[JeepBud]

I feel I should clean out my registry and want to ask if there is a registry cleaner someone recommends, based on experience. I often see Registry Mechanic by PCTOOLS listed. I know to mess with your registry is tricky and dangerous. Any recommendations on one?

[Elvandil]

Don't do it. None are good. All create new errors and can cause serious damage.

Compact it to speed loading and reduce the size, but don't try those cleaners.

Auslogics Registry Defragmenter (Compactor)
RegCompact.NET

[nibblesmctwitch]

Originally Posted by Elvandil

Don't do it. None are good. All create new errors and can cause serious damage.

Compact it to speed loading and reduce the size, but don't try those cleaners.

Auslogics Registry Defragmenter (Compactor)
RegCompact.NET

That's a crock i have been using them for years.
Yes PCtools RM is a good one i use it once a week at least.

[Elvandil]

Originally Posted by nibblesmctwitch

That's a crock i have been using them for years.
Yes PCtools RM is a good one i use it once a week at least.

If you look through the posts that are in this forum, you'll see the large number of problems caused by these cleaners. They are dangerous and completely unnecessary. There is absolutely nothing to be gained by these so-called "cleaners" except damage.

[CCjon]

Originally Posted by Elvandil

If you look through the posts that are in this forum, you'll see the large number of problems caused by these cleaners. They are dangerous and completely unnecessary. There is absolutely nothing to be gained by these so-called "cleaners" except damage.

Really? But sometimes i use these cleaners on my friends'(un-taken care of)computers and after cleaning,there's definitely an improvement in performance(I use them on my computer too).Also i've not heard any problems from them.Could you explain more in details Elvandil?

[JeepBud]

Yes, I've heard they can disable your computer. And, it seems they all have a warning or caveat about using them at your own risk. Doesn't make me have a good warm feeling, so that's why I asked about them, based on EXPERIENCE.

[CCjon]

Originally Posted by JeepBud

Yes, I've heard they can disable your computer. And, it seems they all have a warning or caveat about using them at your own risk. Doesn't make me have a good warm feeling, so that's why I asked about them, based on EXPERIENCE.

Well they have a backup system inside them so if the program causes any damage,you can undo it

[nibblesmctwitch]

Originally Posted by JeepBud

Yes, I've heard they can disable your computer. And, it seems they all have a warning or caveat about using them at your own risk. Doesn't make me have a good warm feeling, so that's why I asked about them, based on EXPERIENCE.

My years of EXPERIENCE tell me they are fine, the software is not the problem its the finger on the other end of the mouse. It will only do what you telll it too.

[blues_harp28]

Hi Registry cleaner can and often do stop you from restarting your system
Because they work well on your system dosen't mean that they will on another.

Check.
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000643.html

One of the many posts on this forum.
http://forums.techguy.org/all-other-...istry+cleaners

[BOILED.frogs__]

I wouldn't ever use a Registry Cleaner again.
We did on our old computer and things took an even BIGGER turn for the worst.

[blues_harp28]

Originally Posted by CCjon

Well they have a backup system inside them so if the program causes any damage,you can undo it

Yes they do have a backup.
But if you allow the cleaner to just do it's thing and it removes a system file or two then the backup is of little use.
You reboot your system and you are looking at a blank screen..no safe mode..nothing.
And a reinstall is your only option.

[CCjon]

Originally Posted by blues_harp28

Yes they do have a backup.
But if you allow the cleaner to just do it's thing and it removes a system file or two then the backup is of little use.
You reboot your system and you are looking at a blank screen..no safe mode..nothing.
And a reinstall is your only option.

Yup i read bout it in countless other articles on the net but it hasn't happen to me yet.I think,just like antiviruses,one may work on a system and won't on another.I guess,if you are wary,the best thing is to avoid it altogether....

[Stingray10]

I use Power Tools 2007,I mostly use it for getting rid of things i deleted.I run it on my 3 comps with no problems (or at least not yet).

[Elvandil]

The real questions are what these things do and whether there is even any benefit from those that by chance have not caused damage.

Most work by removing unused registry keys. They do this more or less well. Often, they misidentify a needed key as unneeded and remove it, leading to problems or lost functionality. The reason the makers give for doing this at all is that it speeds the system, but the gain in speed is not even noticable to a human user. So the risk is not worth it.

A second thing many do is to try to "repair" keys that are in error. A careful examination of the proposed fixes that they intend to make show that the vast majority of them are wrong. The "fix" often involves redirecting a key to a file or program and the registry cleaner picks the first one it finds with the same name. In fewer than 1 out of 100 times it does this does it choose the correct fix. Thus, each 'fix" actually introduces a new and potentially serious error into the registry. And the new error is not found by the program because according to its algorithms, the new error is now "correct".

Particular, surgical repairs of faulty registry entries can repair errors, but the shotgun approach of a cleaner is to be avoided at all costs. There is nothing at all to be gained and a great deal to lose.

[CCjon]

Originally Posted by Elvandil

Particular, surgical repairs of faulty registry entries can repair errors, but the shotgun approach of a cleaner is to be avoided at all costs. There is nothing at all to be gained and a great deal to lose.

Do you mean manual repair?But,if you meant so,the average use will not have the knowledge/does not have the time to repair it themselfs.And registry errors,if left on a system,will cause a lot of problems so they will have no practical choice but to use a registry cleaner.
BTW Elvandil can you suggest a easier method?I'm sure a lot of people(including me )will appreciate it a lot
Thanks!