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PC utilities: Do computer Registry cleaners really work?
- 6/19/09 12:42 PM
Do Registy Cleaners really work?
by goosemanbxny - 6/6/09 9:29 AM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I'm not sure, however I share the opinion of Clem and Clay that it is just a rip off to get computer user to get to buy their software. I wouldn't mind to buy the product if in fact would help my computer to run better without errors. The discrepancy among the two products is clear proof that many software vendor don't deliver in their promise. I wish I have the answer to your question, I just share the same concern. A. Guzman
Re: Do Registy Cleaners really work?
by rbsjrx - 6/6/09 10:37 AM In reply to: Do Registy Cleaners really work? by goosemanbxny"The discrepancy among the two products is clear proof that many software vendor don't deliver in their promise."
Possibly, but it may also prove nothing more than that the two vendors use different algorithms. The Windows registry is highly complex with a lot of interactions between entries and also subject to a number of benign "errors". Designing a registry cleaner requires the vendor to make a conscious decision how to balance thoroughness, speed, and safety. If two vendors don't reach the exact same conclusion, you can expect the results to be different.
Regarding Registry Repair software.
by WUNTOLOVE - 6/6/09 10:53 AM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
For the most part, any computer you run the "Free Trial" of a "Registry Repair" Utility on will get the same error; "350 Registry Errors found!" It is just the software manufacturers way of convincing you to buy the product. What you did was prove that they are full of crap! By running your pay version first and then the "Free Trial" you have proven that the "Free Trial" is mearly a "Bait and Switch"! Good for you! That's not necessarily to say that the "Pay for use" software doesn't work, just that "Free Trials" are usually garbage. Now, I hope Lee Koo posts this for everyone to see. Perhaps the makers of Reg Repair, PC Tools and all of the other so calles Registry Cleaners should get a copy of this post as well, along with the Federal Regulatory Commission. I wonder how that conversation would go?
I have been asking thesame question for some time .
by de7349 - 6/6/09 11:36 AM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Having bought Regcure Which doesnt work on Vista 64, Errorkiller and Errorsmart---Which are the same,Ihave come to the conclusionm it is best to stay away from all Registry cleaners.I use Ashampoo Optimizer 5 & 6 which does a good job of cleaning the registry. However like you I still wonder if they are doing anything at all.Still comparing them myself and wondering What good they are doing?----Ike300
Registry cleaners in general
by rbsjrx - 6/6/09 3:53 PM In reply to: I have been asking thesame question for some time . by de7349I've seen a number of posts in this thread with the same message, "I've been using one but I can't see any difference - is it doing anything?" This puzzles me...
By now, you've heard the anecdotal and theoretical evidence that registry cleaners have a legitimate purpose. Further, you've new heard from enough people to know which are good, which are dangerous, and which are probably frauds.
So, armed with this information, it seems to me that most could answer their own question. If you're using one of the good ones and it doesn't seem to make any difference in your circumstances, then your system and usage habits probably aren't sufficient to warrant using one. Pack it away and maybe try it again if your PC gets really slow - but only after you've developed the habit of using a good defrag utility regularly.
Are registry cleaners worth the time and money?
by ldavidson - 6/21/09 5:06 PM In reply to: Registry cleaners in general by rbsjrxThe answer would be sometimes. Depends on how cluttered your registry has become with "ends and tails" those left over pieces of programs and program pointers that aren't cleaned up when you uninstall a program. Also some Apps will write to your registry as part of their function....I'm speaking here of the so called "Tweaking" programs.
As I'm sure you already know, first be very careful that the registry cleaner you use is certified for the "flavor" of windows you are using. As in, don't use a cleaner that was written for XP on a Vista OS.
Second, If you don't know what a specific registry entry does, DON'T delete it!
I would recommend a very popular and FREE piece of software available on almost any download collection called REVO Uninstaller. It does a really neat job of removing everything connected with the App you are uninstalling including those little "ends and tails" in the registry, thus making the use of a registry cleaner usually unnecessary.
RegCure
by altima - 6/21/09 9:04 AM In reply to: I have been asking thesame question for some time . by de7349I like a lot of people here, had my computer slowing down. I did the free scan with RegCure and found 660 registry errors. I looked at the price of the product and reviews against 4 other registry cleaners and decided to give it a try, as it was about the same price as a 1 hr. tuneup at my computer shop and I could keep using it for a yr. I found that it worked great on my system running XP home edition and certainly sped it up. I'm not that computer savy and if the computer didn't work like it did before, just restore the items you removed. I would reccommend it .
Registry Cleaners
by marshallsjewels - 6/6/09 1:07 PM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I've tried alot of these registry cleaners, as I'm sure alot of others have. Some, such as RegCure do give you a free scan and then tell you that a purchase is needed to eliminate your errors. Whether they trully take care of the partial list of errors or not I don't know. In my opinion this seems like a scam to me. I've found 3 cleaners that I trust & that don't have any adverse affects on my computers (slowing down, error msgs, etc.). I use Window Washer, Advance SystemCare3 & Smart Defrag (A.S.C3 & Smart Defrag are from Iobit) the free versions work just fine, although I do plan to upgrade because the free versions do work so well. The Iobit Advanced SystemCare3 offers a large variety of other downloads to help with maximizing your PC's abilities. I encourage anyone who is a cleaner surfer to try these, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at the effects these have on your PC.
