"Twayne" wrote in message
...
"Doug" wrote in message

...


I've been participating in Usenet groups and other computer related
forums for a lot of years. BBS's since before the WWW. Long before
the Windows registry anyway.

I can't even begin to count the number of posts I've read that follow
some form of "I used some software name here registry cleaner and
now some computer function here doesn't work anymore. How do I get
my computer back to the way it was?"

I have never seen one, with the exception of obvious spam, where the
individual spoke of a measurable performance increase. Of course
there's always the occasional person who is just really really
excited about registry cleaners for some odd reason.

I am able to reach a conclusion about registry cleaners based on
years of data. They obviously and undeniably can do more harm than
good.
Logic would also conclude that these tools are most often sought
after by individuals least capable of safely using them. That is to
say those looking for a "one click fix" are more likely to have
insufficient knowledge to understand the ramifications of changes a
registry cleaner may make than those who would, say, use regedit to
properly fix an actual known problem.
Anecdotally after Win 3.11 I've used Win 95, Win 98, Win XP and now
Win 7. (skipped ME and Vista I've never used a registry cleaner of
any kind. My computers have always run just fine thank you very much.

Use one. Don't use one. Makes me no nevermind.

Probably shouldn't be giving people the idea that they are perfectly
safe and provide great benefit. Undeniable irrefutable history says
that's simply not the case.
D

Saying it with great conviction doesn't make it so...

Hi Doug,

That's a well thought out, well assembled post; just thought I'd add a
comment here, not that anyone but the fanatics are still readingg.
I'm of the camp that registry cleaners CAN be useful and I fully admit
to being the one who constantly picks on those I find to have completely
closed minds on the issue and wish to make anyone they possibly can avoid
and hate registry cleaners via "snake oil" titles and all the rest of it.
I have essentially the same background as you, going back to the CP/M
days and probably many of the same experiences. I've no problem with your
reasoned opinion on cleaners and think if nothing else it's likely quite
honest opinion. That's fine.

In my case I have found that the registry cleaners I have used on
production and client machines has done them no harm. In fact, such
cleaners create far fewer problems in my experience than the majority of
other Microsoft applications. I don't believe they are any more prone to
irrepairable damage to a system than is any other program installation or
uninstallation. If I actually said "ALL" are safe, I shouldn't have, but
it's more likely the "they all" was in response to something previously
qualified in the post.

At any rate, it's fine with me that you don't use a cleaner, and it's none
of my business anyway. What I DO object to, and react to, are the
statements made, which you can find plenty of on most any group on MSnews,
is claiming that ALL registry cleaners are "snake oil", none are any good,
all will cause unrepairable harm to a system, and all are capable of
bringing a system to a non-bootable state, along with the condescending
attitudes they use against those that don't know any better, and the
put-downs they address to anyone who even asks a question about the
subject. Then they offer "proof" (less so lately) by sending people
containing posts that they themselves wrote. It's even worse that some of
them claim to be MVPs.
They're a small group of people with few interpersonal skills and
terrible communications skillsets. I don't "report" them because that's
not how I operate; libel and defamation will catch up to them or it won't;
not worth the trouble IMO. But, as in any such situation, when I come
across such intentional and willful misinformation I respond to it. In the
sense of information I consider them warts on the ass of progress. By
being so closed minded although bereft of supporting information, it
brings all of their credibility into question.

Well, break's over; on to more important things.

Twayne




One of the funniest things that I have read all week. The guy takes the
exact opposite stance to you but that is ok..

Then you slag off MVPs, all of whom take the stance that this guy does..

I will keep a copy of all of this..

--

Mike Hall - MVP Windows Experience
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/