RECENT DOCUMENTS LINKS
These are links to files you have used recently, and are stored in a number of locations depending on the configuration of your system. Usually \WINDOWS\RECENT. But, for example on Windows XP, they are stored in each user account. UF will clear the currently logged on user's recent documents but not any those belonging to other users UNLESS you manually specify those folders in the OPTIONS under USER DEFINED FOLDERS.
When manual cleaning is selected for the recent document list, the link files will be shown in a new window where you can decide which to delete and which to keep. Close the window when you have finished.
Cleaning the recent documents lists does not cause any harm, it simply means the history of any programs/documents you have used/opened recently is deleted. However, the list of recent documents is also stored in the system registry, which can also be cleaned (see below)
RECYCLE BIN
UF will empty the contents of the bin, and when manual mode is active you will asked whether you want to delete the contents. Otherwise it is done automatically.
USER DEFINED FOLDERS
UF will completely empty the folders you specify using the USER DEFINED FOLDERS tab in the OPTIONS window. Here you and add folders to a list, or remove them from the list. The DEFAULT button provides a list of common folders to clean out, typically internet cache, internet cookies, internet history and the Windows temporary folder. You can add as many folders as you wish.
When the folders are cleaned out, all files and sub directories/folders will also deleted. The actual starting-point folder remains.
Please remember that in order to delete the internet cache and recent documents from every user registered with the computer in question, each of the relative folders must be manually added to this list. UF will attempt to find the relative folders for the currently logged on user only.
UNNECESSARY/USELESS FILES
UF will scan the select disk for what is termed "unnecessary files". These are mainly backup files and temporary files which are not of any use. There is a fully configurable list of files under the UNNECESSARY FILES tab in the OPTIONS window. Here you can add and remove file type descriptions to search for when UF looks for unnecessary files. Simply check the file types you want UF to look for.
When using manual mode for this clean up method, all files matching the types specified are gathered and displayed for you to choose which to delete and which to keep. In automatic mode all found matching files
are deleted.
EMPTY FILES
UF will scan the specified disk for empty (zero length) files. When using manual mode for this clean up method, all empty files are gathered and displayed for you to choose which to delete and which to keep. In automatic mode all found matching files are deleted.
DEAD LINKS
UF will scan the specified disk for any shortcut files (links) which point to files that do not exist. When using manual mode for this clean up method, all dead links are gathered and displayed for you to choose which to delete and which to keep. In automatic mode all found matching files are deleted.
There are two options (in the OPTIONS GENERAL tab) available which may help in finding certain links. These enable UF to ignore link files with a blank path reference in them, and link files with a blank filename reference in them.
RECENT DOCUMENTS HISTORY - REGISTRY
This is a list of files you have used recently, and is stored in the system registry as a history list. Deleting this list causes no harm.
INTERNET EXPLORER TYPED URL HISTORY - REGISTRY
Clears individual items from the history of URLs typed into an Internet Explorer browser.
NETSCAPE TYPED URL HISTORY - REGISTRY
Clears individual items from the history of URLs typed into a Netscape browser.
RUN HISTORY - REGISTRY
Clears the history list of recently run programs from the registry.
FIND FILES HISTORY - REGISTRY
Clears the history list of recently searched for files from the registry.
FIND COMPUTERS HISTORY - REGISTRY
Clears the history list of recently searched for computers from the registry.
FIND PRINTERS HISTORY - REGISTRY
Clears the history list of recently searched for printers from the registry.
"SEND TO ANY FOLDER" HISTORY - REGISTRY
Clears the history list of recently "sent to" folder names from the registry. "Send To Any Folder" is part of the Microsoft PowerToys utilities. The "Send To" PowerToys need to be installed.
"INSTALL FROM" HISTORY - REGISTRY
This clears the "Install From" history list of Windows Setup and Driver installation dialog box from the registry.