HTC
PC utilities: Do computer Registry cleaners really work?
- 6/19/09 12:42 PM
Dont belive in "free" cleaners
by oliver1111 - 6/6/09 5:51 AM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Well I have tried so called free cleaners and other free programs too which tells u that u have a lot of trouble in ur computer. But this is just to make u buy there version. After u paid for the program it wont find so many troubles so keep on with the program u have. And ur question about if cleaning programs works I say--I dont know for sure but the more stuff u have in ur computer the slower it works so maybe it helps a bit.
Have a good day
A metter of perspective
by rbsjrx - 6/6/09 6:24 AM In reply to: Dont belive in "free" cleaners by oliver1111As a Linux user, I have no problem with free software. However, the prevailing attitude among Windows users is "you get what you pay for" - i.e. if it's free, it must not be any good.
The way I see it, there are several ways to look at free Windows utilities:
First of all, there are the truly free utilities. These vary in quality from excellent to dismal, but it often doesn't hurt to try them. Unfortunately, you have to be circumspect when dealing with a tool that can destroy your system.
Next come the utilities with both free and commercial versions. These can be broken down into two clear-cut groups.
The first of the dual-price model categories includes good free packages with commercial upgrades that are justified by significantly increased functionality. Examples mentioned in this thread are registry cleaners and disk defragmenters which are free for manual use, but with commercial versions which operate automatically in the background.
Finally are the worst of the dual-price model utilities which are blatant scareware of questionable quality. Some are actually malware in disguise - caveat emptor.
So, how do you know which is which? A good start is to follow legitimate forums such as this one and listen to what other folks have =already learned.
Registry Cleaners Do Work, Sort of....
by davismccarn - 6/6/09 5:55 AM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have been using registry cleaners since the days of Windows 95 and, as long as you understand their strengths or weaknesses, they can be very useful; but (and there's the rub)
Most registry errors are really due to sloppy software writing; but, to be fair, in many cases the evolution of thos errors can often be beyond the vendors control.
Many updates to programs like MS Office, AOL, Norton Antivirus, or Windows itself will install a new file to replace an older one and should remove all of the references to the old file from the registry. Uninstalling a program should, likewise, remove all of the references to that program, too. Unfortunately; most do not; some because they were just poorly written; others because another program created its own reference or did not check for the detritus left by older versions.
So, what happens over time, is that your registry accumulates links to dead ends (the file is gone), to broken chains (part of the software remains), or to obsolete entries (its still there; but has been orphaned by an upgrade)and the result is your system pursues dead ends performing tasks you have asked it to do and that robs you of performance.
What is insidious is that many of those dead ends don't report any error, they simply time out and the task then continues.
So, removing the detritus can be very useful; but, here's the rub; because it is easily possible to wreak havoc on the system by removing the wrong links, even if they appear to be bad, all of the registry cleaners will skip various types of entries. None of them will even touch a hardware driver entry (or its associated references); most won't touch anything that says "install" (you might need it in the future), and several have learned to dodge anything with "office" (Thanks Microsoft!).
I used to love the registry cleaner included with JV16 Power Tools as it would list everything and categorize what it found into safe, maybe safe, and dangerous. I knew what I was looking at and could choose to delete the references as I saw fit; but, knowing it was safe to clobber everything related to NVidia after replacing the video card is not for the novice or the faint hearted!
These days, I use the one included with CCleaner or Easycleaner; both of which are free. I hace tried RegCure, System Mechanic, and seen the results on countless client systems; none seem to do any better than the free ones.
So, removing the 200 links to AOL or MS Office left behind after their uninstallation, the numerous links to any of the major antivirus programs after theirs, or the mess left after some piece of software refused to install can and does help your system; but, pay for a registry clenaer, no thanks.
Registry Cleaners in General
by STEVERI - 6/22/09 8:38 AM In reply to: Registry Cleaners Do Work, Sort of.... by davismccarnOver the last 15 years I have seldom run a registry cleaner. I have never seen a tangible positive result from running a Registry Cleaner. My present install of Vista is a year old, I have no problems and have not run a registry cleaner.
I think a more useful application would be one that deletes duplicate copies.
C Cleaner
by snodinn - 6/6/09 6:01 AM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Run C Cleaner on your machine. All they ask for is a voluntary donation, and you can do that at a later date. In my mind they have everything to gain by showing you the goods. I use this program often and tell everyone about it.
