Community Newsletter: Q&A: Slow computer: Will a registry cleaner help?
- 2/22/08 12:08 PM
Registry cleaner questions and concerns
by msi4mfr - 2/9/08 11:41 PM In reply to: Slow computer: Will a registry cleaner help? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
The complaint, "My system is running so slow ...." is, by far, one of the most frequent and, typically, most difficult to resolve complaints that I and many IT folks have had to deal with. There is never a silver bullet and the approach is as varied as the number of users experiencing the slowdowns.
The first step is to absolutely, without a doubt, eliminate any spyware, adware and viruses from the system. The more thorough method for this is to place your hard drive in a known-clean (just had the OS and scanners installed onto fresh drive) system and run the scans to a squeaky-clean state. I use AVG and PC-Cillin, as well as SpyBot SD and Spy Sweeper.
If clean, examine your lifestyle on the system and think about the applications installed and how much they are used. If you have 10-15 windows open and are working with graphics, databases and the like, all at once, and doing it with only 512MB of RAM, consider an upgrade to 1GB or more.
Consider, too, a faster drive and cleaning up your current drive by deleting junk and defragging it. If you know the drive model, check its specs on the manufacturer's web site and replace it if it's a 5400 RPM slug. Most drives (PATA) of the economy class are slow and short on cache. The 7200 RPM units will increase the system's speed by about 33%. If you're working with SATA and have the cash, invest in an enterprise-level WD Raptor 10,000 RPM drive - you won't regret the change.
If you're running a lot of apps on little memory, virtual memory, which is hard drive swapping, will be used and slow the responses down considerably. Adding memory will alleviate this. If you want to see statistics on this, use Task Manager (Ctrl-Alt-Del Task) to view your Performance tab and look at the Page File Memory, Physical Memory and the Commit Charge peaks and cache. You can improve these with RAM and a faster drive.
The final point of discussion, registry cleaning, is a bit of a dangerous one, at least, due to a few BAD programs on the market. They will require you to make decisions when you may not have the resources with which to make them and wind up with a crippled system. The only time I have used a cleaner, it was Registry Cleaner and I selected that it make a backup of the registry, first, then remove only the "orphans" - the uninstalled program links that had nothing to do with anything currently installed. Don't "wing it" and start guessing what's safe to remove, just because one of these programs suggest it - you'll regret it.
When it comes to your system's registry, play it safe and remove only what you know should be and leave the rest. It can only improve the performance when it's done right. You can take it in baby steps and backup the registry before making changes and testing the modifications by doing everything you always do to see if it improves. Once you hit a plateau, stop or even reverse the last change.
Keep in mind, too, that XP and Vista have the System State Restore that will reverse changes if you get into deep water - make sure you create a Restore Point BEFORE you embark on each cleaning.
Oh, one last thing - backup, backup, backup. It's very important to remember.
registry cleaners
by 5530colin - 2/10/08 1:09 AM In reply to: Slow computer: Will a registry cleaner help? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
just use mcafee its all i use its built in the maintain my computer in tools just tick all the boxes and it does it all for you
Registry cleaners
by William Belford - 2/10/08 2:24 AM In reply to: Slow computer: Will a registry cleaner help? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Try IObit 'Advanced Windows Care'. It's free and crries out other chcks as well. WORKS WELL OMY WIN xp SYSTEM.
using registry cleaners
by papajohn3927 - 2/10/08 3:29 AM In reply to: Slow computer: Will a registry cleaner help? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have the same type of system windows XP SP2. I have use many diffent registy cleaners and never have a problem. But always back-up our registy before using this type of program. Many of them have a back-up in the program.
Answer for Tom---Registry cleaner questions and concerns
by Random_Access - 2/10/08 5:52 AM In reply to: Slow computer: Will a registry cleaner help? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Tom,
Computer slow down can result from any number of issues, far more reaching than just spyware and registry congestion.
To properly address this issue you must first determine the source of the "slow down", which will probably be a combination of issues. A good list to start with is :
Virus
Spyware
Fragmentation of the hard drive/swap files
Congestion of the hard drive/swap files
Congestion of physical memory
and of course Bloatware- read that "Microsoft Windows"
which over time will slow itself with updates and fixes.
That said, if you find you must take the plunge in registry editing; there is really only one hard rule to know. Back it up!
