Registry Cleaner

[Dave-UK]

"Dave" <davidj92@wowway.com> wrote in message news:Bs2dnVEkiZadPQDWnZ2dnUVZ_oydnZ2d@sigecom.net...
>
>
> "Dave-UK" <Here@Home.com> wrote in message
> news:FLCdnYjHt5HY7gDWnZ2dnUVZ8sidnZ2d@giganews.com...
>>
>> "Dave" <davidj92@wowway.com> wrote in message
>> news:rLudnUu4MdDNzwDWnZ2dnUVZ_oadnZ2d@sigecom.net...
>>>
>>>
>>> "Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@this.is.an.invalid.domain> wrote in message
>>> newscgqp5trsjbgqnb8q8c6ieos7sl8mqbsgd@4ax.com...
>>>> On Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:011 -0500, "Dave" <davidj92@wowway.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "milt" <theatre_nospam_guy@miltsweb.com> wrote in message
>>>>> news:hnh399$kmt$2@news.eternal-september.org...
>>>>> > On 3/13/2010 119 AM, LD55ZRA wrote:
>>>>> >> "Slap"<slap@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>>> >> news:AyNmn.103535$G_2.38582@newsfe15.iad...
>>>>> >>>
>>>>> >>> "Quilljar"<not@home .today> wrote in message
>>>>> >>> news:Huadnb37Yu_rCAbWnZ2dnUVZ7tKdnZ2d@bt.com...
>>>>> >>>> Is there a reliable free Windows 7 Registry cleaner?
>>>>> >>>
>>>>> >>> I use CCleaner...
>>>>> >>> http://www.ccleaner.com/
>>>>> >>>
>>>>> >>
>>>>> >> So do I.
>>>>> >>
>>>>> >>
>>>>> >>
>>>>> >
>>>>> > I wish you both lucky when one day it hoses your registry and you
>>>>> > can't
>>>>> > boot up and you can't figure out why. Don't blame Windows when it
>>>>> > does!
>>>>> >
>>>>> Been a while since I used CC, but IIRC it creates a backup of the
>>>>> registry
>>>>> before hosing it, that way you can go back after getting hosed.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> You can get back *if* "getting hosed" does not include destroying your
>>>> ability to boot.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
>>>> Please Reply to the Newsgroup
>>>
>>> I have to agree with you on this, especially since it's so hard to create
>>> a boot disk for Windows now. May not be possible at all for Windows 7, I
>>> haven't looked into this yet.
>>> Dave
>>
>> What do you mean it's so hard to create a boot disk?
>> You create the bootable repair disk from within Win7.
>> Control Panel > System and Security > Backup and Restore.
>> On the left pane ' Create system repair disk'.
>> That will create a bootable CD image of around 140 M/b with enough basic
>> tools
>> to get you going .
>> If you mean a BartPE type boot disk then you can make your own Win7 boot
>> disk with WinBuilder.
>> http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=8774
>> If you want to see what's possible I can give you a link to one I made
>> earlier.
>> It's about 250 M/b with a few extra tools and an XP/Vista/Win7 password
>> editor, registry editor etc.
>>
>>
> Thanks for the tips, Dave. I would like to see what you built, if you post
> the link I'll look at it.
> Dave
>

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=5B4FWYEL

 

[Gordon]

On 14/03/2010 21:49, LD55ZRA wrote:
> "Tom Lake"<tlake@twcny.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:hnjl4s$gp$1@news.albasani.net...
>>
>
>> Ken has valid reasons to not recommend registry
>> cleaners.
>
> But he is recommending CCLEANER. Have you followed his post through?
>
>
>
But NOT as a registry cleaner. Have YOU been following the posts?

