[VIP_EJC]

Okay, well...registry cleaners are such a critical system tool, yet they're unappreciated. How stupid! Heck, you can't even find a trusted review of a registry cleaner. But this thread aims to change that. Which registry cleaners do you use and why? Did you know different registry cleaners analyze different areas of the registry? So how's one supposed to know if their registry is honestly optimized? Again, stupid! For example, Registry Drill goes where other registry cleaners don't. All registry cleaners are supposed to analyze the entire registry but don't. And that's why I can't recommend a registry cleaner: because not one does all it's supposed to do. One indicator of a good registry cleaner is a registry defragger. But that's all I know. What do you think?

[blues_harp28]

Hi the best registry cleaners are the ones you don't download.
They can and often do cause more problems than you started with.

http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=643

[VIP_EJC]

I disagree. Responsible registry cleaning is a part of good computer maintenance. Why would anybody want a messy, bloated registry? If you don't know what something does--don't delete it! A safe registry cleaner comes with a backup feature, so in the rare event it does delete something needed, you can always undo the changes. Some program freezes are due to corrupt registries, which is more reason to clean your registry every so often.

[blues_harp28]

Hi there are many posts on this forum and others where cleaning the registry has removed a system file or two and the system no longer boots.
The backup is only of any use if you can reboot your system.

The consistant advice given here is not to use them.
No one knows a persons level of experience and just saying clean your registry is not that helpful if the outcome is their system no longer boots and we have helped them crash their system.

http://forums.techguy.org/windows-nt...wont-boot.html

[WhitPhil]

The misconception is that a "bloated" registry is bad, and that "cleaning" the registry results in performance gains.

There is no evidence that cleaning the registry does anything for performance, and "tons" of evidence that it can cause serious damage.

The other fallacy is in regard to backups. As pointed out, the backup is of no use if the PC is no longer bootable. As well, they are of little use, if an application fails or a function no longer works, and this occurs weeks, months after the entries have been removed. One would never be able to find the relevant entries.

[Elvandil]

Don't use registry cleaners under any circumstances. They don't speed things up, they don't fix errors, and they remove needed entries leading to problems. Sooner or later, they will lead to problems, and anyone who has had none is playing Russian Roulette.

[MikeSwim07]

The thing that I think isn't right is that the Registry Cleaner companies say their product will make your computer a ton faster, which it will not.

[jcd57]

do not use registry cleaners. i learned from experience. if it was not for making the recovery disks, upon purchase of the computer. i would still be behind the 8 ball.

[Elvandil]

"Bloated" and "good computer maintenance" are phrases that they use in the advertizing (and sometimes in the fake "reviews" that they post, trying to make them look like independent opinions) as part of their brain-washing technique. It's an old con--create a problem that didn't exist before and then offer to sell you the fix for it.

[VIP_EJC]

I use my registry cleaner weekly--have been for two years without a complication. I especially use it to remove left over entries of uninstalled programs. I was experiencing random program freezes and had no idea why. But after cleaning my PC's registry, I haven't had a program freeze since. And so I will continue.

[Elvandil]

Then I'm sure we will see you again.

One thing that really does help optimize the registry and reduce its size is "compacting" or "defragging" as the same process is sometimes referred to. It just rebuilds the registry and leaves out empty space.

I will have to admit that I use Registry First Aid sometimes to clean my registry. But I go through each and every proposed fix and make sure it is correct. I find that about 90% are incorrect and need to be edited. It takes me about 1-2 hours each time. But all registry fixers make more errors than corrections and it must be done that way if at all.

[VIP_EJC]

Sure, I was paranoid to modify my registry at first. But you need to learn to trust the product. If after 60 days you're error free, then it's safe to say the registry cleaner did its job. I use a registry cleaner and a registry defragger.

But hey, if you don't want to, then you don't have to.

[Elvandil]

It would save us all a lot of effort if people weren't deliberately damaging their systems with these things and then coming for help. But then that is why all those things have the disclaimers in their EULA's since they don't want to be held responsible for all the damage they do.

The errors often don't show up in 60 days, but when people try to install new hardware or make changes to their systems and the relevant information has been "cleaned" away. Since cleaning makes absolutely no difference in system speed and has so many drawbacks, it is strange that people continue to fall for the claims of the people who sell those snake-oil products.

[blues_harp28]

Originally Posted by VIP_EJC

But hey, if you don't want to, then you don't have to.

But the real question is..
What is the best advice on registry cleaners that can be given in a help forum?

Not to use them

[VIP_EJC]

The day I experience a problem due to registry cleaners, is the day I stop using them. Until then, I'll keep using them. If you ever experience random program freezing, give a registry cleaner a try; and just maybe it'll be your solution, as it was mine.