Even regedit can back up your registry and in combination with Windows restore feature you should be able to recover from anything you will do editing the registry.
For a cautious approach when using any registry editing program; do not use the auto repair feature for any but the most basic of operation.
Good luck...
CHP
Registry Cleaner Problems
by toocoolringlady - 2/10/08 6:16 AM In reply to: Slow computer: Will a registry cleaner help? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I too have had horrible experiences with registry cleaners. I even lost a hard drive to one. My experience has been that the best free or paid cleaner has been the safety scanner fron Microsoft. You can download it from http://www.onecare.live.com. It not only cleans your registry but it defragments your hard drive faster than anything else I've ever seen. It is also very safe and I found it be the most effective all around full service scanner available. So the only preparation you have to do is relax and watch this guy work for you. Good Luck, Too Cool Ring Lady
slow xp
by Ed Pudleiner - 2/10/08 7:00 AM In reply to: Slow computer: Will a registry cleaner help? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
forget about it .......all that clean this and that, just add 2gb of memory and you'll be good to go.
Ed
ps If you realy want to kick it up a notch, go for four(4gb)
Slow XP SP2 computer & registry cleaner
by Paul Criger - 2/10/08 7:14 AM In reply to: Slow computer: Will a registry cleaner help? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Tom,
I'm no computer know it all, but I've learned a lot from CNET. My, then, four year old XP SP2 was running slow too. One of the CNET newsletters dealt with the best small file size free applications. One of those was CCleaner. I tried it. It works great. Check out the review on CNET.
Ultimately cleaning the register, defragging and everything else I did wasn't enough. I had to reformat my hard drive. (Programs were crashing). Contact your computer manufacturer to get an XP SP2 disk to reinstall from (Dell provided mine at no charge). BACKUP ALL DATA THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO LOSE.
Another free small program was Belarc Advisor. Download and run it. It will provide you with a report listing every program on your computer. (It's amazing how those things add up over five years). Use this list when you are re-installing software. I ended up not re-installing quite a few - which probably lead to some of the improved performance that I experienced.
I googled reformat hard drive and came up with a bunch. I used http://faq.oit.gatech.edu/0305.html to reformat mine. It includes the instruction for disconnecting from the network (internet) before doing the re-install (not all of them recommended that step). Print off the instructions from that site.
1-Study the instructions so that you are familiar with what you will need to do.
2-Use the Belarc inventory to develop a priority list of which applications and hardware you will re-install. These processes always take longer then you think - so if you need to stop and come back later, what can you live without?
3-Find all of the disks that shipped - with your computer, with your peripherals and software.
4-BACKUP ALL DATA THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO LOSE. (Did I already say that?)
5-Go for it!
Your computer will be like brand new when you get to the other side. (I had increased functionality on many programs after reformatting and reinstalling my software).
My opinion!
by chanhdat - 2/10/08 7:33 AM In reply to: Slow computer: Will a registry cleaner help? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Windows is really a annoying problem. Year by year, or even month by month, it creates many useless things that slow down your computer. After 5 years, you stand in front of many ways to increase your computer's speed, such as, upgrade it with more RAMs, and stronger CPU. But sometimes, we don't have enough money for that.
I will introduce to you some possible ways ( and what to know your system ):
1) Reinstall Windows. That makes your computer fresh, and young as the time you bought it. However, you may lose some valuable data (serials, cd-key,...). But don't worry about that, you can back up those data to another hard disks ( they are not so expensive today ).
2) Remove the rubbish that Windows created during 5 years.
I recommend CCleaner.(For info: http://www.ccleaner.com/ ;For download: http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/ ). It will give you the possibility to clean up your hard disk. And check for some false, useless, error registry keys. It is free.
Or you can take a look at TuneUp Utilities. But it costs money.
After clean up, if you are not satisfied, we continue tuning up Windows.
- There are many services of Windows that you never use or even know about it. However, they run silently and eat all your computer's memory. To stop them doing that, you choose Start/Run. Type: Servies.MSC .
Each service is listed as it is in Microsoft's WIndows XP Professional. These should be similar in Microsoft's XP Home as well. Under each is the definition given in the Services Manager.