 

[Vic]

On Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:58:49 -0600, "Dave" <davidj92@wowway.com> wrote:

>
>
>"Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@this.is.an.invalid.domain> wrote in message
>news:s0bnp5519ed6v2dte0060c1lk4fnqbba0m@4ax.com...
>> On Sat, 13 Mar 2010 139:09 -0000, "Quilljar" <not@home .today>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Is there a reliable free Windows 7 Registry cleaner?
>>
>>
>> A common question here, and one that usually fosters all kinds of
>> disagreement.
>>
>> My answer is no. Not only is there not a reliable free one, there is
>> not even a reliable paid-for one. Here's my standard message on the
>> subject:
>>
>> Registry cleaning programs are *all* snake oil. Cleaning of the
>> registry isn't needed and is dangerous. Leave the registry alone and
>> don't use any registry cleaner. Despite what many people think, and
>> what vendors of registry cleaning software try to convince you of,
>> having unused registry entries doesn't really hurt you.
>>
>> The risk of a serious problem caused by a registry cleaner erroneously
>> removing an entry you need is far greater than any potential benefit
>> it may have.
>>
>> Read http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000643.html
>>
>>
>> --
>> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
>> Please Reply to the Newsgroup
>
>I have to disagree with you on this due to experience with Vista. Fairly new
>HP desktop, started having problems, (definitely related to my screwing
>around with software of all kinds) don't remember specifics but they were
>serious enough I called HP tech support. All they could say was do a restore
>of original software. Since I had a new laptop I decided to use it for major
>use instead, eventually got into the same situation with it. Did a
>destructive restore on the laptop, took several hours doing that and getting
>dozens of updates. Now the desktop, I had Wise Registry Cleaner 4, so I
>thought since I had to do a destructive reinstall I had nothing to lose, if
>it screwed up the registry then so what. Ran it, 10 minutes later it was
>done and system performed flawlessly.
>I don't know if Wise is compatible with Win7, but since I have both machines
>converted now, if or when I have a problem I will definitely be looking at
>it.
>Just my 2cents,
>Dave
I set a restore point when I use it, but I can tell the difference after CC
runs.

Too many uninstalled programs leave behind not only bogus entries, but some that
still load un-needed procs and pre-fetch memory hogs.

 

[Nil]

On 15 Mar 2010, Gordon <gbplinux@gmail.com> wrote in
alt.windows7.general:

> And all THAT does is to possibly reduce the size of the registry
> slightly - it has almost no effect on performance...

I believe that's not true, either. Like most databases, removal of a
value leaves only an empty value. The physical space is not recaimed
until the database is compacted. There is no built-in Windows tool to
do that, nor does any registry cleaner product that I know of.

 

[Bob henson]

"Nil" <rednoise@REMOVETHIScomcast.net> wrote in message
news:Xns9D3C8265873ADnilch1@130.133.4.11:

> On 15 Mar 2010, Gordon <gbplinux@gmail.com> wrote in
> alt.windows7.general:
>
> > And all THAT does is to possibly reduce the size of the registry
> > slightly - it has almost no effect on performance...
>
> I believe that's not true, either. Like most databases, removal of a
> value leaves only an empty value. The physical space is not recaimed
> until the database is compacted. There is no built-in Windows tool to
> do that, nor does any registry cleaner product that I know of.


Registry Mechanic both cleans and compacts.


Regards,

Bob

 

[johnbee]

I thought that I would like to contribute to this discussion,
because it is quite interesting. By far the best thing to do
about dealing with the Registry is to buy a couple of books
and become an expert about it.

There is not actually much point in that - most users
would be better off spending their time learning other things.
However there still remains that problem about the Registry,
that it is a bit of a mystery and dangerous to play with. Many
users therefore want to get on top of it and master it with
something. Companies include Registry software in their
packages to meet this demand.
It is most definitely true that if you keep a PC for a long time,
it gets slower and slower to boot and close down as more
crap junk gets introduced into the Registry. My guess is that
Windows 7 will suffer from that. A normal 'Registry cleaner'
will not do anything about it, but you can get software to manage
what happens at startup and closedown - use at your own peril,
but not just for fun and psychological comfort, use when you
can no longer bear a wait of some minutes to get going.

Of course many of the so called Registry Cleaners are malware
which deliberately do mischief, and some will also be badly
written and do harm accidentally. It is not a good idea to use
a freebie Registry thing which was not written for your own
operating system. If you want to use ccleaner which is very
popular, or a thing provided along with your virus etc. stuff
which you paid for, it will almost certainly be harmless, but
the more you don't know what you are doing and just like to
dicker about with stuff especially if it is free the more likely
you are to muck it up; I think that is fine of course it will suit
you because you will have to get it going again which will
be fun.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

On Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:40:09 -0000, "johnbee"
<johnbrockbank@virginmedia.com> wrote:


> It is most definitely true that if you keep a PC for a long time,
> it gets slower and slower to boot and close down as more
> crap junk gets introduced into the Registry.


