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Window Washer™ User Guide
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Contents Window Washer is a very useful program for cleaning up the history of your activities on a computer. Many people do not realize that Windows and other software programs store information about what they have done, what documents they have used, what web sites they have visited, and various other activities they have performed. Therefore, anyone else can see what you have been doing on your computer, which raises several privacy concerns. Furthermore, much of your activity information takes up valuable disk space, and recovering this space can be very beneficial. Cleaning up the history of your activities can be a tedious chore of manually removing each history file or entry. If privacy and disk space are to be maintained, this process must be performed every time you use your computer. Window Washer can automate this process for you! Window Washer will automatically run in the background and clean up whatever tracks you want removed, whenever you want. You can have Window Washer automatically clean your files when Windows is started or shutdown, in addition to regular timed cleanings. Window Washer integrates with the standard places where Microsoft Windows stores your tracks, such as the document menu and the Recycle Bin. It also integrates with popular programs like Netscape and Internet Explorer. What's more, with the flexible "Custom Items" feature, you can specify other files, folders, or registry entries that you would like to be automatically cleaned! After installing Window Washer, whenever Window Washer is running there will be a small squeegee icon next to your clock on the Windows Taskbar. When Window Washer is minimized, you can access it by right-clicking this small squeegee icon. When you right-click once on the squeegee icon, a pop-up menu will appear with 7 options.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Because Window Washer automatically removes certain information from your computer, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with Window Washer's features and options, and check the Standard Wash Item paths (see 3 - Verifying and changing…) before "running a wash". In order to change any of the settings listed in the following sections, open Window Washer's main settings window by clicking the small squeegee icon in the Taskbar and selecting Settings. Or, if you do not see the small squeegee icon in the Taskbar, you can open Window Washer by double-clicking the Window Washer icon on the desktop or by clicking Start | Programs | Window Washer | Window Washer. To change these options, open Window Washer's main window. This group of options is located along the left side of the main window. There are five tabs - Standard Wash Items, Custom Wash Items, Wash Options, Additional Wash Options, and Check for Update. · Document History - This cleans the history of recent documents that you have opened. The document history is stored under the Microsoft Windows Start Button under the Documents menu item (Start | Documents). · Windows Find History - This cleans the history of files you have searched for using the Find/Search program. The Find history is stored under the Microsoft Windows Start Button under Find/Search, then File/Folders menu item (Start | Find/Search | Files/Folders). · Windows Run History - This cleans the history of files you have run using the Run command. The Run history is stored under the Microsoft Windows Start Button under the Run menu item (Start | Run). · Temporary Files Directory - This cleans the Windows temporary directory (usually located at C:\windows\temp). This directory should not be confused with the Internet Explorer "Temporary Internet Files Directory". The Windows temporary directory stores temporary files that are used during installation of programs and at other various times. Cleaning this directory regularly is generally a good idea. (Note: All contents of this directory are purged during a wash, so be sure that there are no files contained in this directory that you wish to keep or that are needed by other programs). · Scan Disk Temporary Files - The Windows utility Scan Disk creates .CHK files at the root directory of drives. These files usually contain junk data and can be erased to help keep drives clean. This option will have Window Washer erase the .CHK files (if they exist) for you. · Recycle Bin - This cleans out all of the files that are contained in the Recycle Bin. Special Note: This cleans all the Recycle Bins on all drives on your computer (including any network drives you have mapped). · MS-Office Tracks (MRU) - If you have MS-Office 97, 2000,
or XP installed on your system, this option will clean up the "Most
Recently Used" (MRU) lists that are stored. The MRU lists contain links
