I have been a loyal and very satisfied jv16 Power Tools user since early 2006, and have found it to be the safest and best registry tool available at any price.


After recently upgrading to the 2008 version, I decided to try the "File Cleaner" tool as an experiment since I had accumulated a lot of temp files -- I usually used CCleaner to purge these files. I ran the jv16 "File Cleaner" in the default "Safest Mode" since it was my first attempt at using jv16 program for file cleaning. It found a large number of supposedly ".tmp, .temp, .gid, and .chk" files.


Since I had become comfortable with the jv16 "Registry Cleaner" -- which I always did a backup on before fixing/deleting, until I had 2 years of experience where I never once had to restore jv16 cleaned registry values. After the "File Cleaner" finished, I unfortunately clicked to proceed with the "clean" without making a backup (stupid I know). After jv16 cleaned the "temp" files, I could not start several application programs (e.g. TurboTax Deluxe 2007) which I wanted to use.


I rebooted my computer and found that Windows XP Home Edition would not boot at all, giving me an immediate error message that "NTLDR (New Technology Loader) is missing -- please press ctrl-alt-delete to reboot". This was a never ending loop. I used a friend's computer to investigate the problem on the internet and found that this was caused by 2 missing .dll files (NTLDR and NTDETECT.COM). I followed all troubleshooting recommendations (1) copy the files from the Windows CD to my C:\ drive, (2) Use the Recovery Console to run FIXMBR and FIXBOOT, etc., but Windows still would not boot up. I ended up doing a "Major Repair" under the "Windows Installation" option to try to recover without re-installing Windows and loosing everything on my hard drive.


Fortunately, the major repair enabled Windows to boot. However, I had to reload Windows SP 2 and seemingly endless Windows XP updates. I also had to update many Windows and Other device drivers before the devices would work at all. Many of the application programs on my computer still worked, but about 30% had to be totally re-installed including: TurboTax Deluxe 2007, Windows Media Player, Internet Explorer 7, Partition Magic, AI RoboForm, Quicken Legal Business Pro, and ClocX.


I take full responsibility for being an idiot and not selecting to "Backup" before deleting the files identified by the "Safest Mode" scan. I had grown complacent with my experience with the "Registry Cleaner" over the past 2 years. But, I have to say that a file cleaner tool that selects critical Windows files and critical application files for deletion in the "Safest Mode" is a tool in need of some rethinking or at least a clearer cautionary labeling. I spent about 6-8 hours restoring my computer back to health after cleaning files from a "Safest Mode" scan. While I am ecstatic that I didn't loose everything and have to wipe my drive clean and re-install Windows XP, it makes me wonder if this tool doesn't need a little more work before being unleashed on the "less than expert" computer user.


I want to thank jv for the wonderful tools at a great price -- and I will continue to use them and recommend them to others. I am a bit afraid to use the "file tools" at this point, but this is a small price to pay for a really great "registry cleaner".

I sympathize with your OS recovery pain (been there, done that). However, I seriously doubt File Cleaner caused all the problems you report -- perhaps some of them.


As you said, you should have done the backup. You also should have taken seriously the permanent warning:

  • "Warning: Always verify the found files before removing them!"

It is safest to select for deletion only those files that you are certain are no longer needed.

I'm also sorry to hear about the problem, but...


"Warning: Always verify the found files before removing them!"


There is no way to automatically detect files that can be safely removed, as highlighted by the program and the manual jv16 PowerTools' File Cleaner only suggests files to be removed, it never says that the files are safe to remove.

jv and tullik,


Thanks for your sympathy. While I am an experienced user of computers, I am not a computer science expert or even a programmer. When I look at a laundry list of files found by File Cleaner", I am not certain which ones are safe to delete. So, I will probably not use the file cleaner until or unless I do a bit more research. I had hoped that in the "Safest Mode", it would only identify files that really could be deleted without much concern.


The warnings are very clear and I disregarded them -- so I blame no one other than myself


Tullik raises a potentially good point, that it seems unlikely that jv16 "File Cleaner" run in Safest Mode could have caused all the problems that I reported. Before deleting the files, I did scan them and there were several from the root directory, and 10-12 files each tied to many of my applications (including TurboTax). I just assumed (incorrectly) they were temp files of some kind.


Right after deleting the files, I went to open TurboTax and resume working on my 2007 returns -- which I was working on prior to using File Cleaner -- and it would not open. I called the Intuit Tech Support to get some hand holding to get TurboTax back up and running. After a few initial "fixes" failed to work, they asked me to reboot -- which is when I learned that the system would not load due to missing NTLDR. It's possible that something else happened to cause the Windows XP Home problems, but the system and applications were all working fine prior to cleaning and right afterwards several applications and the operating system experienced problems with "missing files". I find it hard to believe myself, but I have no other explanation for the what happened.


No need to reply. I'll just be more careful in the future. Thanks again for the reply.

18 days later

I faced the same problem as jmcc.Exactly the same disastrous experience.I bought JV16 in 2004,upgrade to 2006 and then paying the 2008 version.I made a "Windows point of restauration" and a special "Erunt copy of the register" before starting a soft cleaning!

Those securities were useless as I could not restart my PC.As I am not an expert I paid 30,00 € to the repairman!

Jmcc has a lot of Humor. I do not known what I will do with this soft now.Where is the reliability!I fear to get some others big problems.

