CCleaner and SSD

computernoob407

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I've been reading that it's not good on the SSD's life by using CCleaner's normal and secure delete feature (1 or 7 pass) to clean up temp files, cookies, browsers. Is this a myth? Also what is TRIM, in dummy terms please. Are secure delete and TRIM related?
 

My Computer

System One

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    Windows 7/8
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    PC/Desktop
    Hard Drives
    SSD
I do not know TRIM [except in the old barber shops]; I do know ccleaner's secure delete simply means more writes upon any SSD; if any file delete needs secure-delete, there are utilities that will let you secure delete just one folder or one file; I do not know which ones to recommend.
 

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I use the CCleaner daily to clean my browsers. I have a Samsung EVO 850, and don't think about lessening its life.
 

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A single pass secure delete on a conventional drive is proof against any software recovery method. Maybe the FBI or CIA could do it but it has been denied and the theoretical basis is highly questionable. Multiple passes are "just in case". Recovery of a secure delete on an SSD is even less likely.

SSDs do have limited writes but that number is so high that it is possible to reach only in a contrived setting, not real world usage. Most SSDs fail for other reasons long before limited writes become a factor.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
+1 LMiller7 - you said it best.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit [MS blue-disk set]
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2 Acers & 1 Antec[?]
    CPU
    i7 in 2 Acers, i5 in desktop
    Motherboard
    Desktop w/Gigabyte
    Memory
    Two w/16GB, 1 w/8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Laptops GameWorthy; Desktop maybe GameWorthy
    Monitor(s) Displays
    flatscreens; 2 are BluRay worthy
    Screen Resolution
    1368x768; 1600x900
    Hard Drives
    1TB internals; 2 ext usb WD 1TB HDs
    PSU
    what's PSU?
    Cooling
    Regular plus external fans
    Keyboard
    desktio w/PS2
    Mouse
    desktop w/PS2
    Internet Speed
    DSL middle level [160?]
    Browser
    from Netscape 0.9 to FF 36
    Antivirus
    well-balanced, well-configured mult-layered defense is best
    Other Info
    From MS-DOS 3.3, MS-DOS 6.22, from Windows 3.1 to WFW 3.11 to Windows 95-98SE, now to Windows 7 Pro.
    Security for now: Windows 7 Firewall, Emsisoft AM, MSE [scan-only], SpywareBlaster, Ruiware/BillP combine
Just for completeness Trim is a system used with SSD to replace the de-fragmentation system used on conventional "spinner" hard drives

In the simplest terms you should never de-fragment an SSD, most modern defregmenters Including Windows Own) will recognise this and perform a Trim instead

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trim_(computing)
 

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    Also run...

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    Netbook - Ubuntu
    2 x Nexus 7 Android tablets
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    Sony Z3 Android Smartphone
    HTC One Android Smartphone
TRIM also provides for "wear leveling". The standard write/delete routines have a tendency to reuse the same sectors of a drive over and over again. This is fine for an HDD but on an SSD where the data cells have a limited number of write cycles, it would cause the the most often used cells to reach their max write cycles far sooner than the rest of the cells. "Wear leveling" is an attempt to purposely spread writes across the entire array of cells thereby making it so the cells all have similar amounts of writes instead of a few cells receiving the brunt of the writes and wearing out prematurely.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W10 Pro (desktop), W10 (laptop), W10 Pro (tablet)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built i7-8700K, Hp Envy x360 EVO Laptop, MS Surface Pro 7
    CPU
    3.7Ghz Core i7-8700K, 11th Gen Core i7-1165G7 4.7Ghz, 10th Gen Core™ i5-1035G4 1.1Ghz
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    ASUS TUF Z370-Pro Gaming, HP, MS
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    Sound Card
    ATI High Definition Audio (Built-in to mobo)
    Monitor(s) Displays
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    500GB ssd boot drive with 2 & 10TB Data (Desktop), 512GB ssd (laptop), 128GB SSD (tablet)
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    Corsair CX 750M
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    Coolermaster CM 212+
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    IBM Model M - used continuously since 1986
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    665Mbps/15Mbps down/up
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    FireFox, MS Edge
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    Defender on all
    Other Info
    Retired in 2015 after working in the tech industry for 41 years. First 10 years as a Technician, the rest as a programmer/software engineer. After 1 year of retirement, I was bored so went back to work as a Robotic Process Automation Consultant. Retired for 3rd (and final) time in 2019.
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