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DESCRIPTION OF VGCLEAN

VGClean aids in cleaning out excess or junk files and data from your computer hard drives.  Specifically, it "cleanses" the user's hard drives of undesired files, folders, registry keys, registry values, INI file values, and other stored information which are placed there by various programs such as your web browser and which, at least in my opinion, can be deleted without undue harm.  This includes removing privacy- and security-related information that you would rather not leave behind for others to view.  This might be especially important to you when multiple users have access to the same computer, such as in a library setting.  All possible actions which VGClean can take are summarized below.

Originally VGClean presented all of its available action options on the main form for the user to select.  However, the rapid growth, proliferation, and evolution in software available such as browsers has caused me to phase out adding new application program-related items to the main form (some former and now obsolete choices remain on the form but have been deactivated).  Instead, it is my intention to confine future add-ons and expansion entirely to the user-customizable initialization file VGCleanUserSpecified.ini.  Use of this file presumes a user with sufficient computer knowledge to be able to type in a fully qualified file or directory specification, registry key value, etc.

REQUIREMENTS and LIMITATIONS

(1) Recent versions of VGClean have been tested only with Windows XP.  It may very well function satisfactorily under other Windows operating systems, but this has not been tested, and some features are deactivated in other operating systems.

(2) The specific program versions that VGClean has been tested with are listed on the Main Form (i.e., the version of Internet Explorer, Netscape, etc.).  If you use later or earlier versions of any of these application program, it is less likely that no unexpected effects will result from using VGClean.  In some cases the desired action will be performed, but in other cases (such as MS Office settings stored in the registry), the desired action cannot be performed.

(3) VGClean requires a screen resolution of at least 1024x768.

(4) You should have Notepad.EXE available on your computer in the executable path for VGClean to display automatically the optional report log file.

WARNING AND DISCLAIMERS

I have used VGClean satisfactorily and regularly since 1999.  When you give VGClean permission to proceed by pressing "Go", VGClean will perform extensive erasures, deletions, and modifications on your computer.  The choice of what actions to take may seem somewhat arbitrary to you, and might even have consequences you will consider undesirable.  For example, VGClean will remove information such as stored cookies that some users might feel should be retained (because they include logon information, etc.)   It is your responsibility to review the planned actions, described fully below which can be taken by VGClean, before you actually use it.  You should determine in advance if these actions are acceptable to you.  If you find some features unacceptable, or if you are simply not sure whether to allow them to proceed, turn the actions in question off by unchecking the appropriate checkboxes before you run the program.  You must turn individual check boxes off each time you run the program--there is no way to store this type of user-preference information.

In any event, VGClean is provided "as is", without charge, and without any guarantees that you will be satisfied with what it does.  You use it at your own risk.  I have made reasonable efforts to anticipate and prevent harmful programming errors, but use of this program is by its very nature somewhat risky due to the extensive deletions and modifications it performs.  I cannot guarantee that VGClean is free of bugs which will cause unexpected effects.  I also cannot guarantee that newer versions of some of the programs affected, such as Internet Explorer, will not respond differently to the changes that I have programmed.  When you are first starting out with VGClean, I suggest you back up your drives that will be affected before running it, and after running it, do spot checks to see if there are any obviously adverse effects.

INSTALLATION

Obtain the file vgclinst.exe.  Run this file to extract the installation files.  Run setup.exe to install the program to the directory of your choice.  Edit your initialization file VGCleanUserSpecified.ini if desired (it must be in the same directory as the file VGClean.EXE).

HOW TO USE VGCLEAN

• Configuring Using The Main Form : After installing the program, configure VGClean to suit your preferences.  You do this by starting VGClean.EXE and then making any changes needed in options presented by checkboxes as well as Chg and Clr buttons on the various tabbed dialog pages presented on the Main Form (see below).  You will not generally need to repeat this step as long as nothing has changed.  Some of the items cannot be configured by the user. 
   
• INI File: Optionally, you may add additional planned actions to the user initialization file VGCleanUserSpecified.ini (see below).  You will not generally need to repeat this step as long as nothing has changed.  As you add new software, you may wish to make additions to this file.
   
• Creating a Report of Planned Actions: Start VGClean.EXE, but do not press Go.  Instead, press Save Report.  This will create a text file VGCleanReport.txt located in the \Report\ subdirectory of the directory in which you have installed VGClean and which lists the VGClean planned actions.  Inspect this report to see if any of your choices are obviously incorrect or will cause problems, and fix any obvious errors.  You will not generally need to repeat this step as long as nothing has changed.  (Note: You can also click on any of the Main Form text boxes to display its full contents in a message box.)  Close VGClean.
   
• Running VGClean: At the end of your computing session, close all running programs.  Start VGClean.EXE.  Check the appropriate checkbox if you wish *.TMP files to be deleted, and press Go before 3 minutes have elapsed.  
   
• Creating a Report of Actions Taken: Optionally, after pressing Go but before closing VGClean, you may press the Save Report button again.  This will create a new text file report VGCleanReport.txt which lists the results of performing the actions that were planned.  Inspect this report to see if any of your choices are incorrect or are causing problems, and fix any obvious errors by modifying the configuration options and the INI file.  You will not generally need to repeat this step as long as nothing has changed.
   

POSSIBLE ACTIONS TAKEN BY VGCLEAN

Items Displayed and Configurable on the Main Form

Additional Items Configurable Using the User Initialization File VGCleanUserSpecified.ini

Each section listed below may be included in or omitted from the file VGCleanUserSpecified.ini, and each section may have 0 or more line item entries other than comments.  You may add as many single comment lines to this file as you wish, by placing a semicolon at the beginning of each comment line.  Blank lines are also permitted and are ignored.  The file VGCleanUserSpecified.ini must be located in the same directory as VGClean.EXE.

RUNNING VGCLEAN NONINTERACTIVELY

You may start VGClean in 2 ways

(1) VGClean.EXE

Starts the program in normal interactive mode so that the user sees the main form and can adjust various items as needed.

(2) VGClean.EXE /noninteractive

Starts the program in noninteractive mode by using the command line parameter /noninteractive.  VGClean will execute its pre-established default actions and terminate without user intervention.  This is the command line employed when VGClean has been unsuccessful in performing all intended cleaning and, after it prompts you, you give it permission to schedule itself to run subsequently at bootup.  The command to run at bootup is stored in registry entry \HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce.  Don't permit this noninteractive mode to run until you have satisfied yourself that you have properly selected the various configuration options presented to the user in the main form.  In Windows XP, the splash screen usually seen while VGClean runs noninteractively does not always display.  A report is automatically created when running VGClean in noninteractive mode-- it is named VGCleanReport.txt and is located in the \Report\ subdirectory of the directory in which you have installed VGClean.exe.

If you have scheduled VGClean to run at bootup and subsequently decide you don't want this to happen, you will need to remove the corresponding registry entry in \HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce.

FILES REQUIRED

(This list does not include MS files including the VB runtime, or Microsoft setup files including the MS Scripting Runtime scrrun.dll.)

REVISIONS HISTORY

(This information is probably of interest only to the developer).

COPYRIGHT AND REDISTRIBUTION

VGClean is copyrighted by Michael McGoodwin 1999-2010.  The user is welcome to use VGClean without cost but may not charge to redistribute it.

Page www.mcgoodwin.net/pages/readme_vgclean.html
Created by Michael McGoodwin
Last updated 25 March 2010