Ccleaner stopping Windows Explorer

[inojim]

This issue may or may not be Ccleaner related.  The subject system is running Win Vista 64-bit.  All has been well until the last time I tried to run Ccleaner.  It had been a while, so I started Ccleaner and walked away.  An hour later I came back to find the progress bar at about 25%, working on some downloaded installation files in the Recycle Bin.  So I decided just to go on about my business, only to discover that I could not access any icons in the Windows tray.  Also, Ccleaner did not respond to the Cancel command.  Turns out that Windows Explorer had stopped, which pretty well makes the computer useless.  I had to shut it off by holding down the power button.

 

The computer started up and ran okay afterward; no functionality seemed to be compromised at all.  So I started Ccleaner again and the same thing happened... it stalled at the Recycle Bin and Windows Explorer quit.

 

So I restarted again, and this time simply deleted items in the Recycle Bin, then restarted Ccleaner.  At about 24% on the progress bar, Ccleaner again stalled, this time on some item in an Apps Data Temp file.

 

I thought maybe Ccleaner was hosed up, so I reinstalled the latest version.  At least I think I did... and here's the question: If one simply downloads and installs the latest version, over itself, do the Ccleaner files actually get re-written, or does the installer say, "Hey you've got that already, never mind."?  In other words, should I uninstall Ccleaner completely and reinstall?  Anyone else ever have this type of Windows Explorer problem?

[hazelnut]

You could uninstall ccleaner and then download the slim build from here to see if that 'cures' it.

 

https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/builds

 

Are Window Updates all in okay?

 

Is your anti virus up to date and all scans are clean?

[inojim]

Thanks, Hazelnut!

 

I will try that slim version.  When I uninstall Ccleaner, I suppose I'll lose the various 'other locations' I've included in the Ccleaner scan?  No big deal, I can write them down and put them back.

 

Your two questions may be a key to why I am having a problem.  My Vista installation has not updated in some time.  Various MS forums deal with failure to update in both Vista and Win7, so that's a known issue and being worked on.

 

Because I could not get updates, my Microsoft Security Essentials was getting hopelessly long in the tooth.  It would not update by itself either, so I uninstalled that and put in Bit Defender Free Edition, which came well-recommended.  So, yes, antivirus is up to date.

 

The problems I am having could be related to attempts at manual updating the various Microsoft KB items.  At this point, and while the computer is still working, I am gong to back up all data files in anticipation of perhaps having to reinstall the OS, or maybe update it to Win7.  (I have another computer running Win10 and am not impressed.)

 

I also had Ccleaner crash in a very strange way just now.  I went to the Ccleaner System Restore function, just to see what restore points I might have.  It did some 'thinking' and then the Ccleaner screen went black inside the frame.  I had to stop Ccleaner through Task Manager, and it took a couple of tries.  Strange; something's not stable!  Everything else seems to be working okay, however.

 

Many thanks for your attention and help!

[hazelnut]

I think it is REALLY important that you get Win Updates up to date.

 

See here

 

http://wu.krelay.de/en/

 

Once you have downloaded the updates to your machine where you can find them again, (the six in first list for Vista 64) disable windows updates by going into Control Panel ... Windows Updates....and selecting ''don't ever seach for updates''

 

Reboot and soon as you reach desktop okay, turn off your network connection.

 

Then install those 6 updates one by one. Some might say they are not needed as they are already installed.... no worries.

 

Then reboot and turn your internet connection back on and then change Win Updates back from ''never'' to download and install Win Updates again in the Control Panel.

 

Now do a check for Updates and go and have a coffee and see if the Gods have smiled on you when you get back to your machine.

 

Then we can look again at the ccleaner issue and other issues.

[inojim]

Oh, well...

 

I dutifully downloaded the files, the x64 for Vista ones (because for sure this is a 64-bit Vista system!), and followed the instructions to the letter.  Each of the .msu utilities launched, looked around for a bit, and then put up a notice that the update does not apply to my system... all six of them!

 

With respect to updates, at this juncture I'm pretty well resigned to having to 'upgrade' to a new system before too long as Vista will lose MS support sometime next year, I'm told.  I think that the old box will limp along with whatever OS updates it already has until it's retired, so I am not as frantic about this as I would be if I were running Win7, for example.  I do appreciate your help and concern, and now that Ccleaner is in and running nicely I think I'll just go on with my work and hope for the best.

[hazelnut]

Oh well, as you say, if you are going to be moving to another OS anyway...

 

So Ccleaner seems to be working now?

 

May be an idea to run a Malwarebytes scan (free version) every now and then.

 

Take care