Tom's Guide | Tom's Hardware | Tom's Games
 |
 |
 |
Hello!
I run spyware and other protection software but am thinking about purchasing a "Registry Cleaner" to clean up my system. My system is 5 years old. Has anyone used "REgEdit: or other Registry Cleaners and are they of any value?
If your computer runs fine and you're not getting registry related errors, you might want to leave your registry alone.
I use a couple of registry cleaners, but I don't let them delete everything they want to, that's a good way to wind up with a paper-weight.
If you're going to use one, you should probably run Spybot Search and Destroy's system internals check first to remove mru entries. This will cut down on the sheer number of removable entries and make getting rid of leftover entries from uninstalled software easier.
Some mru entries may be desirable to keep, so be careful whatever you decide to do.
Do not let a registry cleaner remove "VarLDID" entries or you won't be able to use add/remove programs > Windows setup.
0 
Why people pay for cleaners is beyond me:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download414.html
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download460.html
http://www.filehippo.com/
0
Hi Leroi,
Points well taken.
I use OnTrack FixIt 4.0 on a 4 year old box running w2k.
It hasn't goofed up yet. But a complete, up to the minute backup (think drive image) can go a long way.
If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.M2
0
here are the 2 that I use that I find quite effective
Reg Cleaner (FREE)
Reg Mechanic 5.0
Also you may want to try this small program to clean out old files/cache from your system
System Security Suite and or Clean Up Both are free !
" It'll Get Ya When You Aint Lookin "Please Post back to let us know if we helped
0
I'll second the Fix-it recommendation (although not 'free')
Used v4 & v5 on numerous machines for years now without issue
Science is built up with facts, as a house is with stones. But a collection of facts is not more a science than a heap of stones is a home
0 0
Thanks for the comments and in particular the referrals to URLs on Registry Cleaners. A BIG help for me. I especially like the filehippo site, what a resource.
Thanks!
0
There are many freeware sites out there with many programs
Here are a few others
FreeWare Files.Com
Jumbo.Com
All 4 You.Com
NoNags.Com
And may more like these, Try Google Searching when you are in search of a programs, files, or answers" It'll Get Ya When You Aint Lookin "
Please Post back to let us know if we helped
0
Used RegSeeker and proved by repetition that it always goofed up two programs. It also reports that quite valid file extensions (for which I have files in use) are invalid.
Whatever registry cleaners you use, if you get multiple entries listed, note the order in which they are found (on screen).
When they have been removed look at the order in which they have been saved (in the .reg file). If it is the reverse order to what you saw on screen then fine. RegSeeker is OK in this respect.
If it is in "the same order", I have proved that those registry cleaners which delete Keys (folders) can lose Values when the undo is restored. It goes like this:
You run the cleaner and it deletes a Value.
Later on it deletes the Key which contained the Value. When you use the undo it then tries (wrongly) to put the Value back first. No Key, so no dice. It then puts the Key back and the Value is already lost.Take care with registry cleaners. Yeah, I know the saying "I've used them for yonks with no problems". I could say the same, but do I really know (when I chase around to find a missing registry entry to cure a problem) that it wasn't some cleaner that removed it in the past?
DerekW
0
If you're looking to tune up your installation of ME, try looking at the homepage link on this post too.
0  |
 |
 |
This post is quite old and has been locked from receiving new replies. Please create a new posting instead.
| Ads by Google |
