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"Free" Rigistry Cleaner any good?



 
 
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  #1  
Old August 23rd 05, 04:52 PM
No_Name
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default "Free" Rigistry Cleaner any good?

I downloaded the free Registry Cleaner and it "supposedly" found hundreds of
faults, even though my computer, 2.GHz, Windows XP Pro, 512 MB RAM, seems to
run fine.

It fixes 50 of the "faults" free but then wants the upgrade version for $
29.95 to fix anything else.

Does anyone have this program and is satisfied with it?


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  #2  
Old August 23rd 05, 05:10 PM
No_Name
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

I should have said that the program comes from "FreeRegistryFix.com"


" wrote in message
...
I downloaded the free Registry Cleaner and it "supposedly" found hundreds
of faults, even though my computer, 2.GHz, Windows XP Pro, 512 MB RAM,
seems to run fine.

It fixes 50 of the "faults" free but then wants the upgrade version for $
29.95 to fix anything else.

Does anyone have this program and is satisfied with it?




  #4  
Old August 23rd 05, 09:13 PM
Ted Zieglar
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Avoid this scam like the plague.

--
Ted Zieglar
"You can do it if you try."

" wrote in message
...
I downloaded the free Registry Cleaner and it "supposedly" found hundreds

of
faults, even though my computer, 2.GHz, Windows XP Pro, 512 MB RAM, seems

to
run fine.

It fixes 50 of the "faults" free but then wants the upgrade version for $
29.95 to fix anything else.

Does anyone have this program and is satisfied with it?



  #6  
Old August 23rd 05, 10:57 PM
Carey Frisch [MVP]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

It's a scam. You do not need a registry cleaner for Windows XP.
Using a registry cleaner will not do anything positive for
the performance of your computer.

Many folks who have gone ahead and used a registry cleaner
often visit this newsgroup for help, usually beginning their
question with "Help! Suddenly Windows XP stopped ___________"
(you fill in the blank).

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Ritter197" wrote:

| I downloaded the free Registry Cleaner and it "supposedly" found hundreds of
| faults, even though my computer, 2.GHz, Windows XP Pro, 512 MB RAM, seems to
| run fine.
|
| It fixes 50 of the "faults" free but then wants the upgrade version for $
| 29.95 to fix anything else.
|
| Does anyone have this program and is satisfied with it?

  #7  
Old August 23rd 05, 11:51 PM
TRABEM
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

It might very well be a scam, but the concept of registry cleaning is
a valid one, even in XP.

I use Norton Systemworks, which is a suite, which includes a registry
checker/cleaner.

It finds registry errors all the time, many times finding 20 or 30 per
scan. Most software doesn't install cleanly, even WORD and Pagemaker,
which are supposed to be above suspicion by reputation::

I find keys that don't lead anywhere and other assorted problems,
especially activeX problems. I can uninstall almost any piece of
software and run the scanner, it will be guaranteed to find problems!

Even when software isn't uninstalled, there are often 3 or 4 'medium'
rated registry problems found.

There is a website that specializes in listing security threats that
pose as legitimate software. I'll look for it later tonight and email
you directly.

In the meantime, if this is a scam, you MUST consider anything on your
HD has been harvested. I strongly encourage you to get professional
help from a local computer shop.

The problem might be more serious than you think, especially if you
use the computer for online shopping.

T

On Tue, 23 Aug 2005 16:57:05 -0500, "Carey Frisch [MVP]"
wrote:

It's a scam. You do not need a registry cleaner for Windows XP.
Using a registry cleaner will not do anything positive for
the performance of your computer.

Many folks who have gone ahead and used a registry cleaner
often visit this newsgroup for help, usually beginning their
question with "Help! Suddenly Windows XP stopped ___________"
(you fill in the blank).


  #8  
Old August 24th 05, 12:01 AM
Ronnie Vernon MVP
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

wrote:
Freeregistryfix.com is the name.

snip

Here are a couple other threads where you can get more information.