* Alerter
Notifies selected users and computers of administrative alerts. If the service is stopped, programs that use administrative alerts will not receive them. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Comment: I don't want my personal computer telling me anything, ever. Shut up and work! There's few things I find more annoying than a computer constantly wanting to interact with me while I'm using it to do work or entertain myself. A computer is a tool, not a friend or work companion. No Hal, I don't want to talk to you. Perhaps there's a software vendor that can give you a compelling reason why you need this service, but for most home and SOHO PC use it's just an unnecessary service taking up resources and providing risk. Unless you are running a product that requires this service, disable it.
* Application Layer Gateway Service
Provides support for 3rd party protocol plug-ins for Internet Connection Sharing and the Internet Connection Firewall
Comment: Do you want to share your internet connection? That's an article waiting to be written. Let me be clear. Since you can buy a router for $50 or less, and Windows does an awful job routing, using a computer to gateway your other computers to the internet is just stupid. "What about firewalling and admission control?" Well, that's not going to be done through the built-in internet sharing tools. So, we''re not talking about that. If you use a personal computer to gateway your other computers to the internet (and calling it a server doesn't change the reality), you are wasting resources. Buy a $50 router, or a $1000 router for that matter. But, buy a discrete device that is designed to do the job. Use hardware based firewalling (OK, it's all based on software - but I mean a boxed solution, not software installed on a PC that's prone to lose autonomy). And, what about all those cute third-party firewalling tools that plug in to this thing? Man, give me a break. If it runs on top of your Windows installation, it's not a real firewall. Unless this is required by a product you think is necessary, disable it.
* Automatic Updates
Enables the download and installation of critical Windows updates. If the service is disabled, the operating system can be manually updated.
Comment: There's only two options that may make sense with this service. You should either set it to disable or manual. I'd disable it. Automatic Updates is designed as a tool to aid Microsoft in controlling their product. Props to Microsoft for trying to protect their product from piracy. But, some updates have been known to cause problems. Use it when you need it, and disable it when you don't, unless you're too lazy to do updates on your own. Don't you wonder why all the computers in big, well managed networks don't run Automatic Updates? It's mostly because managers of big networks create their own update policies. If you more completely understand the thinking that goes into deciding whether or not to distribute an update, you could better administer your own PC. Either turn it on and assume the risk, or turn it off and regularly visit Mircosoft's update and news page (discussed more below).
* Background Intelligent Transfer Service
Uses idle network bandwidth to transfer data.
Comment: This is one of those tools they require you turn on to enable Automatic Updates. Think about it. It connects your PC to the internet or network and works behind your back to do stuff you didn't explicitly tell it to do. It sounds like a great tool to help hackers collect data from your PC and slowly seep it back to their lair. Unless it's immediately required, disable it. It you use it and then go for some time with no need to use it, disable it. If you can't remember to keep your PC updated with the latest security fixes, you'll need it.
* ClipBook
Enables ClipBook Viewer to store information and share it with remote computers. If the service is stopped, ClipBook Viewer will not be able to share information with remote computers. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Comment: So, you want to copy stuff to your clipbook and allow remote computers to access it? I don't. There may be a software vendor that requires this service to run. I've yet to find it useful. I suggest you disable it.
* Computer Browser
Maintains an updated list of computers on the network and supplies this list to computers designated as browsers. If this service is stopped, this list will not be updated or maintained. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Comment: If you are on a network with other computers, and need to see them, this may be a useful tool. Otherwise, disable it.
* Cryptographic Services
Provides three management services: Catalog Database Service, which confirms the signatures of Windows files; Protected Root Service, which adds and removes Trusted Root Certification Authority certificates from this computer; and Key Service, which helps enroll this computer for certificates. If this service is stopped, these management services will not function properly. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Comment: It is very necessary if you are passing certificates for networking. Unless you are in a large corporate network where connections are managed through authentication, this is unnecessary; disable it.
* Distributed Transaction Coordinator
Coordinates transactions that span multiple resource managers, such as databases, message queues, and file systems. If this service is stopped, these transactions will not occur. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Comment: Extremely few personal computers will require this service. If you use it, you may want to review the reasons it is being used. Unless you are accessing network filesystems and databases, disable it.
* DNS Client
Resolves and caches Domain Name System (DNS) names for this computer. If this service is stopped, this computer will not be able to resolve DNS names and locate Active Directory domain controllers. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Comment: It's typically good to leave this on.
