I have recently uninstalled various programs and would like to remove old
file remnants from the registry knowing what I am doing. Can someone tell me
the best way to do that or refer me to a website that guides one through it?
Also, is there any free software that is recommended? I Goggled this and
there were various that seemed good and free but were in reality for
purchase.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Joanramu

"Josefa" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have recently uninstalled various programs and would like to remove old
>file remnants from the registry knowing what I am doing. Can someone tell
>me the best way to do that or refer me to a website that guides one through
>it? Also, is there any free software that is recommended? I Goggled this
>and there were various that seemed good and free but were in reality for
>purchase.
>
> Thanks for any help you can offer.
>
> Joanramu

This is probably the start of another thread that ranges far and wide due to
the strong opinions that people hold about registry cleaners. Here is my own
opinion:
1. Residual registry entries left behind by not-so-thorough
unistall programs do not slow down your machine, same
as files in the temp folder of your disk don't slow it down.
2. Most registry cleaners are either completely useless or even
harmful.
3. To "substantiate" their worth, most registry cleaners will report
dozens or hundreds of registry entries that they would remove.
This impresses potential buyers but has no benefit - see Point 1
above.
4. I have never seen an authoritative report that proves the benefit
of a registry cleaner.
5. People who have used registry cleaners frequently report that
their machines run faster. Invariably their assessment is based on
a gut feeling rather than on a repeatable test with a stop watch.

Josefa wrote:
> I have recently uninstalled various programs and would like to remove old
> file remnants from the registry knowing what I am doing. Can someone tell
> me
> the best way to do that or refer me to a website that guides one through
> it?
> Also, is there any free software that is recommended? I Goggled this and
> there were various that seemed good and free but were in reality for
> purchase.
>
> Thanks for any help you can offer.
>
> Joanramu

The best advice we can give you is: don't do it. Its potential problems are
much too great (like really messing up your system), and you gain nothing of
any significance in the process of doing it, anyways. Old file references
in the registry are generally of no real consequence.

To summarize: "a word to the wise is sufficient".

Download CCleaner from here http://www.ccleaner.com/



--
The Real Truth http://pcbutts1-therealtruth.blogspot.com/




"Josefa" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have recently uninstalled various programs and would like to remove old
>file remnants from the registry knowing what I am doing. Can someone tell
>me the best way to do that or refer me to a website that guides one through
>it? Also, is there any free software that is recommended? I Goggled this
>and there were various that seemed good and free but were in reality for
>purchase.
>
> Thanks for any help you can offer.
>
> Joanramu
>

good idea you have to
maintaining your system
tuned up.

here is one from
microsoft:

http://onecare.live.com/site/en-US/a...leaner_why.htm

in addition, you can use in
conjunction with the above,
another utility called Eusing.

you may also want to
install the utility below
and load it to run at boot
time:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s.../bb897426.aspx

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

the in-depth analysis i
performed proved that the
utilities above will keep
your registry database's
fault free and barring
issues with disk or the
file system.

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

incidentally, the technician
that denounces registry
maintenance also developed
page defrag.

just goes to show that you
have to rely on your own
sensibilities when it comes
to your own system and
avoid the manipulation.
--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces

"Josefa" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have recently uninstalled various programs and would like to remove old file remnants from the registry knowing what I am doing.
>Can someone tell me the best way to do that or refer me to a website that guides one through it? Also, is there any free software
>that is recommended? I Goggled this and there were various that seemed good and free but were in reality for purchase.
>
> Thanks for any help you can offer.
>
> Joanramu
>

Pegasus (MVP) wrote:
presses potential buyers but has no benefit - see Point 1
> above.
> 4. I have never seen an authoritative report that proves the benefit
> of a registry cleaner.

Straight from the horse's mouth:

http://onecare.live.com/site/en-US/a...leaner_why.htm

"Josefa" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...

>I have recently uninstalled various programs and would like to remove old
>file remnants from the registry knowing what I am doing. Can someone tell
>me the best way to do that or refer me to a website that guides one through
>it? Also, is there any free software that is recommended? I Goggled this
>and there were various that seemed good and free but were in reality for
>purchase.


Three points:

1. Those left-over references to uninstalled programs in the regitsry don't
hurt you in any way, waste only a tiny amount of disk space, and there is
no real benefit to removing them.

2. Although I recommend that you don't remove the registry entries, the only
acceptable way is doing it manually, *if* you are a very knowledgeable and
skilled registry editor.

3. Registry cleaning programs are *all* snake oil. Cleaning of the registry
isn't needed and is dangerous. Leave the registry alone and don't use any
registry cleaner. Despite what many people think, and what vendors of
registry cleaning software try to convince you of,
having unused registry entries doesn't really hurt you.

The risk of a serious problem caused by a registry cleaner erroneously
removing an entry you need is far greater than any potential benefit it may
have.

Think your Registry needs "cleaning" or "repairing"? Read
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=28099 and draw your own conclusions.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Josefa wrote:
> I have recently uninstalled various programs and would like to remove old
> file remnants from the registry knowing what I am doing. Can someone tell
> me
> the best way to do that or refer me to a website that guides one through
> it?
> Also, is there any free software that is recommended? I Goggled this and
> there were various that seemed good and free but were in reality for
> purchase.
>
> Thanks for any help you can offer.
>
> Joanramu

"Alias" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:gf7275$lhn$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Pegasus (MVP) wrote:
> presses potential buyers but has no benefit - see Point 1
>> above.
>> 4. I have never seen an authoritative report that proves the benefit
>> of a registry cleaner.
>
> Straight from the horse's mouth:
>
> http://onecare.live.com/site/en-US/a...leaner_why.htm

Is that you, Database Ben?

Seriously, Alias, there is an enormous difference between marketing
claims and independent, objective, third-party evidence. Post a link to
something - *anything* - that demonstrates how regularly deleting
"orphaned or misplaced information" noticeably improves performance,
specifically citing actual experiments and then you'll have some
credibility. If not, it will be noted that no such evidence has been
presented to date.

Are there times that certain such items sould be deleted? Yes, when
certain programs (usually antivirus apps) are running into problems
because of a conflict of some sort. But that's not the topic of
discussion.

Daave wrote:
> "Alias" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:gf7275$lhn$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Pegasus (MVP) wrote:
>> presses potential buyers but has no benefit - see Point 1
>>> above.
>>> 4. I have never seen an authoritative report that proves the benefit
>>> of a registry cleaner.
>> Straight from the horse's mouth:
>>
>> http://onecare.live.com/site/en-US/a...leaner_why.htm
>
> Is that you, Database Ben?

Who dat?

>
> Seriously, Alias, there is an enormous difference between marketing
> claims and independent, objective, third-party evidence. Post a link to
> something - *anything* - that demonstrates how regularly deleting
> "orphaned or misplaced information" noticeably improves performance,
> specifically citing actual experiments and then you'll have some
> credibility. If not, it will be noted that no such evidence has been
> presented to date.
>
> Are there times that certain such items sould be deleted? Yes, when
> certain programs (usually antivirus apps) are running into problems
> because of a conflict of some sort. But that's not the topic of
> discussion.

MS made XP. MS made OneCare. How much more "expert" on what works well
with XP can you get? Are you saying that MS is lying and ripping people
off with their registry cleaner program?

That said, I use Crap Cleaner and very selectively after an uninstall to
get rid of what's left over.

Alias