Google Groups : microsoft.public.security.homeusers:=20
http://groups.google.com/group/micro...eusers/browse=
_thread/thread/6d4f5b63a7fb720b/0b2dc15b5c53d71e?lnk=3Dst&q=3D%22Free+Reg=
istry+Fix%22+group:microsoft.public.*&rnum=3D1#0b2 dc15b5c53d71e

Google Groups : microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion:=20
http://groups.google.com/group/micro...scussion/brow=
se_thread/thread/8a09052a440cce73/a1579c4dcea64904?lnk=3Dst&q=3D%22Free+R=
egistry+Fix%22+group:microsoft.public.*&rnum=3D3#a 1579c4dcea64904

--=20

Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
  #9  
Old August 24th 05, 01:54 AM
Ted Zieglar
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

"...the concept of registry cleaning is a valid one, even in XP."

No, it's not, and it's such an old argument that most of us are bored of =
discussing it. You can read the innumerable threads in Google Groups.

Ted Zieglar

TRABEM wrote in message =
...
It might very well be a scam, but the concept of registry cleaning is
a valid one, even in XP.
=20
I use Norton Systemworks, which is a suite, which includes a registry
checker/cleaner.
=20
It finds registry errors all the time, many times finding 20 or 30 per
scan. Most software doesn't install cleanly, even WORD and Pagemaker,
which are supposed to be above suspicion by reputation::
=20
I find keys that don't lead anywhere and other assorted problems,
especially activeX problems. I can uninstall almost any piece of
software and run the scanner, it will be guaranteed to find problems!=20
=20
Even when software isn't uninstalled, there are often 3 or 4 'medium'
rated registry problems found.
=20
There is a website that specializes in listing security threats that
pose as legitimate software. I'll look for it later tonight and email
you directly.=20
=20
In the meantime, if this is a scam, you MUST consider anything on your
HD has been harvested. I strongly encourage you to get professional
help from a local computer shop.=20
=20
The problem might be more serious than you think, especially if you
use the computer for online shopping.
=20
T
=20
On Tue, 23 Aug 2005 16:57:05 -0500, "Carey Frisch [MVP]"
wrote:
=20
It's a scam. You do not need a registry cleaner for Windows XP.
Using a registry cleaner will not do anything positive for
the performance of your computer.

Many folks who have gone ahead and used a registry cleaner
often visit this newsgroup for help, usually beginning their
question with "Help! Suddenly Windows XP stopped ___________"
(you fill in the blank).


  #10  
Old August 24th 05, 02:03 AM
peterk
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

The program is a scam only in the fact that it will fix a "certain" number
of registry problems and then asks you to "upgrade" to the paid version.The
problem with the program is that you really need to be quite knowledgable
about registry keys in order to use it effectively.I was not so I
uninstalled it .
I went back to a more simple program called RegCleaner...........free at
that point in time but now costs and has a name
change............http://www.jv16.org/

just remember that the registry is what starts your system.........if you
screw it up you screw up your system.Which is why most MSVP suggest you
leave it alone!!
So I also use ERUNT
ERUNT - The Emergency Recovery Utility NT
=========================================

Registry Backup and Restore for Windows NT/2000/2003/XP

v1.1h, 03/06/2005, Freeware
Written by Lars Hederer
e-mail:

Look for the latest version he
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt

Before I run the cleaner I backup the registry
good luck
peterk

--
Never trust a computer you can't throw out the window. - Steve Wozniak
" wrote in message
...
Freeregistryfix.com is the name.


"Ronnie Vernon MVP" wrote in message
...
wrote:
I downloaded the free Registry Cleaner and it "supposedly" found
hundreds of faults, even though my computer, 2.GHz, Windows XP Pro,
512 MB RAM, seems to run fine.

It fixes 50 of the "faults" free but then wants the upgrade version
for $29.95 to fix anything else.

Does anyone have this program and is satisfied with it?


facetious mode/on

As long as you have plenty of time on your hands, go ahead. It shouldn't
take you more than a few days to re-install everything and get over the
loss of your personal data. 8|

What is the actual name of this wonderful software program?

--

Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/



  #11  
Old August 24th 05, 02:58 AM
Bruce Chambers
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

wrote:
I downloaded the free Registry Cleaner and it "supposedly" found hundreds of
faults, even though my computer, 2.GHz, Windows XP Pro, 512 MB RAM, seems to
run fine.




What specific problem are you experiencing that you *know* beyond
all reasonable doubt will 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. Why use a shotgun 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 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 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.

The only thing needed to safely clean your registry is knowledge
and Regedit.exe. 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.

Further, no one has ever demonstrated, to my satisfaction, that the
use of an automated registry cleaner, particularly by an untrained,
inexperienced computer user, does any real good. 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.

