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PC utilities: Do computer Registry cleaners really work?
- 6/19/09 12:42 PM
Registry cleaner scams
by burkebri - 6/8/09 9:11 AM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I think a lot of these products are scams.
I had a similar question when my computer would ask at startup which version of Windows XP I wanted to start. I did some research that suggested there was a registry problem and I tried two "free scans" which showed hundreds of registry problems which could be solved by purchasing the PRO version.
I selected AMUST Software for $20 which caused my PC to crash and not re-boot. Multiple emails to their support desk went unanswered. When I looked into it further I found out that the company was based in St Petersburg Russia. Eventually I sent the PC out for repair and the reformatting of the hard drive erased all my pictures and music.
Reg cleaners are a bunch of BS
by wise12u - 6/8/09 10:36 AM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Don't run them or buy them. You don't need them or want them. They will mess up your computer and don't work. All you need to use is the Disk clean up and the Defragment that is already in windows. Get rid of the programs that you don't want or use. This is it. Otherwise problems and silly money being spent. Don't fall for this regcleaners BS. That is all it is.
Registry Cleaner: it worked for me
by mikado-141 - 6/8/09 11:57 AM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hello,
I have a rather old PC (Pentium IV, 3gHz) and it was really becoming slow; I could no longer make any movie(Studio 9)and every soft took ages to open.
I downloaded the free CCleaner and ran it. I blindly accepted all fixes it proposed (I was ready to reformat everything anyway).
Miracle! After this treatment, my PC was much faster, no problem any more to create movies etc.
I don't know what technically was done, but in my case, it was pretty efficient!
Mikado141
Yes, Registry cleaners really work
by walfin - 6/8/09 12:05 PM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I downloaded Glary Utilities via CNET downloads, and have used it many times. Actually, this download has alot more, than just the registry cleaner. I do know for a fact it does work. And best of all, it is FREE!!!!
Do computer Registry cleaners really work?
by Montty2 - 6/8/09 2:08 PM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Ive been using CCleaner (free). Eusing free registry cleaner, Registry booster 2 and SpeedUpMyPC 3, for over a year, now and my pc is running great. Always back up your registry first.
...yes they do work...but...
by rlessmue - 6/8/09 3:09 PM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Some "Programs" out there will say you do have registry errors in a
"different" way than others will. But, not all of these "programs" are
equal.
Some provide (what I call) "false" reporting, where they will report
that you have errors (even if you don't have any)...therefore
letting you to believe that this program is really good...because it
found errors that other programs were unable to find! Even if you have
errors, not all errors are bad.
So it sounds like you have found one of the "sales" of one of these
programs. They show all of these errors on your system, and only the
"Pro" version can remove them, is a somewhat "common" sales pitch
that I have seen many times. There are similar programs for viruses and other "cleaning" programs on the internet. 90% of these types of
programs do a poor job of cleaning in my own opinion.
To answer your questions:
What do Registry cleaners do exactly?
- Most of the time, they clean "extra" items that were left
behind from a removal of a program, repair broken links, remove
invalid registries, and other stuff.
===
Do they create more problems or solve them?
- This depends upon a few things. The "program" that you are using
to remove these "errors" that are being found. Is it a good program?
Most of the time people run Registry Cleaners to speed up their
systems, which it can help in doing. So if you use a bad program,
you will create more problems than solve. Using a good program, it
will help in improving your system.
===
Are companies who make these utilities just out here to make a buck?
- Yes. The good companies and the bad companies.
===
Do registry cleaners really work?
How do you to know if they are doing what they are suppose to do?
- Yes. But I would recommend another program called:
"Your Uninstaller" to remove a program from your computer.
Why? "Your Uninstaller" will remove a program using the "normal"
program uninstaller that came with the program...first. This will
show what a normal program does to uninstall a program from your
computer. When it has "finished" uninstalling, the program
"Your Uninstaller" will take over and clean the files that have
been left behind by your program uninstaller. Usually there are a
lot of registry items left behind that it is cleaning up. This is
the best "proof" that I can give that they do work!
==
Hope this helps!
Cheers!
Agreed
by Igiveup2 - 6/20/09 4:47 PM In reply to: ...yes they do work...but... by rlessmueThe above post touches on a key point: Avoid registry abuse in the first place. The two main culprits are bad software and incomplete uninstalls. By "bad" software I am referring to all software that elevates to administrator privileges for non-administrative tasks. There is no need for application software to modify your registry unless it is a system utility. Applications that do so are based on the conventions of the old DOS/9x Windows and you really need to replace it with something less dangerous. The Windows uninstaller is pretty weak and leaves a lot of crud behind. Use a third party uninstaller that is more thorough than the Windows uninstaller. I like REVO Uninstaller (free). It does an analysis of files and registry keys related to the application being uninstalled. You can set it to do a basic, medium, or advanced uninstall. I have yet to encounter a problem resulting from the medium uninstall. The advanced uninstall gives you enough rope to hang yourself, so the precautions about backing up before registry cleaning apply. But you have the advantage of being able to select a less intense uninstall, or to manually deselect certain registry keys from the uninstall if you encounter a problem with an advanced uninstall.