I completely disagree. Getting slower to boot or shut down has not
been my experience at all.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

 

[chrisv]

"Bob henson" <news@galenx.org.uk> wrote in message
news:hnlopi$qis$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>
>
> "Nil" <rednoise@REMOVETHIScomcast.net> wrote in message
> news:Xns9D3C8265873ADnilch1@130.133.4.11:
>
>> On 15 Mar 2010, Gordon <gbplinux@gmail.com> wrote in
>> alt.windows7.general:
>>
>> > And all THAT does is to possibly reduce the size of the registry
>> > slightly - it has almost no effect on performance...
>>
>> I believe that's not true, either. Like most databases, removal of a
>> value leaves only an empty value. The physical space is not recaimed
>> until the database is compacted. There is no built-in Windows tool to
>> do that, nor does any registry cleaner product that I know of.
>
>
> Registry Mechanic both cleans and compacts.

Maybe that explains some of the the damage it has done.

 

[Dave-UK]

"chrisv" <chrisv@nospam.invalid> wrote in message news:hnmcqt$rat$1@tornado.tornevall.net...
>
> "Bob henson" <news@galenx.org.uk> wrote in message
> news:hnlopi$qis$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>>
>>
>> "Nil" <rednoise@REMOVETHIScomcast.net> wrote in message
>> news:Xns9D3C8265873ADnilch1@130.133.4.11:
>>
>>> On 15 Mar 2010, Gordon <gbplinux@gmail.com> wrote in
>>> alt.windows7.general:
>>>
>>> > And all THAT does is to possibly reduce the size of the registry
>>> > slightly - it has almost no effect on performance...
>>>
>>> I believe that's not true, either. Like most databases, removal of a
>>> value leaves only an empty value. The physical space is not recaimed
>>> until the database is compacted. There is no built-in Windows tool to
>>> do that, nor does any registry cleaner product that I know of.
>>
>>
>> Registry Mechanic both cleans and compacts.
>
> Maybe that explains some of the the damage it has done.
>

What damage ?
Provide details if you have any.

 

[relic]

"Dave-UK" <Here@Home.com> wrote in message
news:4bOdndzeJL33IwPWnZ2dnUVZ8uudnZ2d@giganews.com...
>
> "chrisv" <chrisv@nospam.invalid> wrote in message
> news:hnmcqt$rat$1@tornado.tornevall.net...
>>
>> "Bob henson" <news@galenx.org.uk> wrote in message
>> news:hnlopi$qis$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>>>
>>>
>>> "Nil" <rednoise@REMOVETHIScomcast.net> wrote in message
>>> news:Xns9D3C8265873ADnilch1@130.133.4.11:
>>>
>>>> On 15 Mar 2010, Gordon <gbplinux@gmail.com> wrote in
>>>> alt.windows7.general:
>>>>
>>>> > And all THAT does is to possibly reduce the size of the registry
>>>> > slightly - it has almost no effect on performance...
>>>>
>>>> I believe that's not true, either. Like most databases, removal of a
>>>> value leaves only an empty value. The physical space is not recaimed
>>>> until the database is compacted. There is no built-in Windows tool to
>>>> do that, nor does any registry cleaner product that I know of.
>>>
>>>
>>> Registry Mechanic both cleans and compacts.
>>
>> Maybe that explains some of the the damage it has done.
>
> What damage ?
> Provide details if you have any.

I've seen several complaints in alt.os.windows-xp over several years. Look
in there.

 

[Dave-UK]

"relic" <relic211@cjb.net> wrote in message newsjj78l.p6a.19.1@news.alt.net...
>
> "Dave-UK" <Here@Home.com> wrote in message
> news:4bOdndzeJL33IwPWnZ2dnUVZ8uudnZ2d@giganews.com...
>>
>> "chrisv" <chrisv@nospam.invalid> wrote in message
>> news:hnmcqt$rat$1@tornado.tornevall.net...
>>>
>>> "Bob henson" <news@galenx.org.uk> wrote in message
>>> news:hnlopi$qis$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Nil" <rednoise@REMOVETHIScomcast.net> wrote in message
>>>> news:Xns9D3C8265873ADnilch1@130.133.4.11:
>>>>
>>>>> On 15 Mar 2010, Gordon <gbplinux@gmail.com> wrote in
>>>>> alt.windows7.general:
>>>>>
>>>>> > And all THAT does is to possibly reduce the size of the registry
>>>>> > slightly - it has almost no effect on performance...
>>>>>
>>>>> I believe that's not true, either. Like most databases, removal of a
>>>>> value leaves only an empty value. The physical space is not recaimed
>>>>> until the database is compacted. There is no built-in Windows tool to
>>>>> do that, nor does any registry cleaner product that I know of.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Registry Mechanic both cleans and compacts.
>>>
>>> Maybe that explains some of the the damage it has done.
>>
>> What damage ?
>> Provide details if you have any.
>
> I've seen several complaints in alt.os.windows-xp over several years. Look
> in there.
>

