Computer newbies: Microsoft has its own registry cleaner?...
Very straight and simple answer
by DADSGETNDOWN - 3/13/09 7:13 PM In reply to: Microsoft has its own registry cleaner?... by helaninjaThe answer is Very straight and simple.
Yes they do, but because it is Microsft does NOT mean it is good OR bad, they are always in the middle to Mid-High.
Just got to the Windows Live One Care and Scan it will check your registry fairly well. not a deep scan but you will mess it up if you deep scan/ reg cleaners. And not be able to start or fic it so it can start your computer.
Go get Ccleaner use that and WindowsLive One care you are good to go.
Registry Cleaner
by clay58 - 3/13/09 7:56 PM In reply to: Microsoft has its own registry cleaner?... by helaninjaYou want 3 things in a registry cleaner. #1 it must be safe to use, and you want to be confident it will do no damage. #2, you want it to be free, and have a loyal following of satisfied users. #3. you want it to be made by a reputable software company. There is only one registry cleaner that fits that bill and it is the only one I will recommend. That program is Piriform CCleaner. It is safe to use, can clean not only the registry but lots of other things, like Temp files, History, etc. It also is a great uninstaller for every program on your computer. Can also be used to block programs from running at startup. CCleaner is the only program I ever recommend for cleaning the registry. It is not necessarily the most through one you can use but it is the safest. I have never seen cCleaner cause one single problem on any of the hundreds of PC I have installed it on, or recommended it be installed. I do highly recommend you leave all the setting at the default and do not change any of them. That way you are safe. You can get it here:
http://www.piriform.com/
Yes they do, but ...................
by Dango517 - 3/13/09 11:00 PM In reply to: Microsoft has its own registry cleaner?... by helaninjahttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301
Did you see the warning at the top of this site page? If you missed it read it now.
(This program does not work like many registry repair programs that are available online. This is an "after program removal" registry cleaner. Meaning it only cleans up leftover data once a program has been removed. This is not how many online registry cleaners work. These programs remove registry content from "installed" programs. This is a big difference.)
Registry repair software appears to come in two forms, aggressive programs that remove to much data and mild registry repair software that avoids hardware and OS related entries in the registry.
The Windows registry, in large part, is a "store" of setting that are loaded during the boot process. As you change settings the registry changes. Programs usually can be simply reloaded if a registry program deletes important data from within them.
This is pretty much the problem .............. The registry also holds hardware and OS settings as well and in some cases algorithms that are used by the central processor to process data. If items in these areas of the registry are removed this can lead to serious PC problems. Leading up to and requiring an OS re-installation.
In some situations however, registries can become corrupted and registry repair software might repair this damage. In these emergencies registry repair software can be used in a final attempt, a last chance attempt to repair a damaged registry before reinstalling the OS becomes necessary. In short when you have nothing to loose registry repair might save a dieing OS.
I use registry repair software.
Not live one care
by DADSGETNDOWN - 3/14/09 1:17 AM In reply to: Yes they do, but ................... by Dango517What you are talking about is completely different than
Windows Live One Care Free Online scan.
Go there and use the full scan or just the Tune up.
Thay also have a real Reg cleaner other than this Windows Installer clean up you point to.
Make a windows Backup, make a ccleaner back up, if you use SpyBot S&D make a back up with that and you are as good to go as you are going to get. being safe. ( you can save them to your computer AND copies to Flash drives, better yet a CD, is your best bet.)
If you run into a problem that will be the best way to roll back,
lets not forget about system restore. 
If you use program that claims to be a reg repair you are not only in trouble but headed for more.
helaninja
by clay58 - 3/14/09 7:24 AM In reply to: Microsoft has its own registry cleaner?... by helaninjaPlease do not listen to these people who are pointing you to microsoft registry cleaner. There is no registry cleaner that is made by Microsoft and never has been. They have made utility cleaners for a specific task but have never made a full fledged registry cleaner. The one they are pointing you to is a malicious program and will damage your PC and I cannot believe anyone would recommend this piece of garbage. It may say microsoft, but it is not a piece of software from Microsoft. That is the reason McAfee Site Advisor & Web Of Trust (WOT) both flag this site as a malicious site. Go get Piriform CCleaner like a few people and myself have recommended and your search is over. It is safe for any newbie. Stay away from these other malicious programs such as the one that was recommended.
Registry Cleaner
by clay58 - 3/16/09 11:27 AM In reply to: Microsoft has its own registry cleaner?... by helaninjaYou need to close this subject. You have received your answer from some knowledgeable people and from some who do not know what they are talking about.
Microsoft does not have a Registry Cleaner.
Piriform CCleaner is the one you should choose and is perfectly safe to use if you leave the default settings alone, an is the only registry cleaner a novice should use.
That is your answer.
Microsoft DOES have a registry cleaner
by cstigler - 3/18/09 9:12 AM In reply to: Registry Cleaner by clay58http://www.microsoft.com/protect/products/computer/safetyscanner.mspx
note the domain: MICROSOFT.COM
clay58 is at least misinformed, if not spamming for Piriform
Windows Live Care
by clay58 - 3/18/09 11:05 AM In reply to: Microsoft DOES have a registry cleaner by cstiglerI stand corrected. Microsoft does have Windows Live Care if you want to go that route, but I personally do no want WLC on my PC. I have no affiliation with Piriform CCleaner whatsoever, I just know it is the safest one a novice can use and it is free. I have been using it for years myself and have installed it on over 100 computers with not one problem ever. I cannot say the same for any of the other registry cleaners out there. Some are more thorough, but can get a novice into trouble,
Windows Live Care
by cstigler - 3/18/09 12:12 PM In reply to: Windows Live Care by clay58Very good clay58. I didn't mean to offend, just wanted accurate info out there. I'm glad you've had such good results with Piriform. And don't misunderstand, I'm not vouching for Microsoft's product, just that they have one.
I Understand
by clay58 - 3/18/09 2:45 PM In reply to: Windows Live Care by cstiglerI too never want to post inaccurate information. I had totally forgotten about Windows Live One Care and I appreciate you correcting me. I never get upset when I am corrected, if it is done politely as you did.
Sorry, I've Seen OneCare Cause Issues As Well
by Grif Thomas
- 3/18/09 11:30 AM
In reply to: Microsoft DOES have a registry cleaner by cstigler
Just because it's Microsoft doesn't mean it's safe or identified the correct reg keys.. Although I'm not a fan of the Live OneCare scan and as such, haven't used it recently, but when I first used the tool, there was NO BACKUP utility/option to backup those registry keys that were identified for removal.. When the keys were gone, they were gone and if a mistake was made, ooopps... Yes, a system restore point is created prior to removing the items BUT ONLY IF SR is enabled on the computer and even then, a restore point is only kept as long as the allotted space and elapsed time allows.. Since registry boondoggles are frequently not noticed for days or weeks, the restore point may be gone.
I still maintain, the use of registry cleaners of any type, for general maintenance isn't a wise idea for newbies simply because we've seen enough damage on these forums to recommend avoiding such uses..PLUS their use generally shows little, to no improvement in speed or performance. Once the user has sufficient knowledge to KNOW what's being identified and removed, then that's a different story..
It's your choice so use at your own risk.
Hope this helps.
Grif
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