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#16
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Registry Cleaner - does one exists?
you should consider using
the cleaners that are highly recommended by others here and keep away from those that are unknown or unproven. like many software, there are phony registry cleaners as well. ------------- for all practical purposes, I highly recommend you utilize the one care safety scanner at least once a month. it has been highly tested and proven safe by the makers of windows: http://onecare.live.com/site/en-US/a...leaner_why.htm in addition to the above you can also install a program called pagedefrg and set it to run at every boot. it can be downloaded from microsoft.com as a final note, because different registry cleaners usually focus on different aspects of the registry, you can utilize another registry cleaner in addition to microsofts. -------------- incidentally, most people don't know the difference between a corrupt file system and a dirty registry. thus, running a registry cleaner on a file system that is crashing would only make matters worst. so remember to run a check disk first, then run a reg cleaner. -------------- db·´¯`·...¸)))º DatabaseBen, Retired Professional - Systems Analyst - Database Developer - Accountancy - Veteran of the Armed Forces "nirvana is shared and not hoarded" - dbZen "Sage - John Leonard" sagegrp@nowhere wrote in message ... Is there a safe registry cleaner out there, that will work with Vista and XP? What about RegDefense? thx |
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#17
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Registry Cleaner - does one exists?
Sage - John Leonard wrote:
Is there a safe registry cleaner out there, that will work with Vista and XP? What about RegDefense? thx There is no such thing as a "good" (meaning useful or beneficial) registry cleaner, free or otherwise. Some are less harmful than others, but because they're all nothing but snake oil, I won't recommend any. Why do you even think you'd ever need to clean your registry? What specific *problems* are you actually experiencing (not some program's bogus listing of imaginary problems) that you think can be fixed by using a registry "cleaner?" If you do have a problem that is rooted in the registry, it would be far better to simply edit (after backing up, of course) only the specific key(s) and/or value(s) that are causing the problem. After all, why use a chainsaw when a scalpel will do the job? Additionally, the manually changing of one or two registry entries is far less likely to have the dire consequences of allowing an automated product to make multiple changes simultaneously. The only thing needed to safely clean your registry is knowledge and Regedit.exe. The registry contains all of the operating system's "knowledge" of the computer's hardware devices, installed software, the location of the device drivers, and the computer's configuration. A misstep in the registry can have severe consequences. One should not even turning loose a poorly understood automated "cleaner," unless he is fully confident that he knows *exactly* what is going to happen as a result of each and every change. Having repeatedly seen the results of inexperienced people using automated registry "cleaners," I can only advise all but the most experienced computer technicians (and/or hobbyists) to avoid them all. Experience has shown me that such tools simply are not safe in the hands of the inexperienced user. If you lack the knowledge and experience to maintain your registry by yourself, then you also lack the knowledge and experience to safely configure and use any automated registry cleaner, no matter how safe they claim to be. More importantly, no one has ever demonstrated that the use of an automated registry "cleaner," particularly by an untrained, inexperienced computer user, does any real good, whatsoever. There's certainly been no empirical evidence offered to demonstrate that the use of such products to "clean" WinXP's registry improves a computer's performance or stability. Given the potential for harm, it's just not worth the risk. Granted, most registry "cleaners" won't cause problems each and every time they're used, but the potential for harm is always there. And, since no registry "cleaner" has ever been demonstrated to do any good (think of them like treating the flu with chicken soup - there's no real medicinal value, but it sometimes provides a warming placebo effect), I always tell people that the risks far out-weigh the non-existent benefits. I will concede that a good registry *scanning* tool, in the hands of an experienced and knowledgeable technician or hobbyist can be a useful time-saving diagnostic tool, as long as it's not allowed to make any changes automatically. But I really don't think that there are any registry "cleaners" that are truly safe for the general public to use. Experience has proven just the opposite: such tools simply are not safe in the hands of the inexperienced user. A little further reading on the subject: Why I don't use registry cleaners http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=643 AumHa Forums • View topic - AUMHA Discussion: Should I Use a Registry Cleaner? http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=28099 -- Bruce Chambers Help us help you: http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375 They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers. ~ Denis Diderot |
#18
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Registry Cleaner - does one exists?
