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PC utilities: Do computer Registry cleaners really work?
- 6/19/09 12:42 PM
Do computer Registry cleaners really work?
by Hellcat - 6/19/09 7:06 PM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Here is a better idea that I find works pretty well. Fodder gets left in your registry when you install and uninstall programs. Some programmers don't write good uninstallers that uninstall the whole program (some say on purpose and some say its because of lazyness). There is a program called Revo Uninstaller that runs the regular uninstaller of the program but then searches for the fodder left behind on your hard drive. That seems to work well for me and I do wish Microsoft would write a program like this into Windows. I haven't ran a registry cleaner in a while to see if still things have been left behind but I do see a lot of junk left behind when I uninstall a program. The problem is sometimes in the registry it'll pick up something with just numbers after (so you're not sure if its actually from the program you're trying to uninstall) it or you also have to be careful not to get rid of files from a newer version of the program. For instance I installed the beta of Firefox on a friends machine and it kept the old version on his computer. Running revo uninstaller I uninstalled the older version of Firefox but in the 3rd step (there are 3 steps 1) is the uninstaller, 2) is the registry and 3) is other fodder on the computer) it saw some 3.5 beta files as fodder but seeing it I knew not to delete them...just be careful.
It is a pretty easy program to use, just make sure you take a quick glace before you select all and click ok to delete. If you're not sure if you should delete something then don't, one or two things won't bother, most of the time you can delete all, I say only about 2-3% of the time there is questionable stuff left behind...better than the regular uninstaller. The program has never ruined my system by deleting something I needed and I've uninstalled probably a hundred or more programs on my and friends systems in the year or two that I've been using the program. I consider it a must have and its free.
And it can be reversed
by JEfromCanada - 6/19/09 7:29 PM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by HellcatFYI,
For the registry settings, Revo Uninstaller keeps a log so that the registry settings can be reapplied if you made a mistake. I don't think you can "undelete" the files, however.
Do computer Registry cleaners really work?
by andydonaa - 6/19/09 7:06 PM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I don't think they do unless you mean do computer Registry cleaners really work havoc? That has been my experience. They messed up my registry so that no scanning, orbicam. wireless connection, and other undiscovered programs, will NOT function. I have uninstalled and am now staying away from them.
I am taking my computer to Harddrives Northwest tomorrow. They think they can clean up the mess. I hope that after I spend the bucks these programs will function again.
Registry cleaning may work, but there are alternatives
by JEfromCanada - 6/19/09 7:22 PM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If you use the analogy of the registry "hive" being a forest of trees, the registry cleaners attempt to clear out the dead or detached branches, hopefully without harming any of the attached ones. The more aggressive the cleaner, the more likely that a live branch will be nicked during the cleaning process. And the next time you run the cleaner, the "nicked" branch from the previous run will now appear to be dead, and will also be removed. So, as many before have said, it can be dangerous to use registry cleaners, and many will argue that it does you no harm to have a "few" dead branches among a forest of healthy trees.
But let's look at the root cause for registry "errors". They can be caused by three general scenarios:
1) Programs that use the registry while running, and forget to clean up the mess before they finish.
2) Programs that use the registry while running, and are unable to clean up the mess because something happens to interrupt those programs (like a power failure or other system error).
3) Programs that intentionally or unintentionally leave information behind when the program is uninstalled.
Of these three causes, the third is often the most likely to occur, and the easiest to avoid.
By using a tool such as Revo Uninstall to uninstall your programs (instead of relying on Windows' built-in uninstaller), you can cut down dramatically on the registry entries and left over files that remain on your computer after a program has supposedly been uninstalled. And by locating the junk BEFORE IT BECOMES JUNK, it can be more efficiently and safely removed.
I guess I should have read other posts before writing
by JEfromCanada - 6/19/09 7:27 PM In reply to: Registry cleaning may work, but there are alternatives by JEfromCanadaNo sooner do I post my answer than do I see Hellcat's response, only two posts up from mine. He had the same suggestion.
Sorry for the repeat.
I concur with using Iobit's Advanced System Care
by The Yancey - 6/19/09 8:04 PM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I noticed a difference in speed and responsiveness after running the free version of ASC. I used that for over a year before getting the $20 Pro version earlier this year. I have been impressed with it and will renew my subscription next year. It has an impressive assortment of tools such as a broken shortcut fixer and Internet booster. I have used a variety of commercial disk defrag utilities over the years but have found none better than the Smart Defrag that is a part of ASC. Its anti-spy/adware utility compares favorable with those from SpyBot, Ad-Aware, MalwareBytes, and others. I have recommended this utility to many of my friends. After all, you just don't get much better than free. Particularly when it is for something that works this well!
