PC utilities: Do computer Registry cleaners really work?
- 6/19/09 12:42 PM
Disagree on firewall..
by JCitizen - 6/21/09 7:23 PM In reply to: Work? Well.... by Flatwormespecially for XP SP2, that firewall is worse than tissue paper for the clients I've done work for. SP3 might have improved it a bit, but it still doen't do outbound and this is critical for accidental infections. The malware can quickly gain control if it can get back out through the firewall.
No matter what people seem to think Comodo Pro is still the ONLY easy to use leak-proof firewall out there. However you must NOT install Defense+ and definitely not activate it! Internet Explorer 8 will get into a pitch battle with it and you won't even be able to fully boot.
This obsolete real time protection was wonderful before, but IE 8 has probably rendered it obsolete.
Now as far as Vista x64 users go; I'd agree the built-in firewall is good enough for carefull users. I've done work for clients and was astonished they had been relying on it, and had no viruses despite operating as administrator the whole time!! They never violated the UAC however and this was probably crucial, especially since they regularly dumped their temp files and cookies.
I've fought some battles on my x64 honeypot and I can attest that as far as free goes, you can not rely on anything less that Comodo. ZoneAlarm is too bloated and I've had it taken over by malware and modified to let outbound control traffic be allowed. Just not worth it to me.
I do however do ethusiastically recommend ZoneAlarm's Z100G wireless gateway/firewall/router. I am using sofaware's version the Safe@Office and it can even keep the Chinese government out!! If you catch an errant infection it will block the communication untill it can be removed and give you a red light IDS alert on the router to let you know about the attack. Cheaper but probably just as good DD-WRT solutions can be had by surfing Tom's Hardware for FOSS solutions and firmware for the popular brands of hardware firewall/routers out there.
Re: disagree with firewalls
by mgisan - 8/22/09 5:23 PM In reply to: Disagree on firewall.. by JCitizenI hate to burst any bubbles, however, in reality, firewalls are not safe as we like to think. These applications do provide some form of security and protection from internet threats. Unfortunately, the hackers have access to the same firewall software as the average consumer. As a result, the hackers learn all the insides and outs of the firewall software we consumers use to protect our computers. In turn, the hackers are at an advantage. Unless, you spend the extra money for a network appliance with an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) embedding with that appliance, which enables you to monitor network traffic (packets) and view activity logs. Think about it! Everyday our firewalls have to update its definitions in order to keep your system up-to-date with definitions for the latest security threats. We all know having PCs, every time you turn around, you have to update your computer, mostly for protections against malicious threats. If Microsoft just opened its source code to the hackers, maybe, just maybe, fifty percent of the hacking would stop.
So called FREE software?
by leayan - 6/27/09 3:31 PM In reply to: Work? Well.... by FlatwormSpyBot---
Free download but if you want it to work you have to buy it.
Too bad they can't say that right up front.
Makes me think they are less than honest!
Spybot is freeware; there is no paid version!
by John.Wilkinson - 6/27/09 4:50 PM
In reply to: So called FREE software? by leayan
You most likely downloaded a fake knockoff (frequently malicious/fraudulent) of Spybot S&D, as the real Spybot S&D has always been free and does NOT exist in a paid version.
John
Chances are you got a poser!
by JCitizen - 7/15/09 9:03 PM In reply to: So called FREE software? by leayanAnd you've been pwned!
Like he said the venerable SpyBot S&D by safernetworking is the correct utility, I don't know what you got!
Unfortunately, I've quit recommending it to my clients, because Malewarebytes anti-malware does a fantastic job in this new dangerous environment we have now. It only costs $24 for a LIFETIME license, and I figure my data and credit card are worth that pittance, for prevention!
If you just can't afford that, Adaware Anniversary Edition Free with AdWatch enabled works better in my recent experience. It does quietly conflict with Norton, however, but MBAM doesn't! Lavasoft's brain child does not seem to conflict with Avast or NOD 32(the best AV in the world - IMO)
If it works don't fix it
by jespada7 - 6/6/09 5:13 AM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I think they work but... I used to have a lot of issues with my windows operating systems. I don't know if it's the registery cleaner (Tune Up Utilities 2007) or the fact that I now regularly update the system. Either way, for several years now, my computer starts up and shuts down much faster than before. As far as purchasing another registry cleaner - not any time soon. "If it works don't fix it."
Registry cleaners work, but doesn't mean you should do it.
by Jim Johnson - 6/6/09 5:17 AM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Registry cleaners can make a significant difference, especially if your Windows PC is acting flaky. While most are simple to use, at the same time, used incorrectly they can make things worse.
Let me put it this way... if I hand a chimpanzee a loaded shotgun, odds are good that the chimp will figure out how the weapon works, but you likely don't want to be present during the learning process.
Here is my first rule. Never run any Registry cleaner on full automatic. ALWAYS examine EVERY change the tool proposes to make. Unless you feel comfortable with the proposed change, don't do it. And if you understand little about what you are seeing, you shouldn't be using a Registry cleaner.