I'm afraid I have to disagree on that one too. I have been using Ccleaner's
registry cleaner for a while now, backing everything up beforehand, and have never had a problem caused. I think the main reason I use mine, is because sometimes programs don't uninstall properly and leave tracks through the registry, tracks I'd prefer not to have. Although yes, I agree, they are potentially risky, but who causes errors in their computer as a result of registry cleaning, except the people who can't recognize when an important registry entry is being deleted? Only fools would click the 'Repair All' option, in my opinion. I am aware of Microsoft's 'Install Clean-Up' program, but even that leaves out some things that Ccleaner finds. This is why I use registry cleaner(s). -Sinbad On 22/01/2009 15:35, in article , "John John (MVP)" wrote: No, these tools cause more harm than good. If you want to keep your Windows installation in good working order don't clean your registry with these useless programs! John Sage - John Leonard wrote: Is there a safe registry cleaner out there, that will work with Vista and XP? What about RegDefense? thx |
#19
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Registry Cleaner - does one exists?
"I am aware of Microsoft's 'Install Clean-Up' program,but even that
leaves out some things that Ccleaner finds." The purpose of the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility is to remove Windows Installer packages, e.g., *.msp files. See what I mean? With all respect, you advocate fiddling with the registry but you lack essential knowledge of Windows technology. I use CCleaner as a cache cleaner. I do not use the registry cleaner component, but I have asked it to "Analyze" my registry to see what it suggests to remove. These are invariably benign fluff that wouldn't make a bit of difference to my computer's speed or stability. --- Leonard Grey Errare humanum est Sinbad The Sailor wrote: I'm afraid I have to disagree on that one too. I have been using Ccleaner's registry cleaner for a while now, backing everything up beforehand, and have never had a problem caused. I think the main reason I use mine, is because sometimes programs don't uninstall properly and leave tracks through the registry, tracks I'd prefer not to have. Although yes, I agree, they are potentially risky, but who causes errors in their computer as a result of registry cleaning, except the people who can't recognize when an important registry entry is being deleted? Only fools would click the 'Repair All' option, in my opinion. I am aware of Microsoft's 'Install Clean-Up' program, but even that leaves out some things that Ccleaner finds. This is why I use registry cleaner(s). -Sinbad On 22/01/2009 15:35, in article , "John John (MVP)" wrote: No, these tools cause more harm than good. If you want to keep your Windows installation in good working order don't clean your registry with these useless programs! John Sage - John Leonard wrote: Is there a safe registry cleaner out there, that will work with Vista and XP? What about RegDefense? thx |
#20
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Registry Cleaner - does one exists?
On Fri, 23 Jan 2009 08:57:29 +0000, Sinbad The Sailor
wrote: I'm afraid I have to disagree on that one too. You are certainly free to disagree with John John's view (which is the same as mine), but let me point out a couple of things. I have been using Ccleaner's registry cleaner for a while now, That registry cleaner is safer than most (but *not* risk-free) backing everything up beforehand, That's certainly good to do. and have never had a problem caused. There are *many* people who have similar experiences. None of us has ever claimed that every time someone uses a registry cleaner, the result is a problem. If that were the case, everyone would know that they couldn't be used, and all registry cleaners would quickly disappear. But although no registry cleaner always causes a problem, there is *always* a risk in using one. Since there is no benefit to using it, running any risk at all is foolhardy. So you've been lucky to not have a problem, and if you continue to use it, I hope you continue to be lucky. But my advice is not to trust in luck, and stop running the risks you are running, which provide you with no benefit. I think the main reason I use mine, is because sometimes programs don't uninstall properly and leave tracks through the registry, That's unquestionably true. tracks I'd prefer not to have. You may prefer not to have them, but except for the tiny amount of disk space they take, there is *no* disadvantage to their being there. Running any risk at all (even if small) to get rid of them is a bad bargain. Although yes, I agree, they are potentially risky, but who causes errors in their computer as a result of registry cleaning, except the people who can't recognize when an important registry entry is being deleted? Only fools would click the 'Repair All' option, in my opinion. I am aware of Microsoft's 'Install Clean-Up' program, but even that leaves out some things that Ccleaner finds. If your knowledge of the registry is above that of most people, and you are very careful in what you let the registry cleaner do, yes, your risk is lower than that of most people. Nevertheless, it is not zero, so I repeat my comment above: "except for the tiny amount of disk space they take, there is *no* disadvantage to their being there. Running any risk at all (even if small) to get rid of them is a bad bargain." On 22/01/2009 15:35, in article , "John John (MVP)" wrote: No, these tools cause more harm than good. If you want to keep your Windows installation in good working order don't clean your registry with these useless programs! John Sage - John Leonard wrote: Is there a safe registry cleaner out there, that will work with Vista and XP? What about RegDefense? thx -- Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience Please Reply to the Newsgroup |
#21
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Registry Cleaner - does one exists?
