .bkp, .bkw files match the search criteria but they aren't unnecessary, EasyCleaner skips these files.

Click here to see the contents...


Commandline parameters

For example to schedule EasyCleaner's tasks, you can use the built in commandline parameters to command EasyCleaner. Here are all the parameters with brief explanation:

-startup: Tells EasyCleaner that it was started at the Windows startup.

-s: Tells EasyCleaner to start invisibly to the system tray.

-reg: Search for invalid registry entries.

-delreg: Search for invalid registry entries and delete them when done.

-dup: Search for duplicate files.

-unn: Search for unnecessary files.

-delunn: Search for unnecessary files and delete them when done.

-sta: Search for invalid shortcuts.

-delsta: Search for invalid shortcuts and delete them when done.

-ccache: Delete Internet Explorer's temporary Internet files.

-chistory: Clear Internet Explorer's history.

-ccookies: Delete Internet Explorer's cookies.

-cmru: Clear start-menu's most recently used list.

-exit: Specifies EasyCleaner to close itself if it has nothing else to do.

To use these pass them for example to Windows "run" (found from the start-menu). First EasyCleaner's executable and then the wanted parameters. E.g. "c:\Program files\ToniArts\EasyCleaner\EasyClea.exe" -s -delreg -exit. The example told EasyCleaner to delete all invalid entries from the registry, remain invisible the whole time and when done, to close. It doesn't matter in what order you type in the parameters, EasyCleaner always executes them in logical order.

Click here to see the contents...


Options

General

Show splashscreen on startup: Shows cool ToniArts logo while loading EasyCleaner (= keeps you entertaint).

Hide to tray on close: When you push close EasyCleaner will minimize itself to a small icon on the tray. EasyCleaner will remain running!

Start EasyComm on startup: Starts EasyCleaner when Windows starts.

Check for updates automatically: EasyCleaner checks for available updates on daily bases.

Always connected to the Internet: EasyCleaner will assume that an Internet connection is always available (for checking updates).

Download and update blacklist automatically: Auto-update blacklist, recommended since blacklist offers fixes for the new found problems.

Appearance

Background: An image file to be used as background on EasyCleaner's dialogs.

Background style: Style of the backround.

Background color: If no background is selected, you'll see EasyCleaner's dialogs filled with this color.

No background: No graphical background.

Update

Name or IP-address of the proxy-server: Name or IP-address of the proxy server EasyCleaner should use when checking for updates.

Proxy port (0 as default port): Proxy's port.

Use proxy server for the connection: Makes EasyCleaner to use the specified proxy server when checking for updates.

Update info address: Address where EasyCleaner thinks that all vital information about updating should be. Do NOT modify unless ToniArts says!

Port: Port of the server to be connected. Not needed.

Save update to: A directory where EasyCleaner will save the downloaded updates.

Registry

Create undo file on delete: Will undo file be created on deletion, with it the deletions may be undone.

Undo levels: How many undo-files are saved (1 per session) at max. The more you use registry cleaner the more should this be.

Save undo files to: Directory where the undo-files will be saved.

Confirm changes: Confirms deletions.

Add/remove

Create undo file on delete: Will undo file be created on deletion, with it the deletions may be undone.

Save undo files to: Directory where the undo-files will be saved.

List extra items: Lists some extra items which don't show in Windows add/remove software dialog.

Confirm changes: Confirms deletions.

Duplicates files

Same date & time: Require same "editted" date and time from duplicates. Slows the searching down, but gives more accurate results.

Same name: Require same name from duplicates.

Same size: Require same size from the duplicates.

Same contents: Require same CRC from duplicates. Slows the process down most, but it will tell you which files are actually same.

Confirm changes: Confirms deletions.

Skip SYSBCKUP folder: Skips SYSBCKUP folder which contains system-data.

Skip Desktop.ini folders: Skips folders containing file Desktop.ini.

Skip empty files: Skips empty (0KB) files.

Unnecessary files

Hidden files: Skip hidden files.

Read-only files: Skip read-only files.

System files: Skip system files.

Empty files: Skip empty (0kB) files.

Confirm changes: Confirms deletions.

Recurse subdirectories: Include subdirectories in the search, doesn't affect on normal- or extra-search which are always recursive searches.

Shortcuts

Files on removable medias: Ignores shortcuts refering to removable medias, like to floppy disk or to CD-ROM-drive.

Files on network drives: Ignores shortcuts refering to network drives.

Internet addresses: Ignores shortcuts refering to the internet, unlike the "normal" shortcuts (*.LNK) these files are named *.URL. N.B! EasyCleaner doesn't check whenever the address is valid or invalid!

Empty folders: Ignores folders, which don't have any files and/or subfolders.

Identify %systemroot%: Identifies %systemroot% variable on Windows NT.

Confirm changes: Confirms deletions.

Skip desktop: Don't include desktop in search.

Space usage

Show free disk space: Shows free disk space.

Color-coded legend: Legend uses the same colors to show the items as used in the chart.

Start scanning automatically: Starts searching directories immediately when the directory is changed.

Measure files by: Measure files in compressed size (NTFS) or without compression, only on NT based operating systems with NTFS file system.

Startup

Create undo file on delete: Will undo file be created on deletion, with it the deletions may be undone.

Save undo files to: Directory where the undo-files will be saved.

Confirm changes: Confirms deletions.

Click here to see the contents...


Language packs

Now you can easily create your own language pack to EasyCleaner . So if you speak (write!) some other language than english and/or finnish as your native language, it is recommended that you make your own language pack so that EasyCleaner would be easier others to use.

EasyCleaner's language packs are located in a subfolder \languages. They are ordinary text-files, which are simply named Language.txt e.g. English.txt or German.txt. Also a 16x16 bitmap from the nation's flag is necessary, naming is the same, e.g. English.bmp or German.bmp. As an extra language packs include an help-file, which are located in a subfolder \helps, naming it is in format ECLanguage.hlp so e.g. ECEnglish.hlp or ECGerman.hlp. If you decide to do help-file as well look for the sources of this help-file from my pages, doing that will speed up the process (assuming that you use ToniArts EasyHelp, get it from http://www.toniarts.com).

Instructions:

•	Remember to do the language packs in simple text-format, not in e.g. RTF or DOC.

•	Don't edit text inside the brackets ([ and ])!

•	Nor the text before the "="!

•	The name of the language pack's creator and his/her homepage's or e-mail address (N.B. in front of an e-mail address text mailto: is necessary) can be entered where my name and address are.

•	Be sure that the language-file's (you made) line number matches with the original!!

•	EasyCleaner's help-files are context sensitive, that means that every topic has it's own unique ID (e.g. this topic has 106). With the ID EasyCleaner finds the right topic when user presses F1. Please include these same IDs to your own help-file (simple if you use EasyHelp). See the IDs from sources of these helps (helpfilename.h) available on my pages.

Click here to see the contents...