Yahoo! Messenger - Message Archive gone

argh

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Note by jv16: The original author of these messages removed all his messages from the forum, they were not removed by the moderators. The original author also seems to be spreading a link to this discussion in other discussion forums.

Since the original writer removed all his messages, here is a short summary of what this topic was about: The person used PowerTools Lite and after using it the Yahoo! Messanger's Message Archive was removed. As it turned out, the user had opted to delete all items, including the MRU/History items. And such message logs are, per definition, "history data" and thus listed by the program. Therefore, the program did exactly what the user asked it to do and there was no bug in the program.

redseujac

1) The program searches not only for erroneous registry entries but also for unneeded Temporary Files (NO OTHER files!).

2) All found Registry entries and Temporary files are listed.

3) Before clicking "Fix" you must carefully browse through the list and if necessary unselect entries and/or files.

4) You can always use the backups to undo deletions. Just click on "Undo". Then right click the backup file(s) and choose "Custom restore/Edit backup". There you can find the deleted files and restore them.

boofo

Shouldn't the TEMP files and registry cleaning be separate issues, even in PowerTools Lite, though?

argh

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jv16

argh wrote

So: thx for the quick answer, but it doesn't answer my question at all: why on earth does it think my messenger logs could possibly be "junk"? Also: it should be much clearer where (registry, file system) the program deletes what!

The program checks for the following things:

1. Registry errors

2. Unneeded registry data (a.k.a registry junk)

3. MRU and history data

4. Temp files.

Yahoo Messenger archives are, per definition, history data. See the link to point 3 now? So this is by design, if you wish to disable this, simply use the Ignore Words feature (extended GUI mode must be enabled) with the search word "yahoo" for example.

boofo

Again, I ask, shouldn't TEMP files and registry cleaning be 2 separate processes? Regular PowerTools doesn't so it this way, does it?

tullik

Boofo wrote
Again, I ask, shouldn't TEMP files and registry cleaning be 2 separate processes? Regular PowerTools doesn't so it this way, does it?

I think one PTLite design goal was to make it do both with only a few clicks.

With the extended user interface, users who prefer to make it skip the temporary directories altogether can put a string in the "Ignore words" tab, for example, like this:

boofo

I'm not so sure that is such a good idea for new users of PowerTools Lite. argh found out after it was almost too late. Someone who isn't so registry savvy might not think about the ignore list. Not very newbie-friendly, I'm afraid.

argh

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boofo

Just adding them for IM programs won't do for other things it catches in its path. It is better to have them as separate entities within the program.

redseujac

Yahoo Messenger logs aren't Temp files for PowerTools (Lite) but History items and

jv16 wrote
...The program checks for the following things:

1. Registry errors

2. Unneeded registry data (a.k.a registry junk)

3. MRU and history data

4. Temp files.

Yahoo Messenger archives are, per definition, history data. ...So this is by design, if you wish to disable this, simply use the Ignore Words feature (extended GUI mode must be enabled) with the search word "yahoo" for example.

So...

boofo

Still, a newbie would not necessarily know that. So it is NOT idiot proof.

redseujac

Boofo wrote
... So it is NOT idiot proof.

I do agree!

But there's always the possibility to UNDO everything and even a newbie must not uninstall the program instead of trying to restore the backups first of all.

There are just two buttons: FIX and UNDO. So even a newbie should know what the UNDO button means, shouldn't he (she)?

The initial poster has made a big mistake, even a newbie should NOT make, sorry...

argh wrote
...To 4): should 've guessed that, but i was too pissed & uninstalled the program right away.

redseujac

argh wrote
...Just admit this is a bug & fix it in a next release, simple as that & we ll all be happy again.

It's NOT a bug: Yahoo Messenger logs are considered to be History items by the program and that's by design.

Those History items are clearly shown in a separate list and can easily be unselected before clicking on "Fix".

Besides as mentioned above there's always the UNDO button.

boofo

It really doesn't matter to me as I know enough to check things by now. I am referring to the newbie who doesn't know squat about registry stuff let alone any UNDO feature. Think back to the time that you didn't know squat about computers (we were all there). If Jouni wants to gain people's trust then he HAS to make it as idiot proof as possible. We can't think only inside the box.

argh

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redseujac

Boofo wrote
...I am referring to the newbie who doesn't know squat about registry stuff let alone any UNDO feature.

That's precisely the tragedy for some users!

The registry is a vital part of the system: so if you don't know what it is and if you don't understand what some registry software does, then better keep you hands off.

But nevertheless they want to try every single program (and most of all if it's free) even if they don't understand anything about it. Well that's asking for trouble.

If you don't even know what "UNDO" means, then in any case don't try that program.

redseujac

argh wrote
...So how does the program make a distinction between these two? If there is no specific code for Yahoo! Messenger, then on what basis does the algorithm say: these files are history files...

It's quite simple: the user can and should make a choice himself in the list shown after the scan. Enable or disable the desired items. The software is not a robot taking away all human tasks and thinking. The user is still supposed to think a little bit, isn't he?

Why do you think an item list is shown with the possibility to select or not select the shown items before clicking "Fix"?

Do you know one single similar program wherein the user has to do nothing but clicking one button to obtain the desired purpose, without having to select/unselect anything nor looking at the found items nor having to take a decision whether to keep or not to keep items?

Real 1-click cleaners don't simply exist, at least are very dangerous, because one could not check beforehand what they will do. With PTLite the user IS ABLE to check what the program will clean.

argh

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tullik

Unlike PowerTools, PTLite has no dialog to the user the first time the program runs.

It really ought to put out a few advisory statements covering potential issues like those raised in this thread.