Well Spoken
by GUARDIANANGEL822 - 6/19/09 10:23 PM In reply to: I concur with using Iobit's Advanced System Care by The YanceyWell spoken and truly informative. I concur with your assessment exactly., John
Registry Cleaners to work!
by josephfuentes - 6/19/09 8:16 PM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Registry cleaners do work, I use them on a periodic basis. There are great free ones out there and the one that I use and is highly recommended by CNET and others (PC Mag) is CCleaner. It has other built-in functions like disk cleanup and has several levels of registry cleaning, aggressive being the most thorough.
You'll notice the difference by getting a peppier PC.
you can download this free utility right from Cnet here.
Do computer Registry cleaners really work?
by vattan2005 - 6/19/09 8:55 PM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Okay, here is what I have been doing for years on my PCs and laptops. Registry cleaners do work, but each has its own interpretations in detecting debris left behind.
I use the following, one after the other in succession, (some are freeware): CCleaner, RegCleaner, Registry Mechanic, RegScrubXP, and RegSeeker. Interestingly, each one finds more entries left behind by the previous one! I allow them to automatically remove entries...who has the time to go item by item, considering how many entries are normally found?
Once I do that, I create a restore point named "Good One after registry cleaning". I have reverted to these reference restore points occasionally after malfunctions, to good effect.
I also use Revo Uninstaller for uninstalling software. It displays registry entries, files and folders left behind after uninstallation, which I remove. Despite this, I still see unwanted entries in the registry! Thus, I use registry cleaners. End result - smooth running machines.
Not a single software remove the keys
by kami2k - 6/19/09 9:50 PM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by vattan2005Hi,
Well, first i installed about 10 different programs then removed them, and check the registry entries, all the software entries was in windows registry, next i make a restore point and install a registry cleaner, and try to fix the registry, then i check the registry but the software's entries were there, i then restore the backup point, and installed the other registry cleaner, but the result was same, i do this with about 8 registry cleaner's, but not a single registry cleaner removed the software entries, so my advice is not to use them, you will gain nothing.
WINDOWS REGISTRY CLEANER IS FREE @ MICROSFTS LIVE ONE CARE!
by ctime - 6/19/09 11:32 PM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Who knows how to clean your Windows registry & perform System scans better than Microsoft itself? Manual Scans are FREE and require little effort to implement! Please don't spend any $$ MONEY $$ on what Microsoft provides for free on a superior level. The full manual PC Scan, Clean, Disk Fragmentation, Open Port Checker and Registry Fix is found here...
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-Us/center/cleanup.htm
Best Regards!
Humpf
by Sheitan86 - 6/20/09 1:57 AM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Definitely no, they don't work.
In best case you'll waste time, in worst case you'll get a broken PC that no longer work fine, I've ever seen a PC that no longer boot after using a registry cleaning tool.
Do reg cleaners work... "Yes and no"
by GaisaSanktejo - 6/20/09 3:06 AM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
A fair majority of the newer registry cleaners DO work, but I doubt they'll ever be 100% effective, so what you described is entirely possible.
However, I have noticed some things about anti viral and registry cleaners, of late.
To entice you into purchasing the full version, some create "False" hits, items that are on your registry, but aren't even the slightest bit harmful.
An example;
I discovered a virus on my system, my primary anti virus software could detect it, but couldn't totally remove it, so I looked for another. I tried several "free" scanners, one produced hundreds of false hits, which, because I knew a little about the programs it was showing, were clearly done to entice you into paying for the full version, another was great, it cleared out the virus totally and allowed me to do some other repairs.
The creators of certain Reg scanners follow a similar principal, they will do anything to suck you in, regardless of whether their program is as good as it claims to be, or not.
Registry Cleaners
by RussellMeyer - 6/20/09 3:13 AM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Try CCCLEANER FREE FROM CNET. THE REGISTRY CLEANER APPEARS TO WORK. TROUBLE IS HOW DOES ONE CHECK TO SEE WHAT HAS BEEN DONE?/ ANY IDEAS?
RUSSELL MEYER
hi
by Sheitan86 - 6/21/09 2:23 AM In reply to: Registry Cleaners by RussellMeyerIf the tool you are using is a bit relaible it MUST create a file with the entries it removed in order for you to be able to restore the registry to what it was before cleaning.
I've experienced a case where the backup file was price less as the PC no longer booted up after the clean unless safe mode was used.
DO NOT USE TOOLS THAT DO NOT CREATE A BACKUP FILE !
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