March,1998 "Computer Shopper", a not so good review of "CleanSweep
Deluxe" :
<<CleanSweep Deluxe Performs Spring Cleaning on Your PC
by David Haskin.
Even the friendliest-to-use programs can be sloppy to remove, leaving behind unnecessary files and system-slowing changes to
your Windows 95 Registry.
Quarterdeck Corp.'s CleanSweep Deluxe removes and cleans up after
programs, and even deletes cache files that can accumulate when you cruise the Web.
After you start your computer, CleanSweep automatically loads
the Smart Sweep and Internet Sweep components that monitor your system in the background. Subsequent applications you install are then logged by Smart Sweep, including all files placed on your disk and all changes made to your Windows 95 Registry.
To uninstall the program, you simply launch CleanSweep, and it
uses its log to track the changes the installation made to your
system, including those in the Registry. A wizard walks you
through the uninstallation process and even lets you uninstall
programs and files that it didn't log. However, CleanSweep can't
guarantee that all shared files and Registry entries are properly
deleted in this way.
Similarly, Internet Sweep monitors items downloaded from the
Web, such as ActiveX controls. However, cookies (which store
sensitive information like your password and viewing preferences
for a site) are not monitored while they are downloaded. Internet
Sweep merely lists the contents of the folder in which cookies
are stored. For the user, this means that Internet Sweep cannot
notify you when cookies are being created. However, you can
delete these cookies, as well as delete space-consuming Internet
cache files once they've been downloaded.
We found that Internet Sweep worked inconsistently. For
instance, on one system, the Internet Sweep icon in the system
tray blinked to indicate the browser was downloading an ActiveX
component, but afterward CleanSweep listed no such items. In
addition, CleanSweep failed to note any cookies downloaded to
this system even though a separate cookie- monitoring utility
noted many.
On another system, Internet Sweep added cookies from one
computing session, but didn't add them from subsequent sessions
even though new cookies appeared in the folder in which our
browser stores cookies. A spokesperson for Quarterdeck said the
company was unfamiliar with these problems.
CleanSweep enables you to back up programs, files, and registry
items before you delete them. It doesn't provide the user much
guidance for determining which files you can safely remove. It
does color-code files you can potentially delete--green-coded files
are supposedly safe to remove, yellow requires caution, and red
files should not be removed. However, we often found this
coding inaccurate. For instance, CleanSweep coded several
registry entries red that referred to programs we had removed
from our system long ago. Similarly, when deleting a utility
program, it gave us the green light to remove files used by our
backup program and files stored in the backup program's folders.
Another problem arises because Smart Sweep automatically logs
an installation only if the installation program uses common
filenames such as SETUP.EXE. However, many applications,
particularly those you download from the Web, have installation
programs with less common filenames.
Since even programs that include an uninstall option often fail to
clean your system thoroughly, it's a good idea to use a separate
uninstaller. Although it could be more comprehensive at times,
CleanSweep Deluxe does a good job of helping you deep-six
unnecessary programs, files, and system-clogging Web trash.
CleanSweep Deluxe
Quarterdeck Corp.
13160 Mindanao Way
Marina del Rey, CA 90292-9705
800-683-6696; 813-523-9700
Fax: 310-309-4218
www.quarterdeck.com >> |