* Error Reporting Service
Allows error reporting for services and applications running in non-standard environments.
Comment: Erorr reporting is very useful, if you know what to do with the errors or you are running software that adjusts based on error reporting. This is that annoying "feature" in Windows that constantly pops up wanting to ship information about your software failures to Redmond. People promise me it helps find problems and solutions. I've mostly seen problem reports that you could as easily search out yourself. If you're advanced enough to use this, you'll likely use a search engine just as well. Chances are, the best thing for you to do is disable it.
* Help and Support
Enables Help and Support Center to run on this computer. If this service is stopped, Help and Support Center will be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Comment: I don't find this service useful, other than sucking up resources. If you know how to use Google, I'd disable it.
* Human Interface Device Access
Enables generic input access to Human Interface Devices (HID), which activates and maintains the use of predefined hot buttons on keyboards, remote controls, and other multimedia devices. If this service is stopped, hot buttons controlled by this service will no longer function. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Comment: Whether or not you should disable this service, depends on other services you need. If you don't know, turn it off and see if it breaks anything. It says that it deals with hotkeys, however all the system hotkeys that most of us enjoy aren't controlled by this service, they are built into the core OS. Control C, for example, to copy and Control V to past, do not stop working when you turn this service off. It seems this has more to do with specific hotkeys that a software vendor may want to insert into their installed program or internet product. Until you see a reason for it, I'd turn this one off. Personally, I consider relying on such services to be lazy programming. But, there may be good reason for using it if it's more efficient.
* Indexing Service
Indexes contents and properties of files on local and remote computers; provides rapid access to files through flexible querying language.
Comment: To date, nobody has shown me real system performance improvements with this technology. Keep in mind, I'm limited in this conversation to Windows. Indexing is very useful. Indexing databases is very useful. Indexing your computer isn't very useful at all. Typically, if you are on a network, you know where on a network to find your chosen data. If you are not on a network, there's no real performance enhancement to this service that justifies the complexity and resource use. Chances are good you should disable it.
* IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service
Manages CD recording using Image Mastering Applications Programming Interface (IMAPI). If this service is stopped, this computer will be unable to record CDs. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Comment: Obviously, there may be some usefulness leaving this service as manual, if you have a CD burner installed. If you don't, disable it.
* Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) / Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
Provides network address translation, addressing, name resolution and/or intrusion prevention services for a home or small office network.
Comment: This tool does a great job of complicating my internet connection and slowing down transactions. It's not likely this tool is sophisticated enough to make a major impact in your system's performance. You should disable it.
* Messenger
Transmits net send and Alerter service messages between clients and servers. This service is not related to Windows Messenger. If this service is stopped, Alerter messages will not be transmitted. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Comment: Turn this thing off! It's a simple kit for anybody that can connect via any network to your computer to access your system and do things you don't want them to. Disable it.
* Net Logon
Supports pass-through authentication of account logon events for computers in a domain.
Comment: Unless you need this to operate inside a domain, it's likely not necessary or useful. If you are using a home or SOHO PC and don't have a local domain based network, disable it.
* NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing
Enables an authorized user to access this computer remotely by using NetMeeting over a corporate intranet. If this service is stopped, remote desktop sharing will be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Comment: Do you really want a built in tool to share control of your desktop over your network connection? There are better tools for doing this kind of work, if needed. If someone you buy software from insists you let them use this tool to help you install it one time, then enable it and disable it immediately afterward. For typical use, you should disable it.
* Remote Desktop Help Session Manager
Manages and controls Remote Assistance. If this service is stopped, Remote Assistance will be unavailable. Before stopping this service, see the Dependencies tab of the Properties dialog box.
Comment: Refer to NetMeeting. If you don't want to share control of your computer through your network, disable it.
* Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Locator
Manages the RPC name service database.
Comment: There are some network programs and protocols that require this to be turned on. Chances are you could just turn it off and see if you break anything. If you are using a single PC in your home or SOHO, it's likely just a security risk. If you don't know you need it, disable it.
* Remote Registry
Enables remote users to modify registry settings on this computer. If this service is stopped, the registry can be modified only by users on this computer. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Comment: Seems self-explanatory. You can enable this service to help remote people or programs change your registry. Great hacker tool if you can't secure it. Disable it.