to the last 5 or 10 items that have been used and are found in MS-Office
applications under the OPEN, SAVE AS, Insert Picture, and other options. This
will clean the MRU lists under Word, Excel, Access, Photo Editor and
PowerPoint. The actual documents or files themselves are not removed, only
the references to these items in the MRU are removed. · Windows Media Player - If you have Windows Media Player installed on your system, this option will clean up the "Most Recently Used" (MRU) lists that are stored. The MRU lists contain links to the last 5 or 10 items that have been used and are found in Windows Media Player application under the OPEN, SAVE AS, and other options. The actual documents or files themselves are not removed, only the references to these items in the MRU are removed. · Netscape/Internet Explorer - By clicking the Options button next to each one, you can tell Window Washer specifically which browser items to wash. The Netscape Wash options are explained in 4 - Netscape Options. The wash options for Internet Explorer and AOL are explained in 5 - Internet Explorer/AOL Options Special Note: If you do not have Netscape and click on the checkbox to select Netscape, a pop-up message from Window Washer will appear stating that Netscape hasn't been detected. Click the OK button to close the pop-up message. · Change Wash Directories - Clicking this button will allow you to change the wash paths (see section: 3 - Verifying & Changing Default Directories). Custom Wash Items gives you the flexibility of adding files, folders, and registry entries to be automatically cleaned for you. The Custom Wash Items and Plugins are displayed in a list on the right side of the Window Washer main window. Use the Add, Edit, Delete and Refresh buttons below the list to tailor your Custom Wash Items. Click the Add button if you wish to add a new custom item. If you wish to edit or delete a current item, highlight the item on the Custom Wash Items list and then click the Edit or Delete button. Click the Refresh button to have Window Washer detect any new plugins you may have downloaded. · Adding an Item - Clicking the Add button will open the Add Item dialog. In the Item Name field, type in a Name that easily reminds you of what the new item will wash. Checking the box next to "Clean Files" or "Clean Reg Entries" will allow you to select which Files/Entries to clean. Once you have defined the Custom Wash Item, click the Save button to save the Custom Wash Item and return to the Window Washer main window. · Choosing Files - There are two options for adding files to be washed listed below, and you may add several individual items to each Custom Wash Item. To remove files or directories from your cleaning list, highlight the files and/or directories in your Cleaning List (bottom middle) and then click on the Remove From List button. Option 1 - Select a Path to be Washed: You may either type in the path to wash, or click the Browse button to select the path using the "TreeView" explorer. All of the files in the designated path that match the "WildCard" value in Option 1 will be removed (you may also set the Wildcard value). Click Add Selected Item to add the path/wildcard to the Custom Wash Item. Check the "Include Subdirectories" box to include cleaning of all folders below your selected folders. Option 2 - Select a File or Group of Files to be Washed: Select the drive/path in the left windows in Option 2 to display the contents of the selected folder in the window to the right. Select the file(s) you wish to have Window Washer remove, then click Add Selected File(s) to add the files to the Custom Wash Item. Once you are satisfied with the files/folders in the Wash Item, click Done to return to the Add Item window. · Choosing Registry Entries - WARNING: THIS IS INTENDED FOR ADVANCED WINDOWS USERS ONLY. IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH EDITING AND CHANGING REGISTRY KEYS, DO NOT USE THIS FEATURE. YOU COULD RISK DAMAGING YOUR WINDOWS INSTALLATION. ADD – Adds an entry to your list of registry entries to be cleaned and brings up the Add Registry Entry Window (see below). REMOVE – Removes an entry from your registry entries list. Highlight the entry you wish to remove and click on Remove. DONE - Click on Done when finished. Example: Let's say we want to remove the value "THISONE" from the registry entry Hkey_Current_User\Software\Washer\Example1
(If you are erasing an entire sub-key and not a specific value, just click on Done to save your entry).
· Download Plugins - Did you know that many third party software titles,
such as the Windows Media Player, Real Player, Adobe Photoshop, Paint Shop
Pro, as well as many others store recent user activity? This activity
consists of pictures viewed, websites visited, media played, and much more.