I don't think so, but I may be wrong
by tizzanne - 6/6/09 6:02 AM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Well Clem and Kay, I have just finished my Regcure license and although I ran it regularly and it appeared to do no harm, I'm not sure if it did any good. I will say however, that since the license ran out, there are some little annoying symptoms occurring and I am not sure whether they are because I stopped the registry cleaning or not. My anti virus and other regular maintenance programs are not finding anything unusual and the minor annoyances are not really impeding the use of the comp to any great degree but I look forward to seeing the replies you get to assist my final decision as to what to do.
I also hope someone knowledgable can guide me in the direction of a free or really inexpensive but reliable reg cleaner if that is the best option to take. As I have no experience with the finer registry workings, I cannot afford to use something that can have possible complications causing significant harm.
Best of luck, Tizzanne
program differences
by duopodcast - 6/6/09 6:07 AM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have several registry cleaners and I believe they each work a little differently. It depends what they search for in their analysis. Some are good at finding left-over uninstall info, some find orphaned info, some find temporary entries that don't need to be saved, some find entries for which the locations have changed, some user settings are not cleared out by a program, some other program information is not deleted when it closes, etc.
I use Iobit's Advanced System Care Pro, Ashampoo's WinOptimizer6, and then I also have a couple of freeware utils to run as well. If I think the registry is bloated or needs cleaning, I run them all to ensure finding and correcting as many errors as possible.
I believe they work as they are defined, so read carefully what it is they do, which is why I run more than one. So, yes, they really work. I would also suggest running them frequently, as the registry is a major intersection in the OS and, in my opinion, Microsoft's registry concept has always been an incomplete and troublesome area, so it always needs attention.
Amen!
by rbsjrx - 6/6/09 6:28 AM In reply to: program differences by duopodcast"Microsoft's registry concept has always been an incomplete and troublesome area, so it always needs attention."
The word you're looking for is "kluge".
Registry cleaners
by GUARDIANANGEL822 - 6/19/09 7:41 PM In reply to: program differences by duopodcastGreat reply to all the questions and concerns over Registry Cleaners. I too, after some prodding and experimental approaches, decided the Iobit Advance Systems Pro was far the best deal, and I have purchased some of the best programs out there,and Advance was far more superior and functional in respect to achieving the results which could be seen as well as documented. Also to mention, a good fragmentation software that runs silently in the background should also be considered as standard operating software, and Smart Defragmenter achieves those goals and you can feel and see greater performance and smooth operation. Excuse the adjective "Feel", I forgot that a computer is an inanimate object, But still personally speaking, It feels great to know it is performing smoothly like a well oil machine, John
Registry Cleaners
by Johnniebp - 6/6/09 6:17 AM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have purchased two of these with Reg Cure being one of them. I have asked for refunds on the two. I do not feel, I was getting any major advantage from either. Neither of the two located a corrupt DLL file from Microsoft.
People unclear on the concept
by rbsjrx - 6/6/09 6:35 AM In reply to: Registry Cleaners by Johnniebp"I have purchased two of these with Reg Cure being one of them. I have asked for refunds on the two. I do not feel, I was getting any major advantage from either. Neither of the two located a corrupt DLL file from Microsoft."
And whatever gave you the idea that a registry cleaner might be able to detect a corrupt DLL?!?
Let me repeat this (check it with Wikipedia if you don't believe me), <u>the registry is nothing but a database</u>! It may know whether the DLL is there or not, but it has no way of knowing whether it is corrupt or pristine.
Don't blame the tool if you don't know what it is supposed to do or how to use it properly.
Registry 'Database'
by Art Keetra - 6/6/09 8:47 AM In reply to: People unclear on the concept by rbsjrxThat's the sort of info the likes of myself need, simple laymans terms.
Cheers.
Re: Registry 'Database'
by rbsjrx - 6/6/09 10:28 AM In reply to: Registry 'Database' by Art KeetraWell, it is a little simplistic, but it captures the essence of the thing. What you need to know to understand the registry is what it replaces. Prior to Windows 3.1, everything was done with .ini (initialization/configuration) files. The registry is a binary database which captures all of the same sorts of information as well as other information that's come up in the intervening years. The fellow who's been debating with me recently gave a more thorough list of the sorts of entries stored in the registry, but it's still a configuration database.
Registry Cleaners
by Art Keetra - 6/6/09 6:23 AM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have tried several free scans and what a tale of woe they show.
Yet I have Windows Defender/firewall, Lava Soft's Ad-Aware, Sophos AV/ malware/spyware/root-kits etc.
Conclusion - They're out to pick your pockets.
registry cleaners
by twobanger - 6/6/09 6:28 AM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Plain and simple, they are a waste of money. You will find TONS of vendors claiming their products work and you will find more people complaining that they can not contact the sellers to get refunds.
Stick with ccleaner.
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