* System Restore Service
Performs system restore functions. To stop service, turn off System Restore from the System Restore tab in My Computer->Properties
Comment: This is almost useless if you ever have a problem with damaged drives, corrupted data, or malware. It uses a lot of resources and isn't useful for most people. You can turn it on before you install a big piece of software. This service allows you to backup to a previous system should you mess your's up with an installation of software or a modification to your system settings, usually registry damage. To improve system performance and take the minor risk of not being able to make your computer work like it did yesterday, disable it.
* TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
Enables support for NetBIOS over TCP/IP (NetBT) service and NetBIOS name resolution.
Comment: Very few people use NetBIOS at home. This is the Windows built-in protocol for simple networking. You may need it. Otherwise, disable it.
* Telephony
Provides Telephony API (TAPI) support for programs that control telephony devices and IP based voice connections on the local computer and, through the LAN, on servers that are also running the service.
Comment: If you use telephony, you probably use discrete devices or proprietary services that don't rely on this service. However, you do need this servive if you use a modem to connect to the ineternet. If you don't specifically need the Microsoft Telephony service, disable it. If you use a modem to connect to the internet, leave it enabled.
* Telnet
Enables a remote user to log on to this computer and run programs, and supports various TCP/IP Telnet clients, including UNIX-based and Windows-based computers. If this service is stopped, remote user access to programs might be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Comment: There's just not a circumstance where I can imagine that turning this service on is a good idea. Unless you need to let people telnet into your computer and have a really good reason for doing so, disable it.
* Terminal Services
Allows multiple users to be connected interactively to a machine as well as the display of desktops and applications to remote computers. The underpinning of Remote Desktop (including RD for Administrators), Fast User Switching, Remote Assistance, and Terminal Server.
Comment: As I've said above, there's better tools for remote desktop administration. The idea of Terminal Services is to allow remote desktop administration of a system, like the user was on the actual console. In almost all circumstances you should disable it.
* Themes
Provides user experience theme management.
Comment: Themes are cute and bloated. Enabling themes is not a good way to increase performance, but you may think it's neat. If you aren't addicted to cute desktop eye candy, disable it.
* Uninterruptible Power Supply
Manages an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) connected to the computer.
Comment: Unless you are using a UPS on your computer and it has the capability of managing the system, disable it.
* Upload Manager
Manages synchronous and asynchronous file transfers between clients and servers on the network. If this service is stopped, synchronous and asynchronous file transfers between clients and servers on the network will not occur. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Comment: If you are not in a local network sharing data (files and/or services), disable it.
* Windows Time
Maintains date and time synchronization on all clients and servers in the network. If this service is stopped, date and time synchronization will be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Comment: Sometimes it works. Unless you are really needing your time to sync to something running a Windows time server, disable it.
* Wireless Zero Configuration
Provides automatic configuration for the 802.11 adapters
Comment: Unless you use 802.11 devices, disable it.
* Workstation
Creates and maintains client network connections to remote servers. If this service is stopped, these connections will be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Comment: If you are not in a local network sharing data (files and/or services), disable it.
If you turn off all the services suggested above and try to use Automatic Updates via WindowsUpdate.Microsoft.com, you will likely see a message something like this:
Windows Update cannot continue because a required service application is disabled. Windows Update requires the following services:
"Automatic Updates enables detection, downloading, and installation of critical updates for your computer.
Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) enables faster, restartable downloading of updates.
Event Log logs Windows Update events for troubleshooting. To ensure that these services are enabled:"
It's easy to just go back to Services, and turn these services on as you need them. An operating system shouldn't need daily updates to run. And, the more services you run, the more likely you are to need updates. See a circle here? Occasionally, a little laziness won't kill you. Though you could just go to Technet (Microsoft's only support for IT professionals) and get all your news and update files with descriptions of their efficacy and safety, you may occasionally just want to veg out and let Microsoft do the work for you. You should still read each update and decide for yourself whether it makes sense. Some of them are flat out bad news. But, turning up these services for a few minutes to run Automatic Updates may be a shortcut to periodic updates.
So, let's look at the services they want you to turn on.