Removing this stored activity will further help protect your privacy as well
as keep these third party software titles clean. · Load at Windows Startup - If the Load at Windows Startup option is checked, then Window Washer will load and run in the background whenever Windows loads. It is important to have this option checked if you have Window Washer set to wash at Windows shutdown or wash automatically at specified intervals. If Window Washer is not running, it will not perform any automatic washes. · Close Washer after a Wash - Checking the Close Washer after a Wash option will close Window Washer completely once it has finished washing. If this option is checked, and Window Washer closes, it will not perform any automatic washes unless it is restarted. · Add Bleach to Wash - The Add Bleach to Wash option instructs Washer to "shred" the files it washes by overwriting each file a set number of times with random characters. This will render the files unrecoverable by utilities such as undelete and unerase. The default setting for bleach will overwrite a file 2 times, which is usually enough. The higher the number of overwrites the longer the wash cycle will take. Overwriting a file 3 times respects the DOD 5220.22-M directive for sanitizing a file on a Non-Removable Rigid Disk or a Removable Rigid Disk and overwriting a file 7 times respects the NSA approved seven-pass file erasure method. You can set the number of times to overwrite a file by clicking on the Info button next to the Add Bleach to Wash checkbox. · Wash File Slack Space - Checking this box allows Window Washer to clean a file's slack space. A file with "slack space" refers to the unused portion of a cluster on a hard drive that a file is stored on. If the Wash File Slack Space option is checked, Window Washer will clean this area along with deleting the file. · Skip All Custom Wash Items - Checking this option will instruct Window Washer to skip all the Custom Wash Items when running a wash. · Skip Messages During Wash - If this option is checked, Window Washer will skip over any wash items that cause errors, and continue with the next wash item. · Run Autowash when Windows is Started or Shutdown - Checking either of these boxes will instruct Window Washer to automatically wash when Windows is started or shut down. The Set button to the right of this option enables you to determine what Window Washer will do after a "shut-down wash". Window Washer can be set to do one of three things after a shut-down wash:
· Run Autowash Every: - After checking the Run Autowash Every: box, the pull down menu under the box will become active. Using the pull down menu, you can select the time interval in which you would like Window Washer to clean your items. Time intervals range from every 15 minutes to once a month. Once you have selected a time, Window Washer will clean your items automatically when the time is reached. · Supplementary Note - Command Line Washing (support for System Agent: Task Scheduler) - You can use the Windows System Agent: Task Scheduler to automate cleanings for Window Washer. Simply add the full path of the "autowash.exe" file to the Task Scheduler. For example: "c:\program files\washer\autowash.exe" would be a valid path for an automated wash from within the Task Scheduler. Also, entering "c:\program files\washer\autowash.exe" at the DOS prompt or from within a batch file would also be valid. The "autowash.exe" file instructs Window Washer to wash all selected items and then close itself after washing is completed. · Use Custom Font Color - When this option is checked, you can select the color for all the text in Window Washer. For example, if your monitor settings are dark, then you may have a hard time reading the labels and messages in Window Washer. You might try setting the font color to white or yellow, or some other light color to increase the contrast to make the screen easier to read, · Use Custom Title Color - When this option is checked, you can select the base color for all the title bars in Window Washer's main window. · Don't Store Last Washed Time - Underneath the Window Washer logo in the main window, Window Washer displays the time and date of the last wash. If you would prefer that this information not be displayed, just check the Don't Store Last Washed Time option. · Enable AutoWash Status Timer - The handy little counter on Window Washer's main window will display the time remaining, in minutes, until the next automatic wash is run. If you would prefer not to have Window Washer visibly count down to the next automatic wash, just un-check the Enable AutoWash Status Timer option. · Show Washing Progress - When Window Washer is installed, this option is selected by default. When Window Washer runs an Autowash, it