Cleaning the Registry

[nobody@nowhere]

What's the best, free program for clearing the Windows registry of obsolete
entries?

Thanks.

 

[Henry The Mole]

Hello, nobody@nowhere!
You wrote on Thu, 01 Sep 2005 22:47:37 GMT:

What's the best, free program for clearing the Windows registry of
obsolete entries?

RegSeeker:
http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm

Kindly regards

 

[jmatt]

Am doing 2 posts, one for XP & the other for 95/98/ME use.

You may need to print this.

I use all these cleaners for XP, each one specialises in a different
area.

Do not be supprised if hundreds of files are found.

Files are either removed to the programs backup or the Recycle Bin (
make sure the Recycle Bin is empty, before using the cleaners, that way
you know the files you have removed )

All ( except DustBuster ), allow you to restore them back into the
system, either by right clicking on the reg file in the programs folder
( example Regclean & OleClean > Windows Explorer > Unzipped, click on
either RegClean or OleClean ) & clicking on Merge.

jv16 PowerTools, RegCleaner & RegSeeker both store in Backup on their
main page.
Opening Backup allows you to either Restore or Delete.

EasyCleaner removes to the Recycle Bin & by opening the Recycle Bin,
right clicking on the files & clicking Restore.

CCleaner, the advantage of this cleaner is, when Issues is clicked &
the boxes ticked, it will tell you before you fix ( doing one file at a
time ) why the file is there.
Configure the Windows, Applications & Issues panels to suit.

RegScrub
Click on Restore, click the backup to be restored, click on Restore
Selected backups.

DustBuster
Very quick, if you want to know what it cleaned, takes about 1 min to
clean ( depends on the speed of your comp ) you have about 4 seconds to
read the message displayed, when it is finished.

Find Junk Files
I use mainly for > Find Dead Links.

Backups
Once you are sure they are not needed again ( about one week ) they can
be deleted.

=============================

jv16 PowerTools 1.3.0.195, which doesn't expire, is available here:
http://spazioinwind.libero.it/puntocr/dwl/jv16pt_setup.exe
http://down.hengshui.com/download.asp?downid=1&id=726
http://www.321download.com/LastFreeware/page7.html
http://www.321download.com/LastFreeware/index.html#jv16
http://www.pricelessware.org/thelist/sys.htm
Click on Registry tool > Tools > Registry Cleaner > Continue > Start.
When finished, Click on Select > Special select > Items that should be
safe to remove > Remove.

Or, the renamed later version ( dos'nt hurt to use both )
RegCleaner
http://www.321download.com/LastFreeware/
http://www.321download.com/LastFreeware/dload/RegCleaner.zip
RegCleaner 4.3.0.780 ( last freeware version ) OS: Win9x/NT/ME/2000/XP

==================================

RegClean
http://vbnet.mvps.org/index.html?http://vbnet.mvps.org/dev/updates/tools.htm
Microsoft's RegClean ( freeware ) very conservative.
By default it puts the 3 files into Windows Temp.
I prefer them in Unzipped.
Right click in an empty space in Unzipped, select Folder & name it
RegClean.
Now when you click unzip ( during install ) select the new folder.
To use, you can either open up the folder & doubleclick on RegClean or
right click & make a shortcut to your desktop & then put it anywhere
you like.

===========================

OleClean ( Freeware. I tick all 8 boxes in Options )
http://www.majorgeeks.com/showfiles.php?cat=15
http://www.geocities.com/maurizioferreira/oleclean.html
http://www.webgrid.co.uk/system_13.html
http://www.webgrid.co.uk/index.html
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=oleclean

===============================

CCleaner
http://www.ccleaner.com/
CCleaner (Crap Cleaner) is a freeware system optimisation tool. That
removes unused and temporary files from your system - allowing it to
run faster, more efficiently and giving you more hard disk space. The
best part is that it's fast! (normally taking less that a second to
run) and Free. Windows 95/98/NT4/ME/2000/XP/2003

=================================

RegSeeker
http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm
RegSeeker is a perfect companion for your Windows regsitry !
RegSeeker includes a powerful registry cleaner and can display various
informations like your
startup entries, several histories (even index.dat files), installed
applications and much
more ! With RegSeeker you can search for any item inside your registry,
export/delete the
results, open them in the registry. RegSeeker also includes a tweaks
panel to optimize your
OS !

RegSeeker is FREE for personal use only !

