[kevs]

I'm thinking of adding deleting local cache, cleaning or clearing (what is difference) system cache, deleting virtual memory files (swap files) to my monthly maintenance.
also:

deleting logs: application crash reporter, system crash reporter, archived logs, system logs,

any great hesitations to this?

I'm using Onyx.
For onyx users:
what does optimize system do?
under misc: what is delete core xxx files?, reset Mac os help ok?

[d.fine]

I'm happy with MacJanitor

[chabig]

I like Macaroni better than MacJanitor because it's fully automatic.

Chris

[kevs]

thanks Guys, but you did not answer anything I asked. I did not say I'm unhappy, please refer me a new software. Yes, I know those are great apps, they all do about the same thing -- no question.

WHAT I'm asking is SPECIFICALLY, the things listed -- please, for those whose knowledge is much greater than mine about this -- what are the dangers of executing things I listed?

Up to know I've usually just done the repair permissions and daily/weekly scripts.

[kevs]

anyone out there? if someone can help, thanks.

[bergy]

I have used Macaroni, Onyx and Cache Out ..

What does Macaroni Do?
When Macaroni is first installed, it will do this automatically .. even if you turn off the computer it will do the task at the next available opportunity.

Daily Unix maintenance:
Every day

Weekly Unix maintenance:
Once a week on Monday

Monthly Unix maintenance:
Once a month on the 15th of the month

Mac OS X Repair Permissions:
Once a week on Sunday

Mac OS X Remove Localized Files:
Once a month on the 10th of the month.


Onyx .. will do all the above except remove localized files .. but you have to run it yourself .. it doesn't run on its own like Macaroni ..
That said Onyx will also clear all your caches, logs and crash reporter, and recent items and servers


Cache Out X is a hardboiled cache cleaner ...
Cache Out X clears out the cache entries on your machine, helping you recover valuable disk space on your machine. Set it to run at startup by placing it in your Login items in your System Preferences. Items removed include the caches in System, Users, and Library, along with the Internet Explorer download cache. Optionally clears the IE's history cache as well.

I have Macaroni installed and then just run Cache Out X every now and then ...That does pretty well everything that Onyx does.

You do not have to "optimize" in Jaguar and Panther

If you want to read about the specific functions in Onyx .. open up the app and go up to the help menu .. click on "Automation" and it explains everything there ..

[kevs]

What do you think of doing all the things I mentioned?

[chris v]

Deleting the VM swap files while up and running is a bad idea. You really need to reboot to do this.

[kevs]

chris:
what are those files? you say it's good to do after a reboot? not clear.

[chris v]

Originally posted by kevs:
chris:
what are those files? you say it's good to do after a reboot? not clear.

When your system runs out of real RAM, it writes virtual memory to the hard disk, and accesses it like it would RAM. They will be automatically deleted on re-start, and shouldn't be messed with, otherwise. If bits of your operating system get paged out to VM, it'll get unstable and probably crash if you were to manually delete the swap files while up and running. FYI, they are located in /private/var/vm. The best way to get there, as the folder is invisible normally in the finder, is to enter the path in the Go> Go to Folder... dialog.