displays the progress indicator window. If desired, you can uncheck this option and the next time Window Washer runs, it will run without displaying the progress indicator window. · Automatically Close Washing Progress After a Wash - Normally, after Window Washer runs an Autowash, the progress window will remain open until you close the window manually. Checking this item will cause the Window Washer progress window to close after a wash has been completed. There are two additional buttons at the bottom of the Additional Options section. · Sytem Info - This will open a pop-up box that displays specifics about the computer you are using (this includes Windows operating system, disk space in use, available memory, processor details, video, and environmental information). · Help - This will open your browser to the Help File (you must be connected
to the Internet to open the page). 2e - Check for Update · Check for Update - This will open your browser to Webroot Software's Update Software web page (you must be connected to the Internet to open the page). Once the web page loads, Window Washer will search the Webroot web site for updates to your existing software. If there is an update available, you will given options and directions on how to update your software. 3 - Verifying & Changing Default Directories When Window Washer is installed it attempts to detect all the Standard Wash Items directory locations, such as the Netscape or IE cache directory. Clicking on the Change Wash Directories button on Window Washer's main window will display a listing of all the detected paths to each standard wash item that is to be cleaned. Below is a list of the standard directories as detected on most (but not all) system configurations: Windows Document
History:
C:\Windows\Recent (for single user system) †
For Netscape 6.x users, if Window Washer detects Netscape 6.x or higher during installation,
the profile scanning wizard will automatically launch. The wizard will
automatically detect the Netscape 6.x user profiles. To change any of the above detected directories, simply click on the Edit button located next to the directory and then browse to the new directory and click on OK. If you want to reset all the directories back to the original detected directories, click on Re-Detect. When you are through verifying or changing your default directories or selecting Netscape profiles, click on Done. This will return you to Window Washer's main window. If you have Netscape installed on your system, you can use this Browser Wash Option to clean up Netscape cookies, cache, history, and trash mailbox. Checking this box will activate the Options button next to the Netscape entry. Clicking the Options button allows you to select which Netscape items you would like cleaned: cookies, cache, history, and/or trash mailbox. NOTE: You must close Netscape before Window Washer will be able to clean the Netscape History items. Once Netscape has been correctly detected (see 3 - Verifying & Changing...), you may choose to have Window Washer save certain cookies on your system. Clicking the Options button next to Netscape on Window Washer's Standard Wash Items window will bring up a list of Netscape options. Click the Keep button to display all the cookies currently in your profile. Click on a cookie to add it to the list of "keepers" in the right-hand window. To remove a cookie from the keepers list, select it in the right-hand window and click Remove From Keepers. If you have a lot of cookies on your system, it may be confusing which cookies you have selected to keep, especially if the cookies are similarly named. To help avoid such confusion, there is a large red button in the middle of the Cookies to Keep window. Click it once to display only the new cookies (cookies that aren't in the keepers list), or click it again to display all the cookies. When you have finished selecting the Cookies to Keep, click the Done button to return to the Netscape Options (clicking OK on the Options screen will return you to Window Washer's main window). 4b - Netscape 6.x Profile Management Options For Netscape 6.x users, if Window Washer detects
Netscape 6.x or higher during installation, the Window Washer Netscape
Profile Manager will automatically launch. The wizard will automatically
detect the Netscape 6.x user profiles, that reside on the your hard drive(s), and enables
you with the ability to select which profiles you want washed. You can select
the name(s) and click the OK button or click the Browse button
which will enable you to manually select the directory. 5 - Internet Explorer/AOL Options If you have Internet Explorer installed on your system, you can use this
Standard Wash Item to clean up Internet Explorer cookies, cache, and history.