Automatic Updates
Background Intelligent Transfer Service
Event Log
I haven't a clue why you need Background Intelligent Transfer Services to run so you can go to a website, download, and install service packs. But, you can turn it, and the others, on and then turn it back off when you are done. It's just three services.
If you turn off all the services suggested above and try to use Automatic Updates via WindowsUpdate.Microsoft.com, you will likely see a message something like this:
Windows Update cannot continue because a required service application is disabled. Windows Update requires the following services:
Automatic Updates enables detection, downloading, and installation of critical updates for your computer.
Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) enables faster, restartable downloading of updates.
Event Log logs Windows Update events for troubleshooting. To ensure that these services are enabled:
It's easy to just go back to Services, and turn these services on as you need them. An operating system shouldn't need daily updates to run. And, the more services you run, the more likely you are to need updates. See a circle here? Occasionally, a little laziness won't kill you. Though you could just go to Technet (Microsoft's only support for IT professionals) and get all your news and update files with descriptions of their efficacy and safety, you may occasionally just want to veg out and let Microsoft do the work for you. You should still read each update and decide for yourself whether it makes sense. Some of them are flat out bad news. But, turning up these services for a few minutes to run Automatic Updates may be a shortcut to periodic updates.
So, let's look at the services they want you to turn on.
1. Automatic Updates
2. Background Intelligent Transfer Service
3. Event Log
I haven't a clue why you need Background Intelligent Transfer Services to run so you can go to a website, download, and install service packs. But, you can turn it, and the others, on and then turn it back off when you are done. After all, it's just three services.
If you take a minimalist's point of view to running both software and services on your computer, it will perform faster and more safely than it will if you just randomly load anything anyone tells you to. To better secure your PC, stick to a mindset that if you don't absolutely need a service running right now, you should just turn it off.
For those of you that break stuff when you turn off services I suggest are unnecessary.
If you turn off all the stuff that blatantly doesn't have anything to do with the network, you should be fine. Then, turn off one thing at a time that you /think/ doesn't support your network connection. If you lose your connection, turn the service back on. Next, and this part is very important, make sure your network settings are accurate and set for "on" so you can reconnect. You should find out how your PC connects to your local network before you get started and document it. But, anything you turn off that breaks something needs to be carefully examined and documented (write it down somewhere).
Just because you turn a service back on, doesn't mean your broken software will magically start working again. For example, remember the issue of using a computer in your network to manage your connection? If that's how you connect, you'll have to reconfigure that connection to get online if you kill it by killing a service. Likely, Computer Browser will cause this kind of problem. Also, just enabling the service doesn't turn it on. You need to manually restart it, since the start, enable, stop, settings go into action on bootup. So, if you don't want to wait til your box reboots, you'll need to manually turn off the service if you want it disabled, and manually turn it on if you want to enable it (and see if that given service is your problem).
What about System Restore? Well, I don't like it. If I had a dollar for every time someone fouled up their PC, ran system restore, and were amazed that all wasn't suddenly happy sunshine, I'd have a really nice vacation home. I realize it makes life easier for newbies that randomly screw stuff up and can't be hassled with learning the things they use. But, for most cases, it's a great tool for virus and worms to avoid capture. You delete them, they have a backup switch to recapture control through the restore program. Many antivirus programs don't work properly when you have this feature enabled. You can leave it on if you're a fan. Perhaps it makes you feel good, like it would make everything right again if you had it around. But, it won't save you from a serious problem. Backups and safe computer practices will.
You need to learn enough about your PC to run a functional backup and restoration of your critical data. If you can't do this, you're just waiting to lose everything.
Don't be afraid to learn more about your PC. It's one thing to run through a checklist of stuff I suggest you don't need. But, it's not a guarantee that I address every concern for every user. With a few hours here and there of learning now, you'll save yourself a lot of frustration later. The things I learned about Windows five and six years ago still serve me today. The things I learned about networks running Unix systems serve me every day, no matter what operating system I may run.
Enjoy learning; it's the first line of defense against bad software and broken PCs.
