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Registry cleaner
Is there a good free program for removing unused entries in my registry?
Computer is quite old and has had many things installed and removed over the life of its XP OS. Thanks |
#2
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Registry cleaner
I know you wont like the answer, but the only garanteed way of cleaning up the registry (and the system root for that matter) is to backup anything important and format and rebuild the box, mine usually get done every 12 - 18 months.
Dont half make your PC feel fast afterwards "Just Me" wrote: Is there a good free program for removing unused entries in my registry? Computer is quite old and has had many things installed and removed over the life of its XP OS. Thanks |
#3
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Registry cleaner
Hi
The XP Registry looks after itself. Using any of these 'cleaners' can cause more harm than good. -- Will Denny MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User Please reply to the News Groups " Just Me" wrote in message ... | Is there a good free program for removing unused entries in my registry? | | Computer is quite old and has had many things installed and removed over the | life of its XP OS. | | Thanks | | |
#4
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Registry cleaner
I think I'd like that but what about window validation - is that a problem? What do you back up? I mean just app data? Email? Thanks "Ashleigh" wrote in message ... I know you wont like the answer, but the only garanteed way of cleaning up the registry (and the system root for that matter) is to backup anything important and format and rebuild the box, mine usually get done every 12 - 18 months. Dont half make your PC feel fast afterwards "Just Me" wrote: Is there a good free program for removing unused entries in my registry? Computer is quite old and has had many things installed and removed over the life of its XP OS. Thanks |
#5
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Registry cleaner
Hi.
Kindly check Tune Up utility. Just check www.tuneup.de Is a good one, but as ussual, take precaution. Backup your file, create a restore point, a check point and then run this utility. Another one id Register Mechanic. Check with any search engine, but be aware, what is free sure is not ... very good. Regards, Catalin "Just Me" wrote: Is there a good free program for removing unused entries in my registry? Computer is quite old and has had many things installed and removed over the life of its XP OS. Thanks |
#6
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Registry cleaner
Windows activation should not be a real problem (as long as the version you have is legit). Backup I would run the transfer user's and settings application (on the XP cd) and make sure you get all your email/documents also make a backup of you c:\documents
and settings folder (got almost everything you may need in it), also backup any game saves you want (if you do) and any data that's not stored under docs and settings (DVD writers are a godsend for this sort of thing), REMEMBER rather backup too much than not enough! Then when your happy you have everything you need then fdisk the drive and boot from the cd. "Just Me" wrote: I think I'd like that but what about window validation - is that a problem? What do you back up? I mean just app data? Email? Thanks "Ashleigh" wrote in message ... I know you wont like the answer, but the only garanteed way of cleaning up the registry (and the system root for that matter) is to backup anything important and format and rebuild the box, mine usually get done every 12 - 18 months. Dont half make your PC feel fast afterwards "Just Me" wrote: Is there a good free program for removing unused entries in my registry? Computer is quite old and has had many things installed and removed over the life of its XP OS. Thanks |
#7
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Registry cleaner
Thanks a lot
"Ashleigh" wrote in message ... Windows activation should not be a real problem (as long as the version you have is legit). Backup I would run the transfer user's and settings application (on the XP cd) and make sure you get all your email/documents also make a backup of you c:\documents and settings folder (got almost everything you may need in it), also backup any game saves you want (if you do) and any data that's not stored under docs and settings (DVD writers are a godsend for this sort of thing), REMEMBER rather backup too much than not enough! Then when your happy you have everything you need then fdisk the drive and boot from the cd. "Just Me" wrote: I think I'd like that but what about window validation - is that a problem? What do you back up? I mean just app data? Email? Thanks "Ashleigh" wrote in message ... I know you wont like the answer, but the only garanteed way of cleaning up the registry (and the system root for that matter) is to backup anything important and format and rebuild the box, mine usually get done every 12 - 18 months. Dont half make your PC feel fast afterwards "Just Me" wrote: Is there a good free program for removing unused entries in my registry? Computer is quite old and has had many things installed and removed over the life of its XP OS. Thanks |
#8
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Registry cleaner
I'll be careful. Don't you trust their backup feature?