Just my opinion
by duhzzz - 6/8/09 3:31 PM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
In my opinion, registry cleaners only serve those who sell them. The best way to correct any registry errors, is to backup your data, which of course we all always do, reinstall the operating system, apps, a good AV/AS app, then your data. If something is corrupting the registry, it is better to find the cause, rather that try to 'fix' it. The biggest problems I run across @ work, which is PC repair, is that people tend to download too much 'free' stuff from the web, that in the end, isn't free. They pay me to redo their systems. If you still insist in d/l'd the 'crapware', nake system restore points prior to doing so, and when you are sure your system is in a clean state.
Duhzzz
Registry cleaners
by yslutskiy - 6/8/09 7:41 PM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I've had the same experience and after somewhat extensive investigation I've concluded they are rigged to get you to buy the upgrade. If you don't really know what you're doing, don't mess with the registry. You are far more likely to create a huge problem than you are to fix one.
Some Show Fake Errors
by maverick69beckham07 - 6/9/09 9:13 AM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Even i noticed these software programs .. I was using this Tune Up Utilities program very often and it was working perfectly. After a while i felt there must be something better so searched a little more on download.com and found this UniBlue's Registry Booster or something. When i ran it, it was showing FAKE ERRORS! How could i tell? I went into the Registry and checked manually for those errors. Most of them didnt even exist! So, do check out a few of those 355 Errors this RegCure is showing! It could be the same case !
Happy Helper,
-Maverick.
Some reg cleaners work
by royc - 6/9/09 11:57 AM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
BUT those that tell you that there are 100+ errors are using scare tatics to get your money.
I have been using CCleaner (Free) for several years, it works for me.
It may find 100+ errors the first time you run it but they will fix them, not tell you to send money. 
One thing, you need to run it several times to clean the bad stuff out, each time you run it. After the first day you run it you may have to run it 2 or 3 times to finish the job.
It can also remove cookies and temp files if you want it too. This is a seperate part of the program.
OH, did I tell you the program cost $00.00 
Registry Cleaner
by richardusn - 6/10/09 7:28 AM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
RC's are like anything else that is advertised. You get what you pay for. The registry file on your computer is the most important part
of your operating system because it keeps a numerical index of the
hard disk address of every file on your computer, correlated with
every other item of similar subject at different locations on the disk drive. The cleaner consolidates all of the identical indexed addresses and rebuilds the registry much like a disk defragmentation
will do that combines parts of the same disk files that are not contiguous. If you don't get a cleaner that has been properly developed you can ruin your registry and cause many problems with
all of the data files on your system. WindowsXP does a good job of correcting most file corruption problems without needing a registry
cleaner. If you are having disk drive I/O errors (corrupted files) you either have a bad disk drive or the registry has become corrupted.
DO COMPUTER REGISTRY CLEANERS REALLY WORK.
by dbell4444 - 6/13/09 7:59 PM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
BE VERY CAREFUL. They may help a little, but for $30 you do not have the best program.
There are a few good ones ... I use Trend Micro ... not the free version, and it checks constantly every few minutes ... and, questions if something does not look real ... or is good to download.
I too have used some of those programs ... but they did not prevent all the problems one would think.
It does not pay to be too thrifty when it comes to protecting your computer. And, believe it or not, the program I use is not expensive.
I don't call it a cleaning or repair
by easytimes455 - 6/19/09 6:30 PM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have only tried one registry cleaner... one time. I resurrected my computer after that episode and have resolved to clean my registry the "EASIER" way. When things start bogging down, I reload the operating system and start all over again... usually every year to eighteen months. It's like having a nearly new computer and the registry file bits are gone, for the most part. So far, it has worked every time I have tried it, and I have the process down to the point I can do it in a couple of hours. It also creates the need for me to keep a reasonably decent backup archive. The only aggravation is reinstalling all of the freebie apps I have and love to use so much.
Come to think of it, I can reload my OS much more quickly than I can repair the damage a registry cleaner will usually do. But then again, I'm from the old school of maintenance... shortcuts usually aren't short, but they can sure cut you. Registry cleaners are nothing but shortcuts, and I don't use 'em.
Good luck,
Bravo
by billbbb724 - 6/30/09 9:42 PM In reply to: I don't call it a cleaning or repair by easytimes455Perfectly stated!!!
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