Read more: http://www.jasonn.com/run_a_faster_windows_pc_by_keeping_it_clean
elevator broke....use the steps..(AA joke)
by reefurbb - 2/10/08 7:40 AM In reply to: Slow computer: Will a registry cleaner help? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
1. clean up your HDD:
a. make sure you know your password and can log in with
Aministrator Priviledges; make sure you can use F8 at boot
to get boot menu for System Restore;make sure you know your User
name and password for online stuff.
b. turn off System Restore, restart PC, turn back on, turn Sys Res
back on, create a new restore point, restart PC.
c. clean out Temp Files and Add/Remove unused programs.
d. create another Restore Point to later delete if PC works ok.
e. go to www.download.com and get-install Adaware-update-scan-clean.
CCleaner-install-use carefully(you can always check more boxes
and rerun), and download Eusing.
f. use TrendMicro Housecall for ultimate cleaning-check; it takes
a lot of time but worth it.
2. free sign up for Tech Republic Membership.
3. go to XP Archives and read-save XP tips.
4. download and use Eusing Free Registry Cleaner.
5. create new Res Point if PC works ok.
You can reboot after each step to see pogress. I've used Eusing and it helped boot speed a lot. XP tips help even more. My PC is a PII 333mhz 128mb ram, so I needed help. Notice I didn't suggest a full backup as it takes a new partition or HDD.
Registry Cleaner Concerns
by mkerd261 - 2/10/08 8:34 AM In reply to: Slow computer: Will a registry cleaner help? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I am a retired Systems Engineer. I have worked with computers for 30 plus years. Programming as well as designing systems.
I had in the past manually edited my registry and associated files. This is a daunting task. Six months ago I decided to try and find a Registry Repair program to take over this task. I read the reviews and the one thing to keep in mind is the reviewers are paid to to do this job. Who ever is paying, their program will be #1.
I bought twelve programs and evaluated all of them. They all had their short comings except one. Registry Repair Wizard 2008 is by far the best program out there. It does a great job as well as safeguards your critical files. It is easy to use even for the novice. I do recommend this program to all of my associates.
I suggest that you just look into reinstalling Windows
by scott_789 - 2/10/08 9:23 AM In reply to: Slow computer: Will a registry cleaner help? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
It's true that the installing and uninstalling of software over time will cause orphaned registry entries in Windows, as well as leave scattered remnants of files and directories in various places.
Every so often it's good to just do a fresh install becuase of that. If you have a name-brand computer it might even have a recovery partition or "System Restore" function (not to be confused with the Windows restore). That will set the computer back up to the way it was when it left the factory.
The good thing about a system recovery is that all the needed drivers are loaded up with the recovery - but just may need updated.
Windoze Constipation
by airboy1 - 2/10/08 9:39 AM In reply to: Slow computer: Will a registry cleaner help? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Here's how I deal with this recurring issue. When I built my system, I installed the operating system did all the updates and installed most of my applications. I then installed and used Acronis True Image to take a snapshot of my clean new installation. About every 18 months or so because Windoze gets constipated in the way that you describe in you question. I backup my data files to another drive. I pull out the image file and reload it to my system. From there you restore you data files from the backup and perhaps install a few applications that were installed since the clean image was taken.
This will work ad infinitum unless you change the Hardware significantly, ie Motherboard.
From where you are now. I would backup everything, Reinstall Windoze,
do all the updates, reinstall your applications then take an image of your work of art for the next time.
Good Luck,
Airboy
Good luck.
Slow XP SP2
by juanvcny - 2/10/08 9:59 AM In reply to: Slow computer: Will a registry cleaner help? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Try CC Cleaner and /or Eusing Free Registry cleaner. They are good as long as you realize that you must backup the registry before cleaning it, but that may not be your problem at all. After using your computer for 5 years it's bound to have mounds and mounds of system back-ups stored in the system Restore area. Delete all except the latest restore point. This will free up an enormous amount of disc space. Do a defrag on all drives, get rid of old pictures you never use and check for large programs that you don't need and uninstall them. You will notice a big difference. All of these tools can be found under All Programs/Accessories/system Tools.
Best registry cleaner I have found.
by ERNIEOSD - 2/10/08 10:07 AM In reply to: Slow computer: Will a registry cleaner help? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have been using WINFERNO-Power Registry Cleaner for several years. it is not expensive and you can set it up to do a number of things including scheduled scans and reports to actual scans and cleanings. I have found no issue with it. It does not affect the normal functions of my registry and I feel like I have a real clean system all the time. TRy it, you will like it.
ERNIEO
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