Just because it has one, why is it safe? BTW,
Windows Live Onecare is being discontinued. No: It WAS discontinued, and then came back reincarnated. You're out of step. "Roy Smith" wrote in message ... "John John (MVP)" wrote in message ... No, these tools cause more harm than good. If you want to keep your Windows installation in good working order don't clean your registry with these useless programs! John Sage - John Leonard wrote: Is there a safe registry cleaner out there, that will work with Vista and XP? What about RegDefense? If a registry cleaner is not safe, then why does Windows Live Onecare have one? http://onecare.live.com/site/en-US/a...leaner_why.htm |
#22
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Registry Cleaner - does one exists?
Roy Smith wrote:
"John John (MVP)" wrote in message ... No, these tools cause more harm than good. If you want to keep your Windows installation in good working order don't clean your registry with these useless programs! John Sage - John Leonard wrote: Is there a safe registry cleaner out there, that will work with Vista and XP? What about RegDefense? If a registry cleaner is not safe, then why does Windows Live Onecare have one? http://onecare.live.com/site/en-US/a...leaner_why.htm Perhaps you should ask why Onecare steadfastly refused to include a registry cleaner in its "paid for" version, maybe Onecare and the support team didn't want to deal with problems caused by useless registry cleaners. You should ask why any application that deals with user security and malicious pests surreptitiously enables ActiveX without asking or even informing unwary users that it has done so. And finally, you should ask yourself why Onecare is being discontinued. John And why it reappeared again. |
#23
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Registry Cleaner - does one exists?
Even if YOU know exactly what you're doing, you
don't know what the registry cleaner is doing. Nor do you know what most any of the programs on a machine are doing, starting from the point where they are installed and the registry hooks prepared. Which leads to: So? Avoid them. "CBoom" wrote in message ... I advise against using a registry cleaner unless you know exactly what you are doing -- For tips, tricks and tutorials visit my blog below: http://computerboom.blogspot.com "Sage - John Leonard" sagegrp@nowhere wrote in message ... Is there a safe registry cleaner out there, that will work with Vista and XP? What about RegDefense? thx |
#24
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Registry Cleaner - does one exists?
Sage - John Leonard wrote:
Is there a safe registry cleaner out there, that will work with Vista and XP? What about RegDefense? thx lol, I KNEW the droids with the closed minds, nothing to back up their claims and misinformation would have to crawl out of the woodwork for this one and there it is. This is the one that keeps saying not to use a program written by someone who knows the registry and how to program, and instead use regedit, which you probably don't understand, to fix a registry, which you also probably don't understand. He talks like a fix to the registry is a one-location thing and it's done, when in fact there are usually many locations related to a possible program problem, each of which must be considered. But mostly he's a closed minded ignorant with a boilerplate he likes to use, adding a mod here & there sometimes to further differentiate it from where it was stolen from. Then, to back himself up, he provides links to discussions where he's used info very close to his boilerplate, and submitted by him. There is a small group of such ignorants here who get really upset at being called on their misinformation; they'll crawl into the pic soon here, I'm sure, because every time someone calls them they get more and more flustered and think that by repeating the same misinformation over and over someone might believe it. This post in particular is interesting in the way it conflicts with itself. But, it does make for a comedic moment should one bother to read it, or at least scan it quickly. Thanks for this opportunity Bruce, Twayne Bruce C spewed: There is no such thing as a "good" (meaning useful or beneficial) registry cleaner, free or otherwise. Some are less harmful than others, but because they're all nothing but snake oil, I won't recommend any. Why do you even think you'd ever need to clean your registry? What specific *problems* are you actually experiencing (not some program's bogus listing of imaginary problems) that you think can be fixed by using a registry "cleaner?" .... drivel snipped |
#25
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Registry Cleaner - does one exists?