My second rule is that any decent Registry cleaner provides backup and restore options. Use them.
Do not reverse the order of these two rules. Do the wrong thing and your system may not be able to run the Registry cleaner to do a restore.
Every Registry cleaning tool uses different decision rules as to what does or does not need correction within the Registry. Therefore, each tool will typically give you different results. In fact, running the same tool twice in succession may find additional items for further correction.
You mention RegCure. This is one of four Registry cleaners I have for my Vista based PC. It is also one of the better tools in terms of safe operation. I suspect most of the 355 errors you see are "empty keys". These are keys that have no assigned value and are almost always safe to allow RegCure to repair (meaning delete); see the first rule. The tool you typically use, Registry Cleaner, probably doesn't look for empty keys. If so, and RegCure only proposes 355 Registry changes and you are not experiencing specific problems, further cleaning your Registry with RegCure is not likely going to make any noticible difference.
Registry cleaners work, ?
by Darren Dheilly - 6/20/09 4:35 PM In reply to: Registry cleaners work, but doesn't mean you should do it. by Jim JohnsonIf you are having problems with cleaning your regisry maybe you shpould not do it. I have been dong one once a week for years. I read the problems You had and it sounds like you Hardrive is near the End of its time. They do Not run great forever. Time to back up amd buy a new one. No Joke... The SATA HD's are not a fortune anymore. It is always good to have more than one runing.
Check the company's authorised name
by hari419 - 6/6/09 5:31 AM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I think they cheated you.The companies are cheating the people.Please do not use Registry cleaner software.It harms your computer and damages the "system32"files.So do not use the software
Not necessarily so
by rbsjrx - 6/6/09 5:58 AM In reply to: Check the company's authorised name by hari419Yeah, there are a lot of bad, often fraudulent, Windows utilities out there, but your statement is overly broad and patently wrong as written. Uninformed consumers wielding system-level tools <u>can</u> be a recipe for disaster. However, an informed consumer using a well-crafted system tool is not in inordinate danger.
Just as with the recent analogy of the chimp with a shotgun, powerful tools can cause serious damage when used carelessly. What's worse is that there are some people pedlling powerful tools of "Saturday night special" quality. Unlike firearms, anyone can buy these things without proving they have the slightest clue what they're doing with them. However, that doesn't diminish their value.
Cheap tools used carelessly = disaster. Good tools used carefully by someone who understands them = productivity.
Your Writing Style
by tvviewer46 - 6/21/09 12:20 PM In reply to: Not necessarily so by rbsjrxProbably no one ever compliments you on this, but you write well and have a good command of the language. It's a fleeting talent.
Do computer Registry cleaners really work?
by buzzmag - 6/6/09 5:32 AM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Don't use them. The more aggressive a registry cleaner is the more dangerous it can be. Unless you are sufficiently familiar with the registry to make intelligent decisions of what to remove and what to leave alone, you are risking serious damage to Windows.
If it aint broke, etc.
Good advice worth repeating
by rbsjrx - 6/6/09 6:02 AM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by buzzmag"Unless you are sufficiently familiar with the registry to make intelligent decisions of what to remove and what to leave alone, you are risking serious damage to Windows."
As a previous post advised, if all an average user wants to do is to speed up a slowing PC, a good defragmenter is a much better place to start. And by "good defragmenter", I'm <u>not</u> talking about the standard Windows defrag utility!
Good Defrag vs. Registry Cleaners
by robertjb1 - 6/20/09 6:12 AM In reply to: Good advice worth repeating by rbsjrxEveryone is both right and wrong when it comes to these issues, but one thing that is definitely correct about speeding up a slow system is defragmenting! All registry cleaners that I have tried have only created as many headaches as they have cured, resulting in a system restore. Once the restore is complete, I then make sure everything works, the perform an image backup to an external drive using Acronis True Image Home.
When it comes to defrag, I use the best, Raxco's PerfectDisk 10. It's the absolute best I have used! I can't say enough about this program, so I won't waste everyone's time with a detailed review. Just go to their website and get it. Not only that, they are in Gaithersburg MD and their customer service is excellent! Call them, or email them, and you'll get a very quick response.
Reg Cleaner can save the day ... month
by FCharlesL - 6/6/09 5:35 AM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Reg cleaners are dangerous, but also indispensable when troubles get out of hand. I had a WinXP Pro computer that deteriorated to BSOD producing 4, 5, 6 times a day. Microsoft just claimed that I needed some new driver, but had not the foggiest which. I was at my wit's end, having tried everything imaginable. Finally in desperation I paid for and downloaded JV16. One run and the problem(s) were gone.
That's a whole lot better than reformating the drive and starting a week long process of installing every bit of software I use.
| Forum legend: | |
 |
Locked thread |
 |
Moderator |
 |
CNET staff |
 |
Samsung staff |
 |
Norton Authorized Support team |
 |
AVG staff |
 |
Windows Outreach team |
 |
Dell staff |
 |
Intel staff |
