[xyl3]

Hello,
2 questions:

1) From time to time I am seeing about Registry Booster than is claimed re-improves the computer's performance. I have had warnings before to be wary of downloading programs, so I am asking here if can tell me if this programme is effcient in what it promises, and do you recommend I download it?

2) I have AVG virus/spywear which daily scans my system. For quite a few weeks I have been shown there are 2 'warnings' (if I remember the term right). Then all of a sudden today I am told i have 192 warnings! As far as I know I haven't done anything different, whys it shot up so much do you think?

Thanks

[Old Rich]

1) It's Junkware . . do not reccomend downloading it
2) when you click the warning tab, what is there? . . Likley cookies that AVG found that are "dirty"

[flavallee]

Do not download and install and use ANY registry cleaner, no matter what it claims to do - unless you have a desire to trash your computer.

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[redoak]

More info re Registry "cleaners" below.

{redoak}

Advice and Info re Registry 'cleaners'- excerpts from TSG, 10-07

The main reason they (are apt to cause problems) is because the cleaners do NOT just clean up stuff left over from uninstalls. They also "guess" that other items need to be deleted, many times incorrectly. They also attempt to "fix" references to files that no longer exist.

As a result, you can end up with programs that no longer work, functions that no longer work and in some cases a PC that will no longer boot.

There is no performance gains to be had by running these things. Windows does not read the entire registry when it is looking for something. It uses the keys which allow them to go straight to the item that they are looking for.

References:
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=643
http://www.computerhope.com/registry.htm


If you really want to see how active the registry is in your normal running environment, download and run Regmon.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sys...on/Regmon.mspx

As you will see, the registry is constantly being accessed. If, for each of these, the entire file was being searched, your PC would be amazingly slow and not responsive.