Computer newbies forum: Looking for a good Windows Registry Cleaner

I have to agree with the opinion concerning rminstall as it has been an excellent program.. There are free programs that help including easycleaner by toniarts and ccleaner. To be perfectly honest, I use all three. Between the free ecleaner and ccleaner along with the registry mechanic pro (again 29.95), I end up with a very clean registry.. Ecleaner and ccleaner help with the registry a little but also really cleans up the internet trash that builds up whenever you log onto to various sites. Thirty bucks and two freebies have been a great help for my system. Have a good day.

this program will not delete any os components

I appreciate the comments and information provided. It has provided me with a few more areas to check out then when the question was asked.

Thanks

"...and that means backing up the hives, and..."

First I would recomend WT RegCleanerXP 1.0.1 - freeware utility for system regisry cleanup, that can increase the speed of your PC. Due to the friendly interface, use of the program will not be difficult even for inexperienced users. Download at majorgeeks.com .

Next get a copy of System Mechanic 6. Between the two all junk will be removed.

Readers should beware of altering the registry, even with programs that 'do it for you'. I am fairly competent, made a backup by exporting the registry, when I had problems with removing traces of a program that I had unsuccessfully uninstalled. Then decided to import the registry backup. It said that it couldn't restore certain (undefined) entries. A system restore did fix it but don't rely on being able to export and then import the reg files (Win XP Pro). Registry cleaners do work most of the time but the first time they cause problems for you is the worst. Do a full backup before using them. Then, if using XP, set a restore point. Better be safe than sorry. Incidently computer users are featherbedded now, I could tell stories about my experiences with a computer I wrked on in 1963 but that is for another day, perhaps I will submit an article to the editor if anyone is interested.

I agree with creating a restore point. If anyonme uses Incredimail, some of the registry cleaners out there remove critical registry entrie to run Incredimail - so beware.

I use Registry Mechanic and registry cleaner

This was a windows download that was recommended as a good program, and I downloaded it and it ran great. They now have a newer version that lets you undo anything that it erased in error, though I doubt if you will ever need it. I had some ddl trouble and thought it was reg first aid that caused it, but found later it was something else.

Works wonders, cleans tons of temp and MRU files, it very thurough

Registry cleaner and safe is the same as military intelligence does not exist.

"Why would any body in their right mind install Linux, and re-format each time to clean their registry?"

It's a joke, son.

"Linux is good for those who are geeks and like to spend over half their time on a computer programing code into their computer. It's not for everyone!"

I spend most of my computer item running Linux. I've never written one bit of code.

"Windows is better for the majority of the population. It's already to go out of the box, and with plug and play!"

It's ready all right. All users are given administrative (a/k/a "root") access "out of the box" and most people are too ignorant to know how to correct that. That of course is music to the ears of the companies who sell firewall and anti-spyware software.

Linux doesn't play that way. It's not too easy to get root (Administrator) access. That's the way it should be. It greatly lessens the chances of messing up your computer on your own or with the help of spyware, malware and viruses.

Linux has plug and play too. I'm not sure where you've been. And of you're not a Geek there's always Linspire or Xandros. They're even easier to get up and running than Windows. And everything's ready "out of the box" (just like you like it).

"they are to dumb to maintain their operating system"

BTW - the spelling is "too", no "to".

I detect a difference between you and most of the population. From what you wrote it sounds like you work with computers a lot, so you "made the time", it was "part of your job/work". I work with computers all the time too, software side and I DO NOT like to have to work "under the hood" (analogy of PCs to the hot rods of the 50's). For you, all the maintenance stuff you mentioned has become second nature to you. For most people, we haven't learned what you have. While I have AV, Firewall and adware, etc., apps. I don't like using them because many times I don't fully understand what they are referring to when they display a message box and prompt me for a decision.

Anyway, one thing I've learned working with computer users is that I went through the learning curve many years ago and they are on the front end. What I think of automatically, e.g. Right Click, wasn't automatic at first.

I agree with your evaluation. I used Reg First Aid and it work perfect on one computer, but screwed my new laptop up. Thank goodness for sys restore.

... of deleting ALL registry entries found to be unnecessary or just those that RegSeeker determines are SAFE to delete (that is, that no installed programs, including the operating system, are using the entries). Additionally, RegSeeker creates a backup of the removed entries (if you click the box to do so) so that you can add them back to the registry if an entry was inadvertantly removed.

I use both RegSeeker from Hoverdesk software and System Mechanic from iolo. I've never had a problem with either one in over 2 years.

For those of you who still question the need to clean the Windows registry, perform this simple task:

The next time you delete a program from your computer, reboot the machine to assure that all associated registry entries are removed according to the program's uninstall file. Next, bring up the Registry Editor (Start/Run/regedit/OK), click EDIT on the toolbar, then click FIND. Type in the name of the program you just deleted from your machine, then click FIND NEXT as often as necessary until you are notified that the search is complete. Depending on the size of the program you uninstalled, I guarantee that you will find registry entries for that program still lurking in the hive.

The problem is that each time you install a program, the registry grows - and unstalling the programs often will not delete all the registry entries associated with that program. Windows needs to search through ALL those registry entries to find the ones for the programs you still use. The more junk there is in the registry, the longer it takes Windows to access the other entries. The result? Slower system performance.

The advice given in these forums to create a restore point and make system backups are both very good ideas - not just prior to cleaning the registry, but as a general rule of everyday computing. Numerous things can go wrong (hard drive failure, power outages, a virus, etc.) that can cause data loss and programs to stop functioning.

The fear of cleaning the registry, albeit a valid one to a novice user, should not be cause for concern provided a reliable software program is used to perform the task. My best advice is this: if you don't understand the registry, of if you are uncomfortable with performing a cleaning operation within the registry, don't do it. Leave it to someone who knows what they're doing. We shouldn't invest in the stock market if we don't understand the stock market.

I have tried many registry cleaners and always go back to Registry First Aid. http://www.rosecitysoftware.com/Reg1Aid/
It shows all of the changes that it is about to make and allows the user to change the course of action on any registry item.
Another nice feature is that it allows a user to search the registry for items. This is handy if you have trouble uninstalling an application and have to go into the registry to delete it manually. I have used this feature many times with success.