PC cleaner pro - reputable or not?

katejo

I came across this while trying to find an answer to why a Microsoft Office update wouldn't install on my laptop. It claims to be associated with Microsoft. I am suspicious because of the way in which it tells me that things need correcting on my laptop and then asks for payment (in US dollars)? Has anyone used it? I have AVG paid on my laptop and that hasn't found any problems.

spannerzone

You don't need it, it'll do many things that can be done using free software like CCleaner or Windows can already do many of the things it says it can cure. Some reports state that it's hard to uninstall it and it'll always give exagerated problems found when you do a scan of your computer.

Association with Microsoft seems dubious to me, many consider this program more akin to being a virus.

It's software designed to find problems that they can cure (for money) when in reality the same problems can be solved for free, like cleaning out cookies, cache, history, defragging and more.

If you're already installed then remove it (if you can) and consider using something like CCleaner if you feel the need to clear out old junk files.

closed

don't waste your money, better AV is free too

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=64201309&postcount=20

http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/

cleaners can stop things working too, including office.

katejo

spannerzone wrote: »

You don't need it, it'll do many things that can be done using free software like CCleaner or Windows can already do many of the things it says it can cure. Some reports state that it's hard to uninstall it and it'll always give exagerated problems found when you do a scan of your computer.

Association with Microsoft seems dubious to me, many consider this program more akin to being a virus.

It's software designed to find problems that they can cure (for money) when in reality the same problems can be solved for free, like cleaning out cookies, cache, history, defragging and more.

If you're already installed then remove it (if you can) and consider using something like CCleaner if you feel the need to clear out old junk files.

Yes I was immediately suspicious when it tried to claim that i had major problems. Think i have managed to uninstall it. It arose because Windows keeps offering me an update to Microsoft Office home and student 2010 and the saying that it can't install it. The explanation means nothing to me. I have tried googling and have found that plenty of others have had the same problem but the solutions mean nothing to me. The only clear one tells me to uninstall and reinstall but I don't have a disk/DVD to do so.
Apart from this, my laptop is working so I don't want to risk anything.

katejo

closed wrote: »

don't waste your money, better AV is free too

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=64201309&postcount=20

http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/

cleaners can stop things working too, including office.

In what way is it better? I have always been confused by this.

waddler_8

PC Cleaner Pro isn't a virus and yes, they are part of the Microsoft Partner Program. If you google it though you will see it has a less than good reputation.

It won't, however, fix your problem.

Windows keeps offering me an update to Microsoft Office home and student 2010 and the saying that it can't install it.

Start with this. Which update wont install? It'll have a KB****** reference.

spannerzone

No it may not be a virus but many struggle to uninstall it and it serves to trick people into paying to solve the 'problems' it finds thus my comment that it's akin to a virus. At the very least it's of a dubious nature

katejo

waddler_8 wrote: »

PC Cleaner Pro isn't a virus and yes, they are part of the Microsoft Partner Program. If you google it though you will see it has a less than good reputation.

It won't, however, fix your problem.



Start with this. Which update wont install? It'll have a KB****** reference.

It is KB2687455 It gives a message to say "the feature you are trying to use is on a network which is unavailable. It refers to Microsoft single image 2010 which means nothing to me. I have never had a problem with previous updates.

waddler_8

Download the standalone update from here: It's a big file, 638.2 MB
Be sure to save it, don't run it untill it's downloaded fully.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=39667

Then close all open windows and programs before installing.

katejo

waddler_8 wrote: »

Download the standalone update from here: It's a big file, 638.2 MB
Be sure to save it, don't run it untill it's downloaded fully.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=39667

Then close all open windows and programs before installing.

OK thanks! Will try but in which folder/drive should i save it?

waddler_8

Doesn't matter as long as you can find it/run it once it's downloaded. The default folder may be:

C:\users\*username*\downloads

or

C:\documents & settings\*username*\my documents\downloads