"Will Denny" wrote in message ... Hi The XP Registry looks after itself. Using any of these 'cleaners' can cause more harm than good. -- Will Denny MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User Please reply to the News Groups " Just Me" wrote in message ... | Is there a good free program for removing unused entries in my registry? | | Computer is quite old and has had many things installed and removed over the | life of its XP OS. | | Thanks | | |
#9
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Registry cleaner
"Catalin" wrote in message ... Hi. Kindly check Tune Up utility. Just check www.tuneup.de Is a good one, but as ussual, take precaution. Backup your file, create a restore point, a check point and then run this utility. Another one id Register Mechanic. Check with any search engine, but be aware, what is free sure is not ... very good. I know - I'm thinking of reinstalling anyway so no big deal if things go bad. thanks Regards, Catalin "Just Me" wrote: Is there a good free program for removing unused entries in my registry? Computer is quite old and has had many things installed and removed over the life of its XP OS. Thanks |
#10
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Registry cleaner
Hi Just Me - In my experience all of these Reg cleaners, even the best, are
fraught with danger. I advise against using them except in one specific instance, that is when you have one that is capable of doing specific Reg searches, and you NEED (not just WANT) to remove the remaining traces of something that didn't get uninstalled correctly. (and you didn't have foresight enough to install it using Total Uninstall, http://www.geocities.com/ggmartau/tu.html or direct dwnld he http://files.webattack.com/localdl834/tun234.zip, in the first place.) Lastly, if you must screw around with your Registry, then at least get Erunt/Erdnt, and run it before you do the Reg clean. You'll then have a true restore available to you. Read below to see why you might not just using the Reg cleaner's resto Get Erunt here for all NT-based computers including XP: http://home.t-online.de/home/lars.he...runt/index.htm I've set it up to take a scheduled backup each night at 12:01AM on a weekly round-robin basis, and a Monthly on the 1st of each month. See here for how to set that up: http://home.t-online.de/home/lars.he...unt/erunt.txt, and for some useful information about this subject. This program is one of the best things around - saved my butt on many occasions, and will also run very nicely from a DOS prompt (in case you've done something that won't let you boot any more and need to revert to a previous Registry) IF you're FAT32 OR have a DOS startup disk with NTFS write drivers in an NTFS system. (There is also a way using the Recovery Console to get back to being "bootable" even without separate DOS write NTFS drivers, after which you can do a "normal" Erdnt restore.) (BTW, it also includes a Registry defragger program). Free, and very, very highly recommended. FYI, quoting from the above document: "Note: The "Export registry" function in Regedit is USELESS (!) to make a complete backup of the registry. Neither does it export the whole registry (for example, no information from the "SECURITY" hive is saved), nor can the exported file be used later to replace the current registry with the old one. Instead, if you re-import the file, it is merged with the current registry, leaving you with an absolute mess of old and new registry keys. -- Please respond in the same thread. Regards, Jim Byrd, MS-MVP In , Just Me typed: Is there a good free program for removing unused entries in my registry? Computer is quite old and has had many things installed and removed over the life of its XP OS. Thanks |
#11
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Registry cleaner
Hi
Unfortunately not all of these 'cleaners' have a backup/undo option - which is where the problems start. A System Restore sometimes doesn't work properly because of the degree of alterations made to the Registry. -- Will Denny MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User Please reply to the News Groups " Just Me" wrote in message ... | I'll be careful. Don't you trust their backup feature? | | "Will Denny" wrote in message | ... | Hi | | The XP Registry looks after itself. Using any of these 'cleaners' can | cause | more harm than good. | | -- | | Will Denny | MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User | Please reply to the News Groups | | | " Just Me" wrote in message | ... | | Is there a good free program for removing unused entries in my registry? | | | | Computer is quite old and has had many things installed and removed over | the | | life of its XP OS. | | | | Thanks | | | | | | | |
#12
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Registry cleaner
"Will Denny" wrote in message ... Hi Unfortunately not all of these 'cleaners' have a backup/undo option - which is where the problems start. A System Restore sometimes doesn't work properly because of the degree of alterations made to the Registry. Not good news Thanks -- Will Denny MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User Please reply to the News Groups " Just Me" wrote in message ... | I'll be careful. Don't you trust their backup feature? | | "Will Denny" wrote in message | ... | Hi | | The XP Registry looks after itself. Using any of these 'cleaners' can | cause | more harm than good. | | -- | | Will Denny | MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User | Please reply to the News Groups | | | " Just Me" wrote in message | ... | | Is there a good free program for removing unused entries in my registry? | | | | Computer is quite old and has had many things installed and removed over | the | | life of its XP OS. | | | | Thanks | | | | | | | |
#13
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Registry cleaner
Thanks for ALL the info