Checking this box will activate the Options button next to the
Internet Explorer entry. Clicking the Options button allows you to
select which Internet Explorer items you would like cleaned: History &
Cache (Temporary Internet Files), Cookies, Downloaded Programs
Files Directory, Bleach Locked index.dat
Files, Use IE Control Panel to Clear Database Files, AOL/Compuserve Drop Down List & Cache, IE Autocomplete Form Data, and/or IE 6.0 and Above
Media Player. 5a – History, Cache and Address Bar This option cleans the History information, Cache files stored by in the Temporary Internet Files directory and the typed urls displayed in the IE address bar. 5b - Cookies Once IE has been correctly detected (see 3 - Verifying & Changing...), you may choose to have Window Washer save certain cookies on your system. Clicking the Set button next to Internet Explorer on Window Washer's main window will bring up a list of IE/AOL options. Click the Keep button to display all the cookies currently in your profile. To view the contents of a cookie, select it in the left window and click View. To add cookies to the "keepers" list, selct it in the left window and click Add to Keepers (you can select multiple cookies to add). To remove a cookie from the keepers list, select it in the right window and click Remove from keepers. When you have finished selecting the Cookies to Keep, click the Done button to return to the IE Options (clicking OK on the Options screen will return you to Window Washer's main window). 5c - Downloaded Program Files Directory This directory is where Internet Explorer stores ActiveX and Java applets that have been downloaded from the web. Checking this item will instruct Window Washer to clean out this directory. 5d – Bleach Locked index.dat Files This option will thoroughly clean the locked index.dat files used by Internet Explorer upon reboot of Windows. The index.dat files are cleaned during a 5e - Use IE Control Panel to Clear Database Files This option clears the database by opening the IE Internet Control Panel and automatically clicking the Clear History and Delete Files buttons. It is recommend you leave this option off because Window Washer automatically clears the IE database files internally. Therefore it is usually not necessary to use this option. 5f - AOL/Compuserve Drop Down List & Cache If you have AOL or Compuserve installed on your system, once Window Washer has correctly detected AOL (see 3 - Verifying & Changing...), this option will clean out the Drop Down List and Cache that is displayed at the top of the main AOL/Compuserve window. 5g - IE Autocomplete Form Data Internet Explorer can store a record of almost everything that you type into any web site form. Form data can be things such as all the keywords you have ever typed into a search engine and personal information such as your name and address. Selecting this option will wash all IE auto complete form data. 5h - IE 6.0 and Above Media Player When Window Washer is being installed, it will automatically detect if your system is using IE 6.x or above Media Player. This option will only appear if your system is using IE 6.x or above. If you select this option, Window Washer will wash the playlists for your Media Player. When you purchase Window
Washer, you are entitled to FREE updates, technical support, and replacement
downloads for one year from the date of purchase. To obtain your update,
click on the Check for Update button listed under Washer Settings. 7 - License Agreement and Disclaimer WEBROOT SOFTWARE, INC. LICENSES THE ACCOMPANYING SOFTWARE TO YOU ONLY UPON THE CONDITION THAT YOU ACCEPT ALL OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CONTAINED IN THIS LICENSE AGREEMENT. PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THE SOFTWARE. LICENSE AND WARRANTY: The software which accompanies this license, hereinafter referred to as "the software", is the property of Webroot Software or its licensers and is protected by copyright law. While Webroot Software continues to own the software, you will have certain rights to use the software after your acceptance of this license. Your rights and obligations with respect to the use of the software are as follows: IF THE SOFTWARE IS LABELED AS A 'TRIAL VERSION' AND YOU AGREE TO THIS DISCLAIMER AND LICENSE, YOU MAY: (i) use the software on as many computers as you wish at no charge for up to but no longer than the trial period listed in the software; after which time you must either discontinue the use of the software or purchase a licensed version for each computer on which you continue to use the software; YOU MAY NOT: (i) sublicense, rent, sell, or lease any portion of the software; (ii) reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, modify, translate, make any attempt to discover the source code of the software, or create derivative works from the software. IF THE SOFTWARE IS LABELED AS A 'REGISTERED VERSION' AND YOU AGREE TO THIS DISCLAIMER AND LICENSE, YOU MAY: (i) use the software on one computer for each license purchased; YOU MAY NOT: (i) sublicense, rent, sell, or lease any portion of the software; (ii) reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, modify, translate, make any attempt to discover the source code of the software, or create derivative works from the software; (iii) use the software on a greater number of computers than the number of copies of the software you have licensed. DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES: Webroot Software has made every effort possible to ensure that the software is free of any bugs or errors, however in no way is this software to be considered error or bug free. By using the software you assume all responsibility for any damages or lost data that may result from any errors or bugs in the software. Regardless of whether any remedy set forth herein fails of its essential purpose, in no event will Webroot Software be liable to you for any special, consequential, indirect or similar damages, including any lost profits or lost data arising out of the use or inability to use the software, even if Webroot Software has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Some states do not allow the limitation or exclusion of liability for incidental or consequential damages so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you. In no case shall Webroot Software's liability exceed the purchase price for the software. The disclaimers and limitations set forth above will apply regardless of whether you accept to use the software. GENERAL: This
Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Webroot
Software Inc. |