Gimmick
by mba28 - 6/6/09 1:18 PM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I am no computer expert but I have had the same problem with many products. Recently PC Pitstop , on a free scan, found many problems and said I had to purchase their software to correct the problems. When I realized I already had a paid version of the software (I just changed computers) I ran that version and there were only 3 problems found.
Easy Clean
by Vince53 - 6/6/09 1:30 PM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
A few years ago, Fred Langa recommended EasyClean as the best free registry cleaner. He explained that it refuses to delete or even list anything that is debatable, so it will not harm your computer, although it will miss some stuff. I've been using it for a couple of years, and it never gave me a problem.
Langa panned one cleaner that cleaned everything, and when he ran it immediately afterwards, it listed hundreds of errors. The manufacturers explained that it had found a problem and removed the troublesome line. However, the problem had hundreds of sub-lines, which were now harmless, but which took up space in his registry. Langa checked it and found it to be true.
In the past, I have used registry cleaners that forced me to re-install Windows after they had deleted stuff, so I advise you to be careful.
They pretty well all detect entries they deem not correct.
by Macron - 6/6/09 1:53 PM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Even going back to the Norton registry cleaner and MS Regclean 4.x series they all find entries they offer to remove. In most cases the changes are also backed up and thats a good thing since they can remove keys they shouldn't.
I have had them remove product activation keys and was force to reactive after cleaning as well as application specific keys which broke them. Its a tough call and I will be watching this thread. I have done many clean installs of XP and Windows 2000, installed MS Office and run a cleaner. They still say that errors are their to be cleaned even after a clean install of MS only apps. Go figure...ha ha. I don't run them often at all CCleaner is deemed to be fairy good and safe (free as well). Many of those online or free try before you by will rack up big fix list making you justify buying their product. Just like some popups saying you are infect and buy their antivirus product. Best to ignore both in my opinion.
Do Reg Cleaners really work???
by LordRingo - 6/19/09 11:48 PM In reply to: They pretty well all detect entries they deem not correct. by MacronFrom my experience, I think reg clearners are one of the biggest net scams around, run one and get 300 errors that needs a registered copy to cure, or run a free one and get no errors....save for a "unused file extension or two, "Make your computer faster, fix your computer...unbelievable...that so many people fall for that crap. It keeps the wheels greased I guess, but how can u fix a computer by just deleting, deleting and deleting more. I've never seen a reg cleaner fix anything, only delete this or that. supposed "unused file extensions..." After using what is probably the best all round "cleaner," (Ccleaner) I still troll thru the registry with regedit and find entries from long since uninstalled programs, just sitting there, gathering dust, waiting to be erased! And by far the worst is the "virus/malware" reg cureal program that invades your system, take over your desktop and demand to be purchased or you can't get back into your computer.
So after hours of frustration and a deadline looming, you capitulate and spend the $35.00 or so...for a license. And someone disappears into the black void of cyberspace with a quick million or two...! Has anyone ever been caught behind that scam? "Gee willikers Mr. Dillon, what happened to that fella over there...Well Festus, you don't steal a man's horse or his computer desktop! "Yes Sir Mr. Dillon, a knecktie party fo sho....
Great questions but complex answer!
by Grimbles - 6/6/09 2:25 PM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi Clem & Kay - Let's get what registry cleaners do out of the way first: Many operations we perform on computers create registry entries, installing software is the obvious main one. Whenever we uninstall software and sometimes when data is deleted, registry entries are left over...i.e. they remain behind even though the program/data they refer to is no longer there. These 'orphaned' registry entries are what the cleaning programs seek out and list for deletion.
Now to answer your other questions and a brief explanation: There are two main characteristics of registry cleaners; aggressiveness and safety...and they are intrinsically linked. All cleaners are prone to reporting false positives (incorrectly listing registry entries for deletion)...the more aggressive a cleaner is, so the likelihood of false positives increases.
So, employing a less aggressive product will be safer but not as thorough and employing a more aggressive product will be more thorough but not as safe.
I am always wary of products which claim to 'find' lots of errors and then offer to fix them if you buy the commercial version...it is a well known marketing ploy. I would treat any such claims as being highly dubious.
You will get conflicting arguments on the usefulness of registry cleaners...my opinion is that most are best left alone. It is better to have thousands of left over entries in the registry than to be missing just one which is essential.
If you must use one, my advice would be to use something like 'CCleaner' which is not terribly aggressive (or thorough) but is relatively safe.
cheers....JIM
REG CURE
by Nomadica - 6/6/09 2:30 PM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Reg Cure is a rip off. I did a complete new install of Vista and ran Reg Cure to say several hundred errors were found. I have run CCLEANER which is a totally free application and found not one problem with it. The website: http://www.ccleaner.com/ Try this, no spam and it works well with Vista and Windows 7 which I am currently using.
Cheers and hope you find a solution
Advanced Systems Care
by typhoon56 - 6/20/09 5:47 AM In reply to: REG CURE by NomadicaI have tried many of these products and have run the beta versions in various forms reporting faults. I have C cleane and it's useful however the best in my opinion is Advanced Systems Care. The free version I ran through many beta trials without problems and finally I decided to buy the pro version. Much of what it does you can do manually but it's so much faster. I would reccomend it to anyone. The best piece of free maintainance software on the net in my opinion.
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