PC utilities forum: Do computer Registry cleaners really work?

I have only tried one registry cleaner... one time. I resurrected my computer after that episode and have resolved to clean my registry the "EASIER" way. When things start bogging down, I reload the operating system and start all over again... usually every year to eighteen months. It's like having a nearly new computer and the registry file bits are gone, for the most part. So far, it has worked every time I have tried it, and I have the process down to the point I can do it in a couple of hours. It also creates the need for me to keep a reasonably decent backup archive. The only aggravation is reinstalling all of the freebie apps I have and love to use so much.

Come to think of it, I can reload my OS much more quickly than I can repair the damage a registry cleaner will usually do. But then again, I'm from the old school of maintenance... shortcuts usually aren't short, but they can sure cut you. Registry cleaners are nothing but shortcuts, and I don't use 'em.
Good luck,

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actually from the program you're trying to uninstall) it or you also have to be careful not to get rid of files from a newer version of the program.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.

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.

No 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.

Well spoken and truly informative. I concur with your assessment exactly., John

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.

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!

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.

If 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 !

I suggest you to avoid using so-called Registry cleaners. These cleaners claim to speed up dead slow PCs and a do a lot more. This, in fact, sounds very attractive to avearge computer users. Most of the time these so-called cleaners cause severe problems instead of doing anything good.

In case, if you really want to use one better use CCleaner. It is an all in one crap cleaner which is trusted by a large user base. Moreover, it is completely free to use. You may however consider to donate which is pureply optional. In my opinion they deserve to gain CCleaner users' genrous help for offering such a nice product for free.

Couldn't agree more. Sometimes it pays to hunt through the dross to find an absolute gem

I used Lavasoft Registry tuner. The difference was so noticeable and immediate, I knew it had worked great. Problem - yes, I did have to reinstall one program, don't remember what it was, because something was removed in error. Fortunately, not a big deal.

I'm now using Norton 360. Do a registry cleaning regularly. No problems at all and my computer "runs like a top." Knock wood.

I am absolutely sold on Norton 360.... all aspects of the program.

Advanced System Care - New!
""by nhiep nguyen - 6/20/09 6:43 AM In reply to: Do computer Registry cleaners really work? by raveup2004
Hello,
It is very interesting and rewarding reading all those comments but I wonder why no one is telling which OSes the cleaner they champion applies to? are all the cleaners universal?
Thanks""

Raven, I use ASC on my two XP machines, my Vista 64 bit laptop, and have just started using it on a 32 bit Win7 install. Hope that info helps.

Telecommunication Distribution, LLC has been in business since 2007, and according to their web site their main line of business is installing Large Screen TVs and Home Entertainment System. Stan Prishchepenko may very well be knowledgeable, but I suggest that credentials proffered must be verified. PS, I played with registry cleaners back in the days of Windows NT 4.0 and found them useless and have ignored them since.

I tried RegCure. At first I thought it was a good program. However it started damaging things to a point that even restoring the backed up
Registry was of no help as regcure apparently removed or made changes other than just the registry. So I had to do a compleat reload.
Also
Any company like RegCure is easy to tell if it is a RIP OFF. They have
no way to contact them by phone and they do not reply to email. They just spend time making marketing and spam and sales and crapy software and could care less if they damage thousands of computers every day.

After RegCure I will not try or purchase a software that does not have someone that answers the phone and that you can get to a tech. Even if they charge for support that is OK. ButRegCure will not allow or take anytime from whatever it takes to keep the $ heading to Canada.

Also
I am Ashamed that MS used a stupid Registry in the first place. It is not needed and causes more trouble that the services it was supposed to
add. Also the uninstall programs on MS Windows are a joke. I would have hoped that a company with as much $ as they have would have moddularized
installed programs so when you remove them they are acctualy removed.

Apple OSX and linux distrobutions such as Ubnktu and many more are acctualy easer and faster to install and include a great office suite
and basicly everything you need for dayly use.
I keep MS on one Partition so I can use it If I need to run a program that will only Run on Windows. But if I were Bill I would be ashamed as they could do a lot better. They just seem to not care as they own the market for the most part. I for one am learning that you can get
everything you need on Linux and OSX and with a MAC you can run them all
and at the same time if you get Parralels or one of the other VMWare type products. You can even Drag and Drop between OSX from Apple and
Windows and Linux and BSD. it is way cool.
And No registgry to deal with and vitualy no viruses.
jim