I updated to the last version .455(Beta was 1.8.0.446) and wait a few weeks to use it after checking the Internet user's reaction.

It is a pity that the first upgrade was a "not-achieved" version!!!

7 days later

Before, File Cleaner simply listed all files the user requested and these searches could result in important system files to be listed, e.g. when listing for empty files.


Now I have now made changes to the product and the File Cleaner no longer lists important system files even if they match the given search criteria. Another added layer of safety is an additional confirmation that is shown to the user every time the program detects the user deleting a file that looks important, this way it's more difficult to damage your computer with e.g. the File Finder.

6 days later

Well this is a little scary!


I must say - without intending to cast any blame or shame - that I do backup everything before deleting. A lesson I learned the hard way a long time ago.


That being said, I do have a question for jmcc: In the 2007 version (and 2006 & 2005, IIRC) there is a setting that causes the program to perform a backup before any cleanup/delete action is performed. Did you have that deselected? Even with that setting I always take a full registry snapshot prior to registry cleaning. I also have a couple of 500 GB external USB drives and one is dedicated to nothing but "random" backups, as I like to call them. E.g., before using jv16, Ccleaner, or even manually cleaning out temp files, I always sync the folders being cleaned to the random backup drive - just in case. I also set a manual System Restore point right before I start.


Further, though, it is a little distressing that the only replies received by jmcc were admonishments about backing up. Though the last post by admin991 was encouraging. I would think that any cleaner that manages to delete critical system files during a default cleaning operation being run in a mode named "Safest Mode" needs at the very least a thorough review and some work if that potential is found during the review. Backup issues aside, "Safest" should not go near folders containing system files at all. Of course if jmcc had managed to somehow cause those system files to be relocated to a folder that also contains temp files of any kind, that is a situation that is much tougher for any application to recognize.


But in the broader view, a simple programmatic review of file extensions before deleting should have caught those files, and is not at all unreasonable to expect this for something you have decided to name "Safest Mode".


BTW, I am not trying to trash the program - I just paid my upgrade fee for the 2008 version, and I am certain that I will be upgrading to 2009, 10, 11, and so on. I do love this program, and I would never question the dedication of a developer who labored so hard for so long and still provided the program free of charge for so many years.


Just wanted to get my opinion out there!


Thanks!


Jim

You certainly are a cautious fellow -- that's much more than I do. I mainly depend on PowerTools backups and restore points for system insurance. However, since restore points often do not work, I recently added ERUNT to my routine to get a dependable registry backup.


Also, I back up my actual user data with batch xcopy processes to three other partitions on my desktop and across my home network to my laptop. I guess I'm pretty cautious too. :)


jmcc chose to continue this subject in the topic File Cleaner Scan Results.


It's a good thing he did. We uncovered the bug which caused those system files to be listed in the first place. It had nothing to do with the "Safe mode" setting.

Wow - I hadn't yet gotten to that next jmcc thread.


Thanks, tulik. BTW, I just D/L'd and installed ERUNT myself after seeing it mentioned here.


I am a bit cautious. Had a friend who, although kept regular backups both on his PC and on media kept in his office, had an electrical smoldering thing in the wall and had to call out the fire dept. By the time they had finished making sure all was safe again, ALL his careful backups were ruined. Gone. After that, and after realizing I was no more careful than he was, I decided to determine just what data of mine was critical - I would suffer significant pain if it were lost: financial files, working databases, etc.; and what files were important - files that would not cause a major loss but which I just would hate to lose: family photos and that sort of thing. I then decided to get serious about backups.


I now use several redundant systems:

Acronis for system images

BackUp4All Pro for regular backups to a second internal drive and a USB external drive

Super Flexible File Synchronizer to mirror whole folders - and occasionally, drives - to another external drive

Mozy Online data storage

Flickr and SmugMug for photo storage online


Overkill? Probably! But not as costly as you would think, mostly automated, and it would be extremely difficult for me to ever truly "lose" anything!


Jim

3 months later

Hi folks!


Sorry to resurrect a couple-months old thread, but I have a kinda funny update to it. (Though it wasn't funny at the time!)


My last post, just above this one, I mentioned all the various redundant backup systems I use. Well shortly after posting that, the following crap happened:

  • My latest external USB drive - a 500 GB Western Digital MyBook Essential - failed, taking with backup files from BackUp4All Pro, Super Flexible File Synchronizer, and Acronis. That's the 3rd USB drive to fail on the computer. I think it must be a really sucky USB bus for that many to fail in a year.

  • Mozy Online Backup (paid version) released a new version, which stopped working altogether. And to make it worse, while their support tech had me installing different versions and trying to get it connected again, they lost all of my 60 GB+ backup files on their servers! I canceled and got a refund but after a year with the older version working that really sucked too.

So now I am back to only backing up to an internal hard drive again.


Computers.... I am sure they were invented to drive us totally insane!

Sorry, we encountered an error while displaying this content. If you're a user, please try again later. If you're an administrator, take a look in your Flarum log files for more information.
Sorry, we encountered an error while displaying this content. If you're a user, please try again later. If you're an administrator, take a look in your Flarum log files for more information.
Sorry, we encountered an error while displaying this content. If you're a user, please try again later. If you're an administrator, take a look in your Flarum log files for more information.

So you think I'm phpBB spell check.

Last time I checked I was Delphi. :

You are better than phpBB spell check. All it did was show a light red line under decktop ...