Click on Clean the Registry & tick ( new version 1.45 has this already
ticked > Scan Drives for old exe entries in the registry. Click OK.
My personal use, is to, delete only the Green entries.
Click on Select All and choose > Select all Green items.
Right click to delete.

=========================================

EasyCleaner
http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts/
http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts/ecleane.htm
Click on Unnecessary.
I tick > Normal types, Extra types & Temp directories.
Don't use Duplicate files unless you really know what your doing.
If you try & remove a file that is being used, it will after about a 15
second delay, inform you so & will not delete.

==================================

RegScrubXP
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=2048
http://www.sofotex.com/RegScrubXP-download_L7528.html
Registry Cleaner for Windows XP/2000 Systems (under development is a
version that will run in
Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP)
I have made it very easy for you to backup the registry prior to using
RegScrubXP. This backup process uses Microsoft's reg.exe program.
Follow these directions:
Go into the folder where RegScrubXP was installed.
Double-click on these two programs: HKLM.cmd and HKCU.cmd
You should see two files created: HKLM.reg and HKCU.reg
Copy these two files to a safe place.
If you ever need to fully restore your registry back to normal,
double-click on HKLM.reg and HKCU.reg to fully restore your registry as
it was before you used RegScrubXP.

==================================

DustBuster
http://www.casperize.com/dustbuster/dust_en.htm
DustBuster is a garbage file removing utility for Microsoft Windows
operating systems. It searches for junk files and temp files that are
of no use and are just taking space on your hard drive. Based on a
"common sense" scanning technology, DustBuster now cleans over 1500
different types of useless temp files and directories in a single
click, detecting and deleting all these unneeded files automatically.
This will increase hard disk space on Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/2003.

==================================

Find Junk Files
http://www.iclaxton.com/findjunkfiles.html
Find Junk Files is a user-friendly utility designed to free up disk
space by deleting useless junk files.
Each time you use your PC, unwanted files are created that increasingly
use more space on
your hard drive.
Find Junk Files can find more than 165 types of junk files with ease.
Unlike many other programs Find Junk Files will let you choose which
drive or drives to clean, which file types to search for, and what
folders to include or exclude.

==================================

Binman
http://anothermirror.tripod.com/free.htm
http://www.webgrid.co.uk/system_7.html
http://www.webgrid.co.uk/index.html
http://freewarearena.org/PHPNuke/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=viewdownload&cid=23
Seeks out the rubbish left behind by other programs. Use regularly it
will save space. It can auto run at times set by you.

Or, ( dos'nt hurt to use both )

XP
Auto Delete Temporary Folder
http://www.tweakxp.com/display.aspx?id=2021

First go into gpedit.msc
Start > Run , type in > gpedit.msc & press Enter.

Next select -> Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/Windows
Components/Terminal Services/Temporary Folder

Then right click "Do Not Delete Temp Folder Upon Exit"

Go to properties and hit disable.

Now next time Windows puts a temp file in that folder it will
automatically delete it when its done!

 

[jmatt]

I use all these cleaners for 95/98, each one specialises in a different
area.

Do not be supprised if hundreds of files are found.

Files are either removed to the programs backup or the Recycle Bin (
make sure the Recycle Bin is empty, before using the cleaners, that way
you know the files you have removed )

All ( except DustBuster ), allow you to restore them back into the
system, either by right clicking on the reg file in the programs folder
( example Regclean & OleClean > Windows Explorer > Unzipped, click on
either RegClean or OleClean ) & clicking on Merge.

jv16 PowerTools & RegSeeker both store in Backup on their main page.
Opening Backup allows you to either Restore or Delete.

EasyCleaner removes to the Recycle Bin & by opening the Recycle Bin,
right clicking on the files & clicking Restore.

CCleaner, the advantage of this cleaner is, when Issues is clicked &
the boxes ticked, it will tell you before you fix ( doing one file at a
time ) why the file is there.
Configure the Windows, Applications & Issues panels to suit.

DustBuster
Very quick, if you want to know what it cleaned, takes about 1 min to
clean ( depends on the speed of your comp ) you have about 4 seconds to
read the message displayed, when it is finished.

Find Junk Files
I use mainly for > Find Dead Links.

Backups
Once you are sure they are not needed again ( about one week ) they can
be deleted.