bruce knows better and
enjoys the argument..: ) I wouldn't put to much time in arguing with him, especially since he has already admitted to using ccleaner regulary. -- db·´¯`·...¸)))º DatabaseBen, Retired Professional - Systems Analyst - Database Developer - Accountancy - Veteran of the Armed Forces "nirvana is shared and not hoarded" - dbZen "Twayne" wrote in message ... Sage - John Leonard wrote: Is there a safe registry cleaner out there, that will work with Vista and XP? What about RegDefense? thx lol, I KNEW the droids with the closed minds, nothing to back up their claims and misinformation would have to crawl out of the woodwork for this one and there it is. This is the one that keeps saying not to use a program written by someone who knows the registry and how to program, and instead use regedit, which you probably don't understand, to fix a registry, which you also probably don't understand. He talks like a fix to the registry is a one-location thing and it's done, when in fact there are usually many locations related to a possible program problem, each of which must be considered. But mostly he's a closed minded ignorant with a boilerplate he likes to use, adding a mod here & there sometimes to further differentiate it from where it was stolen from. Then, to back himself up, he provides links to discussions where he's used info very close to his boilerplate, and submitted by him. There is a small group of such ignorants here who get really upset at being called on their misinformation; they'll crawl into the pic soon here, I'm sure, because every time someone calls them they get more and more flustered and think that by repeating the same misinformation over and over someone might believe it. This post in particular is interesting in the way it conflicts with itself. But, it does make for a comedic moment should one bother to read it, or at least scan it quickly. Thanks for this opportunity Bruce, Twayne Bruce C spewed: There is no such thing as a "good" (meaning useful or beneficial) registry cleaner, free or otherwise. Some are less harmful than others, but because they're all nothing but snake oil, I won't recommend any. Why do you even think you'd ever need to clean your registry? What specific *problems* are you actually experiencing (not some program's bogus listing of imaginary problems) that you think can be fixed by using a registry "cleaner?" ... drivel snipped |
#26
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Registry Cleaner - does one exists?
On Fri, 23 Jan 2009 08:57:29 +0000, Sinbad The
Sailor wrote: I'm afraid I have to disagree on that one too. You are certainly free to disagree with John John's view (which is the same as mine), but let me point out a couple of things. lol, but not yours. Right? I have been using Ccleaner's registry cleaner for a while now, That registry cleaner is safer than most (but *not* risk-free) No, It's AS safe as many of them. NO PROGRAM is "risk-free". How well a program functions depends on the author of the program and his abilities to understand the job at hand. And of course, like any other utility, whether the intent is to push malware or provide a good program. Like any other, it's a buyer-beware, even for freeware, and sticking to those with good track records usually gets you a good product. backing everything up beforehand, That's certainly good to do. and have never had a problem caused. There are *many* people who have similar experiences. None of us has ever claimed that every time someone uses a registry cleaner, the result is a problem. If that were the case, everyone would know that they couldn't be used, and all registry cleaners would quickly disappear. Yup. Even if the eventuality you keep pushing/harping on were true, people would catch on and avoid them; not use them year after year as I have, without a single problem, ever. The biggest culprits I've seen for causing registry problems has been poorly written code that craps in the registry when it installs and when it runs. But although no registry cleaner always causes a problem, .... But you said, and I quote: " There is no such thing as a "good" (meaning useful or beneficial) registry cleaner, free or otherwise. Some are less harmful than others, but because they're all nothing but snake oil, ...." So you've been lucky to not have a problem, and if you continue to use it, I hope you continue to be lucky. But my advice is not to trust in luck, and stop running the risks you are running, which provide you with no benefit. That's baloney. Chances of running into a ccleaner caused problem are no greater than any other application and may in fact, due to some of the safeties and health features of the registry, probably a lot less so than other applications. I think the main reason I use mine, is because sometimes programs don't uninstall properly and leave tracks through the registry, That's unquestionably true. tracks I'd prefer not to have. You may prefer not to have them, but except for the tiny amount of disk space they take, there is *no* disadvantage to their being there. Running any risk at all (even if small) to get rid of them is a bad bargain. Single-tracked: That is not a major reason to use a cleaner. It is one of a whole host of features they can perform for the user. You always want to single out one thing, which is also always nonsense, and intimate that's what they're used for. If I remove a program and don't care to take advantage of the settings I made and other files created by the program, there is nothing wrong with removing those entries. How many entries do you suppose a program may create in the registry? Ten, a hundred, a thousand? It's not one unless it's maybe a VB6 application and the Add/Remove entry, it's more than ten, and often more than a hundred and closer to a thousand? In the counts I have made one sample went well over 600, but you're going to claim ignorance to having read the past things I've posted about that. Those can, over time, indeed slow things down. You're fond of saying entries are directly addressed, and yeah, they more or less are, for EVERY entry they need in the registry. They aren't as "direct" as you like to so vaguely point out, either. Although yes, I agree, they are potentially risky, but who causes errors in their computer as a result of registry cleaning, except the people who can't recognize when an important registry entry is being deleted? Only fools would click the 'Repair All' option, in my opinion. I am aware of Microsoft's 'Install Clean-Up' program, but even that leaves out some things that Ccleaner finds. That's a decent attitude and one that works. If your knowledge of the registry is above that of most people, and you are very careful in what you let the registry cleaner do, yes, your risk is lower than that of most people. Nevertheless, it is not zero, It is NEVER zero for ANY application! It's windows' nature. Amongst the many things I've seen happen to computers, I have NEVER had a problem result from ANY registry cleaner that I chose and used. Cleaners are closer to zero than most other programs, though. Actually XP seems to be pretty reliable these days; I haven't had a corruption problem in a very long time. so I repeat my comment above: "except for the tiny amount of disk space they take, there is *no* disadvantage to their being there. Running any risk at all (even if small) to get rid of them is a bad bargain." And that paragraph is just plain silly, even comedic in nature. I liken them to a benign tumor on the back of one's hand; it doesn't belong there and eventually should be removed just to get it out of the way of a future mishap. I suspect you have never seen a 3 or more year old machine's registry that has never been maintained. Or even just a year, for that matter. Thanks again for the opportunity, Twayne On 22/01/2009 15:35, in article , "John John (MVP)" wrote: No, these tools cause more harm than good. If you want to keep your Windows installation in good working order don't clean your registry with these useless programs! John Sage - John Leonard wrote: Is there a safe registry cleaner out there, that will work with Vista and XP? What about RegDefense? thx |
#27
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Registry Cleaner - does one exists?