I always use Regedit.exe. I trust my own experience and judgment
far more than I would any automated registry cleaner. I strongly
encourage others to acquire the knowledge, as well.


It fixes 50 of the "faults" free but then wants the upgrade version for $
29.95 to fix anything else.



Ah! So the offer of a "free" product was really just the bait in a
scam? Do you really want to give your money to a company that's so
unscrupulous? Do you really trust such an unethical firm with all of
your personal data?


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
  #12  
Old August 24th 05, 03:05 AM
Bruce Chambers
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

TRABEM wrote:
It might very well be a scam, but the concept of registry cleaning is
a valid one, even in XP.



No, that's not in the least bit correct. You've been listening to
salesman and marketing lies, rather than experienced, knowledgeable
technicians.


I use Norton Systemworks, which is a suite, which includes a registry
checker/cleaner.



Actually, SystemWorks' primary function separate your money from your
wallet. Once a useful utility suite, back in the days of MS-DOS, when
Peter Norton was more than a picture on the box, Norton Utilities have
been becoming increasingly useless and redundant over the years.
There's little offered by NU that WinXP cannot already do natively. And
some of Systemworks's features, like CrashGuard and CleanSweep (if
they're still included) cause far more problems then they prevent.


It finds registry errors all the time, many times finding 20 or 30 per
scan. Most software doesn't install cleanly, even WORD and Pagemaker,
which are supposed to be above suspicion by reputation::


I find keys that don't lead anywhere and other assorted problems,
especially activeX problems. I can uninstall almost any piece of
software and run the scanner, it will be guaranteed to find problems!

Even when software isn't uninstalled, there are often 3 or 4 'medium'
rated registry problems found.




Any thought as to where these registry "errors" are coming from, if
you're finding new ones "all the time?" Oh, and what specific problems
have any orphaned entries actually caused? Come on, name at least one
specific problem that you experienced and couldn't have fixed without
SystemWorks.





--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
  #13  
Old August 24th 05, 03:20 AM
~ FreeSpirit ~
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


" wrote in message
...
I downloaded the free Registry Cleaner and it "supposedly" found hundreds
of faults, even though my computer, 2.GHz, Windows XP Pro, 512 MB RAM,
seems to run fine.

It fixes 50 of the "faults" free but then wants the upgrade version for $
29.95 to fix anything else.

Does anyone have this program and is satisfied with it?

==============================
Make sure you GHOST (back up everything) your HD before using something like
this. There are horror stories...... :-(

FS~

  #14  
Old August 24th 05, 03:38 AM
VManes
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Bruce,

I think you're leaning a bit too far out on this topic (much like many of
our political organizations today), and the fringe is seldom a good place to
be.

Yes, any working in the Registry is not to be done by someone without some
knowledge, and wholesale housecleaning is not for the faint of heart.

Yes, the Norton/Symantec prodcuts are a pale imitation of what they once
were ( I loved Norton Untilites 4.5 - that was Golden!) Recently, I
undertook the task of removing all Symantec products from our two main PCs -
mainly because the antispam product was just dogging down the system, not
just while working email. Man, what a performance boost!

Now, what could some registry cleaner product do that I could not do with
RegEdit? Find the hundredSSSS of keys and values that
Systemworks/AntiVirus/AntiSpam and especially Live Update left scattered
throughout the registry, even after a supposed complete uninstall. I found
lots on my own, but Registry First Aid found many many more.

The only programs that do a good job of cleaning up after themselves in the
registry with their uninstall are ones that don't make much use of the
registry, and even there simple apps still leave lots of flotsam and jetsam
around.

On a system that's been in use going on 3 years now, lots of programs
installed and removed over that time, Registry First Aid found about 2000
entries that were orphaned, misdirected, or otherwised needed correction or
could be deleted.

The registry gets to be pretty big, and cutting down the junk in it can
improve response time when a program has to go hunt in it for something.

I'm not saying this is necessary for every user, or needed very often, but
in my case it was a useful procedure. And certainly a lot less painful than
wiping the drive and reinstalling everything to have cleaner system.

Val

ps - Bruce, I've seen your posts here for years, and been helped by your
advice more than a few times. Thanks.


~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Bruce Chambers" wrote in message
...
TRABEM wrote:
It might very well be a scam, but the concept of registry cleaning is
a valid one, even in XP.