Why should I look ? You expect me to trawl through several years of posts because
some troll makes a one-line post about Registry Mechanic.
He should supply evidence to back up his claim if he wants to be taken seriously.

 

[Al Smith]

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
> On Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:40:09 -0000, "johnbee"
> <johnbrockbank@virginmedia.com> wrote:
>
>
>> It is most definitely true that if you keep a PC for a long time,
>> it gets slower and slower to boot and close down as more
>> crap junk gets introduced into the Registry.
>
>
> I completely disagree. Getting slower to boot or shut down has not
> been my experience at all.
>


Suppose you downloaded and installed by accident malware, and the
malware wasn't quite working properly? Wouldn't it be a good idea
to get the remnants of the malware cleared out of your registry?
Or suppose you uninstall a program and it doesn't uninstall
cleanly, or completely -- isn't it better to get the bits cleaned
out of the registry in case you might want to install the program
again, or a newer version of that program?

-Al-

 

[Gordon]

On 16/03/2010 116, Al Smith wrote:

>
> Suppose you downloaded and installed by accident malware, and the
> malware wasn't quite working properly? Wouldn't it be a good idea to get
> the remnants of the malware cleared out of your registry?

Yes - that's what your Antimalware app does - not the registry cleaner

> Or suppose you
> uninstall a program and it doesn't uninstall cleanly, or completely --
> isn't it better to get the bits cleaned out of the registry in case you
> might want to install the program again, or a newer version of that
> program?


A common fallacy. Orphaned registry entries have little or no effect on
computer performance.

 

[Allen]

Slap wrote:
>
> "Allen" <allent@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:BZ6dneQvpq0-LwbWnZ2dnUVZ_rmdnZ2d@giganews.com...
>> On 3/13/2010 9:17 AM, Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
>>> On Sat, 13 Mar 2010 139:09 -0000, "Quilljar"<not@home .today>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Is there a reliable free Windows 7 Registry cleaner?
>>>
>>>
>>> A common question here, and one that usually fosters all kinds of
>>> disagreement.
>>>
>>> My answer is no. Not only is there not a reliable free one, there is
>>> not even a reliable paid-for one. Here's my standard message on the
>>> subject:
>>>
>>> Registry cleaning programs are *all* snake oil. Cleaning of the
>>> registry isn't needed and is dangerous. Leave the registry alone and
>>> don't use any registry cleaner. Despite what many people think, and
>>> what vendors of registry cleaning software try to convince you of,
>>> having unused registry entries doesn't really hurt you.
>>>
>>> The risk of a serious problem caused by a registry cleaner erroneously
>>> removing an entry you need is far greater than any potential benefit
>>> it may have.
>>>
>>> Read http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000643.html
>>>
>>>
>> Amen. Right now I am in the process of getting ready for a complete
>> install-from-scratch of W7 because I trusted a purchased register
>> cleaner despite misgivings. Why oh why does M$ recommend some of them?
>> Allen
>
> Your destiny Allen. There is 400 million downloads of CCleaner. Might
> be the odd problem but I suspect Office has caused the odd problem too.
> --
>
>
I specifically did not use CCleaner--I said "purchased", which certainly
excludes CC. I wish I had stuck with CC, as it never caused any problems.
Allen

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

On Tue, 16 Mar 2010 0864 -0300, Al Smith <invalid@address.com>
wrote:

> Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
> > On Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:40:09 -0000, "johnbee"
> > <johnbrockbank@virginmedia.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> >> It is most definitely true that if you keep a PC for a long time,
> >> it gets slower and slower to boot and close down as more
> >> crap junk gets introduced into the Registry.
> >
> >
> > I completely disagree. Getting slower to boot or shut down has not
> > been my experience at all.
> >
>
>
> Suppose you downloaded and installed by accident malware, and the
> malware wasn't quite working properly? Wouldn't it be a good idea
> to get the remnants of the malware cleared out of your registry?