=============================

jv16 PowerTools 1.3.0.195, which doesn't expire, is available here:
http://spazioinwind.libero.it/puntocr/dwl/jv16pt_setup.exe
http://down.hengshui.com/download.asp?downid=1&id=726
http://www.321download.com/LastFreeware/page7.html
http://www.pricelessware.org/thelist/sys.htm
Click on Registry tool > Tools > Registry Cleaner > Continue > Start.
When finished, Click on Select > Special select > Items that should be
safe to remove > Remove.

Or, the renamed later version ( dos'nt hurt to use both )
RegCleaner
http://www.321download.com/LastFreeware/
http://www.321download.com/LastFreeware/dload/RegCleaner.zip
RegCleaner 4.3.0.780 ( last freeware version ) OS: Win9x/NT/ME/2000/XP

==================================

RegClean
http://vbnet.mvps.org/index.html?http://vbnet.mvps.org/dev/updates/tools.htm
Microsoft's RegClean ( freeware ) very conservative.
By default it puts the 3 files into Windows Temp.
I prefer them in Unzipped.
Right click in an empty space in Unzipped, select Folder & name it
RegClean.
Now when you click unzip ( during install ) select the new folder.
To use, you can either open up the folder & doubleclick on RegClean or
right click & make a shortcut to your desktop & then put it anywhere
you like.
I normally only use this cleaner once.

===========================

OleClean ( Freeware. I tick all 8 boxes in Options )
http://www.majorgeeks.com/showfiles.php?cat=15
http://www.geocities.com/maurizioferreira/oleclean.html
http://www.webgrid.co.uk/system_13.html
http://www.webgrid.co.uk/index.html
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=oleclean

===============================

CCleaner
http://www.ccleaner.com/
CCleaner (Crap Cleaner) is a freeware system optimisation tool. That
removes unused and temporary files from your system - allowing it to
run faster, more efficiently and giving you more hard disk space. The
best part is that it's fast! (normally taking less that a second to
run) and Free.

=================================

RegSeeker
http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm
RegSeeker is a perfect companion for your Windows regsitry!
RegSeeker includes a powerful registry cleaner and can display various
informations like your
startup entries, several histories (even index.dat files), installed
applications and much
more! With RegSeeker you can search for any item inside your registry,
export/delete the
results, open them in the registry. RegSeeker also includes a tweaks
panel to optimize your
OS!

RegSeeker is FREE for personal use only!

Click on Clean the Registry & tick ( new version 1.45 has this already
ticked > Scan Drives for old exe entries in the registry. Click OK.
My personal use, is to, delete only the Green entries.
Click on Select All and choose > Select all Green items.
Right click to delete.

=========================================

EasyCleaner
http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts/
http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts/ecleane.htm
Click on Unnecessary.
I tick > Normal types, Extra types & Temp directories.
Don't use Duplicate files unless you really know what your doing.
If you try & remove a file that is being used, it will after about a 15
second delay, inform you so & will not delete.

==================================

DustBuster
http://www.casperize.com/dustbuster/dust_en.htm
DustBuster is a garbage file removing utility for Microsoft Windows
operating systems. It searches for junk files and temp files that are
of no use and are just taking space on your hard drive. Based on a
"common sense" scanning technology, DustBuster now cleans over 1500
different types of useless temp files and directories in a single
click, detecting and deleting all these unneeded files automatically.
This will increase hard disk space on Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/2003.

==================================

Find Junk Files
http://www.iclaxton.com/findjunkfiles.html
Find Junk Files is a user-friendly utility designed to free up disk
space by deleting useless junk files.
Each time you use your PC, unwanted files are created that increasingly
use more space on your hard drive.
Find Junk Files can find more than 165 types of junk files with ease.
Unlike many other programs Find Junk Files will let you choose which
drive or drives to clean, which file types to search for, and what
folders to include or exclude.

==================================

Binman
http://anothermirror.tripod.com/free.htm
http://www.webgrid.co.uk/system_7.html
http://www.webgrid.co.uk/index.html
http://freewarearena.org/PHPNuke/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=viewdownload&cid=23
Seeks out the rubbish left behind by other programs. Use regularly it
will save space. It can auto run at times set by you.

Or, ( dos'nt hurt to use both )

W95/8
Start > Run > type in msconfig & press Enter.

Copy & paste the lines below into autoexec.bat

deltree /y c:\windows\temp

md c:\windows\temp

Deletes & recreates the Temp folder every reboot.

msconfig for W95
http://www2.whidbey.net/djdenham/Msconfig.htm
http://freepctech.com/pc/002/files006.shtml