Twayne wrote:
Roy Smith wrote: "John John (MVP)" wrote in message ... No, these tools cause more harm than good. If you want to keep your Windows installation in good working order don't clean your registry with these useless programs! John Sage - John Leonard wrote: Is there a safe registry cleaner out there, that will work with Vista and XP? What about RegDefense? If a registry cleaner is not safe, then why does Windows Live Onecare have one? http://onecare.live.com/site/en-US/a...leaner_why.htm Perhaps you should ask why Onecare steadfastly refused to include a registry cleaner in its "paid for" version, maybe Onecare and the support team didn't want to deal with problems caused by useless registry cleaners. You should ask why any application that deals with user security and malicious pests surreptitiously enables ActiveX without asking or even informing unwary users that it has done so. And finally, you should ask yourself why Onecare is being discontinued. John And why it reappeared again. One has to wonder why it is that with the internet at your fingertips that you don't bother to research anything before you post your erroneous information. John |
#28
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Registry Cleaner - does one exists?
John John (MVP) wrote:
Twayne wrote: Roy Smith wrote: "John John (MVP)" wrote in message ... No, these tools cause more harm than good. If you want to keep your Windows installation in good working order don't clean your registry with these useless programs! John Sage - John Leonard wrote: Is there a safe registry cleaner out there, that will work with Vista and XP? What about RegDefense? If a registry cleaner is not safe, then why does Windows Live Onecare have one? http://onecare.live.com/site/en-US/a...leaner_why.htm Perhaps you should ask why Onecare steadfastly refused to include a registry cleaner in its "paid for" version, maybe Onecare and the support team didn't want to deal with problems caused by useless registry cleaners. You should ask why any application that deals with user security and malicious pests surreptitiously enables ActiveX without asking or even informing unwary users that it has done so. And finally, you should ask yourself why Onecare is being discontinued. John And why it reappeared again. One has to wonder why it is that with the internet at your fingertips that you don't bother to research anything before you post your erroneous information. John Laziness? |
#29
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Registry Cleaner - does one exists?
Bill in Co. wrote:
John John (MVP) wrote: Twayne wrote: Roy Smith wrote: "John John (MVP)" wrote in message . .. No, these tools cause more harm than good. If you want to keep your Windows installation in good working order don't clean your registry with these useless programs! John Sage - John Leonard wrote: Is there a safe registry cleaner out there, that will work with Vista and XP? What about RegDefense? If a registry cleaner is not safe, then why does Windows Live Onecare have one? http://onecare.live.com/site/en-US/a...leaner_why.htm Perhaps you should ask why Onecare steadfastly refused to include a registry cleaner in its "paid for" version, maybe Onecare and the support team didn't want to deal with problems caused by useless registry cleaners. You should ask why any application that deals with user security and malicious pests surreptitiously enables ActiveX without asking or even informing unwary users that it has done so. And finally, you should ask yourself why Onecare is being discontinued. John And why it reappeared again. One has to wonder why it is that with the internet at your fingertips that you don't bother to research anything before you post your erroneous information. John Laziness? He likes to wallow in his ignorance... |
#30
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Registry Cleaner - does one exists?
Twayne wrote:
On Fri, 23 Jan 2009 08:57:29 +0000, Sinbad The Sailor out of the way of a future mishap. I suspect you have never seen a 3 or more year old machine's registry that has never been maintained. Or even just a year, for that matter. You mean, it's missing it's oil change? ROFL. |
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