Anti-malware software does that.


> Or suppose you uninstall a program and it doesn't uninstall
> cleanly, or completely -- isn't it better to get the bits cleaned
> out of the registry in case you might want to install the program
> again, or a newer version of that program?


No. It doesn't matter and its being there doesn't hurt you.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

 

[johnbee]

"Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@this.is.an.invalid.domain> wrote in message
news:70btp5hstlrltke1ehl8tmhg8k1qpbmchi@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:40:09 -0000, "johnbee"
> <johnbrockbank@virginmedia.com> wrote:
>
>
>> It is most definitely true that if you keep a PC for a long time,
>> it gets slower and slower to boot and close down as more
>> crap junk gets introduced into the Registry.
>
>
> I completely disagree. Getting slower to boot or shut down has not
> been my experience at all.
>
> --
> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
> Please Reply to the Newsgroup

I strongly advise you to get the thing from Microsoft which shows the
various bits'n bobs which are automatically started, including by registry
entries. Now I realise that this is not a registry error which CCleaner
will
prevent, but I did not say otherwise. If you have not experienced gradual
slower start and closedown then perhaps you carefully control what is
started up in which case you already do what I suggested.

Or perhaps you don't mind 278 pieces of crap looking for updates for
themselves or checking to see if it is time to nag you, every time you
boot up. I can assure you that this piece of information will be helpful
to some poor sufferers

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

On Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:56:11 -0700, Allen <allent@austin.rr.com>
wrote:

> Slap wrote:
> >
> > "Allen" <allent@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
> > news:BZ6dneQvpq0-LwbWnZ2dnUVZ_rmdnZ2d@giganews.com...
> >> On 3/13/2010 9:17 AM, Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
> >>> On Sat, 13 Mar 2010 139:09 -0000, "Quilljar"<not@home .today>
> >>> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> Is there a reliable free Windows 7 Registry cleaner?
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> A common question here, and one that usually fosters all kinds of
> >>> disagreement.
> >>>
> >>> My answer is no. Not only is there not a reliable free one, there is
> >>> not even a reliable paid-for one. Here's my standard message on the
> >>> subject:
> >>>
> >>> Registry cleaning programs are *all* snake oil. Cleaning of the
> >>> registry isn't needed and is dangerous. Leave the registry alone and
> >>> don't use any registry cleaner. Despite what many people think, and
> >>> what vendors of registry cleaning software try to convince you of,
> >>> having unused registry entries doesn't really hurt you.
> >>>
> >>> The risk of a serious problem caused by a registry cleaner erroneously
> >>> removing an entry you need is far greater than any potential benefit
> >>> it may have.
> >>>
> >>> Read http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000643.html
> >>>
> >>>
> >> Amen. Right now I am in the process of getting ready for a complete
> >> install-from-scratch of W7 because I trusted a purchased register
> >> cleaner despite misgivings. Why oh why does M$ recommend some of them?
> >> Allen
> >
> > Your destiny Allen. There is 400 million downloads of CCleaner. Might
> > be the odd problem but I suspect Office has caused the odd problem too.
> > --
> >
> >
> I specifically did not use CCleaner--I said "purchased", which certainly
> excludes CC. I wish I had stuck with CC, as it never caused any problems.
> Allen


Two points:

1. I didn't say that using any registry cleaner *always* causes
problems (and neither does anyone else here, as far as I know). In
fact most uses of any registry cleaner does not cause a problem. The
reason not to use them is that any use of a registry cleaner carries
with it the *risk* of a problem.

If any registry cleaner always caused a problem, the product would
disappear from the market almost instantly.

It's like driving a car without your seatbelt on. Yes, your risk is
much greater without the seatbelt, but most of the time you can get
away with not having buckled it.

2. Yes, the risk of using CCleaner's registry cleaning functionality
is lower than it is with most registry cleaners. But that does not
mean that it's zero. And exposing yourself to any risk at all is
foolhardy for a product that essentially has no real benefits.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
Please Reply to the Newsgroup