No, that's not in the least bit correct. You've been listening to
salesman and marketing lies, rather than experienced, knowledgeable
technicians.


I use Norton Systemworks, which is a suite, which includes a registry
checker/cleaner.



Actually, SystemWorks' primary function separate your money from your
wallet. Once a useful utility suite, back in the days of MS-DOS, when
Peter Norton was more than a picture on the box, Norton Utilities have
been becoming increasingly useless and redundant over the years.
There's little offered by NU that WinXP cannot already do natively. And
some of Systemworks's features, like CrashGuard and CleanSweep (if
they're still included) cause far more problems then they prevent.


It finds registry errors all the time, many times finding 20 or 30 per
scan. Most software doesn't install cleanly, even WORD and Pagemaker,
which are supposed to be above suspicion by reputation::


I find keys that don't lead anywhere and other assorted problems,
especially activeX problems. I can uninstall almost any piece of
software and run the scanner, it will be guaranteed to find problems!

Even when software isn't uninstalled, there are often 3 or 4 'medium'
rated registry problems found.




Any thought as to where these registry "errors" are coming from, if
you're finding new ones "all the time?" Oh, and what specific problems
have any orphaned entries actually caused? Come on, name at least one
specific problem that you experienced and couldn't have fixed without
SystemWorks.





--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH


  #15  
Old August 24th 05, 04:11 AM
Bruce Chambers
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

VManes wrote:
Bruce,

I think you're leaning a bit too far out on this topic (much like many of
our political organizations today), and the fringe is seldom a good place to
be.



A matter of perspective, I suppose. (I'm not one for sitting on the
fence - something always comes along to knock you off.) This is sort of
a sore subject for me. I've seen far too many people effectively
destroy their system by using these automated "tools." They're simply
not safe for the average computer user to use.


Yes, any working in the Registry is not to be done by someone without some
knowledge, and wholesale housecleaning is not for the faint of heart.

Yes, the Norton/Symantec prodcuts are a pale imitation of what they once
were ( I loved Norton Untilites 4.5 - that was Golden!) Recently, I
undertook the task of removing all Symantec products from our two main PCs -
mainly because the antispam product was just dogging down the system, not
just while working email. Man, what a performance boost!


Agreed. Symantec's consumer-grade products are simply too resource-hungry.


Now, what could some registry cleaner product do that I could not do with
RegEdit? Find the hundredSSSS of keys and values that
Systemworks/AntiVirus/AntiSpam and especially Live Update left scattered
throughout the registry, even after a supposed complete uninstall. I found
lots on my own, but Registry First Aid found many many more.


Regedit's "Find" option has usually been sufficient for me.
Admittedly, however, a very few decent registry cleaners, when used
properly by an experienced and knowledgeable technician, can be time
savers. Unfortunately, these registry cleaners aren't marketed
exclusively to such skilled people; instead, they're touted to the
masses as miracle cures.


The only programs that do a good job of cleaning up after themselves in the
registry with their uninstall are ones that don't make much use of the
registry, and even there simple apps still leave lots of flotsam and jetsam
around.



Perhaps, but so what? No one has ever presented any empirical evidense
proving that the presence of orphaned entries has any measurable
detrimental effect upon WinXP's performance or stability. I'm a firm
believer in the old saw, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."


On a system that's been in use going on 3 years now, lots of programs
installed and removed over that time, Registry First Aid found about 2000
entries that were orphaned, misdirected, or otherwised needed correction or
could be deleted.

The registry gets to be pretty big, and cutting down the junk in it can
improve response time when a program has to go hunt in it for something.



But, what real, specific *problems* were these 2000 entries causing?
What specific malfunction(s) did their removal fix? Perhaps (maybe even
"probably") you did no harm removing some or most of those entries, but
what good did it do? Was there an immediate, observable performance
improvement?



I'm not saying this is necessary for every user, or needed very often, but
in my case it was a useful procedure. And certainly a lot less painful than
wiping the drive and reinstalling everything to have cleaner system.



As I've said, a registry cleaner, in the hands of someone who knows
what he's doing, can be a useful troubleshooting tool and a great time
saver. I've never denied that. I just take issue with those who claim
that automated registry cleaners are perfectly safe and the cure for all
that ails a computer.




ps - Bruce, I've seen your posts here for years, and been helped by your
advice more than a few times. Thanks.




Thank you for the kind words.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
 




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