"Jim Byrd" wrote in message ... Hi Just Me - In my experience all of these Reg cleaners, even the best, are fraught with danger. I advise against using them except in one specific instance, that is when you have one that is capable of doing specific Reg searches, and you NEED (not just WANT) to remove the remaining traces of something that didn't get uninstalled correctly. (and you didn't have foresight enough to install it using Total Uninstall, http://www.geocities.com/ggmartau/tu.html or direct dwnld he http://files.webattack.com/localdl834/tun234.zip, in the first place.) Lastly, if you must screw around with your Registry, then at least get Erunt/Erdnt, and run it before you do the Reg clean. You'll then have a true restore available to you. Read below to see why you might not just using the Reg cleaner's resto Get Erunt here for all NT-based computers including XP: http://home.t-online.de/home/lars.he...runt/index.htm I've set it up to take a scheduled backup each night at 12:01AM on a weekly round-robin basis, and a Monthly on the 1st of each month. See here for how to set that up: http://home.t-online.de/home/lars.he...unt/erunt.txt, and for some useful information about this subject. This program is one of the best things around - saved my butt on many occasions, and will also run very nicely from a DOS prompt (in case you've done something that won't let you boot any more and need to revert to a previous Registry) IF you're FAT32 OR have a DOS startup disk with NTFS write drivers in an NTFS system. (There is also a way using the Recovery Console to get back to being "bootable" even without separate DOS write NTFS drivers, after which you can do a "normal" Erdnt restore.) (BTW, it also includes a Registry defragger program). Free, and very, very highly recommended. FYI, quoting from the above document: "Note: The "Export registry" function in Regedit is USELESS (!) to make a complete backup of the registry. Neither does it export the whole registry (for example, no information from the "SECURITY" hive is saved), nor can the exported file be used later to replace the current registry with the old one. Instead, if you re-import the file, it is merged with the current registry, leaving you with an absolute mess of old and new registry keys. -- Please respond in the same thread. Regards, Jim Byrd, MS-MVP In , Just Me typed: Is there a good free program for removing unused entries in my registry? Computer is quite old and has had many things installed and removed over the life of its XP OS. Thanks |
#14
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Registry cleaner
"Ashleigh" wrote in message ... Windows activation should not be a real problem (as long as the version you have is legit). It is but won't MS think I installing on a second machine? If I format the disk and install windowsXP will I have to call MS or will the internet validation work? Thanks again Backup I would run the transfer user's and settings application (on the XP cd) and make sure you get all your email/documents also make a backup of you c:\documents and settings folder (got almost everything you may need in it), also backup any game saves you want (if you do) and any data that's not stored under docs and settings (DVD writers are a godsend for this sort of thing), REMEMBER rather backup too much than not enough! Then when your happy you have everything you need then fdisk the drive and boot from the cd. "Just Me" wrote: I think I'd like that but what about window validation - is that a problem? What do you back up? I mean just app data? Email? Thanks "Ashleigh" wrote in message ... I know you wont like the answer, but the only garanteed way of cleaning up the registry (and the system root for that matter) is to backup anything important and format and rebuild the box, mine usually get done every 12 - 18 months. Dont half make your PC feel fast afterwards "Just Me" wrote: Is there a good free program for removing unused entries in my registry? Computer is quite old and has had many things installed and removed over the life of its XP OS. Thanks |
#15
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Registry cleaner
Just Me wrote:
I think I'd like that but what about window validation - is that a problem? If you mean 'activation', no it isn't. On the same hardware you can activate as many times as you like; trouble only arises if you make quite a lot of different hardware changes. And at that it is a minor hassle to phone a toll free number What do you back up? I mean just app data? Email? Email is data too. A lot of help is given by the Files and Settings Transfer system - read Gary Woodruff's article at http://aumha.org/win5/a/fast.htm But I would *not* be doing this just to tidy the registry. If you have a lot of programs you have installed and you want to be rid of the lot so as to make a new start, then yes. But if you have properly uninstalled ones you do not want there should be little overhead left, compared with the size of the registry at its smallest, and the effort is not justified provided the machine works. If you do decide to: do a reinstall of the system after booting the XP CD direct. Enter Setup, and after the license agreement take New Install. When it asks you to confirm where, hit ESC; select and delete the current partition and make a new RAW one to be formatted at the next stage The important point is the delete. Without that it will just go ahead and make a new install over the top of the old one You will then need to ensure that the firewall is in action before going on the net even for a minute and be prepared for reinstalling all updates. Not trivial. Worth getting the consolidated CD of security updates (which includes SP1) which is free - order at http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/cd/order.asp It is getting a bit out of date, but if you also got the downloads for the following on a broadband , especially http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;835732 (Sasser worm patch) and the 837009 (OE Cumulative) 832894 (IE Cumulative) 828741 (XP Cumulative) 828028 (ASN 1) 837001 (Jet Engine) and burned them to CD too, you would be near up to date -- Alex Nichol MS MVP (Windows Technologies) Bournemouth, U.K. (remove the D8 bit) |
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