The average user these days is almost constantly
installing/uninstalling/updating third-party games/applications. Windows
Installer/Uninstaller (including installer/uninstaller programs that come
with the applications and proprietary program removal tools) frequently leave
broken install and incomplete uninstall debris in the OS, much of which can
be found in the registry. If these and other program remnants and incorrect
registry entries are not removed, the registry may try to load any number of
drivers or applications that have been “broken†or have been “uninstalledâ€
and are no longer available to be loaded. This prolongs the time to boot and
to shutdown (sometimes indefinitely), prolongs or prevents application
loading and running once you’ve completed booting, and generates any number
of error messages preventing normal operation of your computer. Another
reason “registry bloat†is a problem is that these program remnants block the
proper installation and functioning of new version updates, similar program
types, and sometimes of unrelated programs.
Because of install/uninstall debris many users are unable to download and
install new versions of commonly used programs such as iTunes/QuickTime,
Roxio/Sonic, and Adobe products (including Reader and Flash); when this is
attempted, the original program they’re trying to update often stops
functioning as well. Antiviral programs such as Norton and McAfee are
notorious for leaving uninstall debris which blocks the proper install and
functioning of other antiviral programs. Eventually, this install/uninstall
debris buildup can block the proper installation and functioning of unrelated
programs, including the normal operation of your computer generating any
number of error messages which may not indicate the source of the real
problem. These error messages may send tech personnel off in all kinds of
directions on a wild goose chase while the real problem (incorrect registry
entries) goes undetected.
Regular maintenance with native programs like Disk Cleanup and other
third-party file cleaners/shredders is essential for normal computer
functioning, but most of these programs will not remove the remnants of
broken programs and failed installs/uninstalls. There is no question that
the right registry cleaner can help remove this debris buildup from the
registry, speed up boot and shutdown operations, promote the normal
functioning of computer programs and permit proper installation processes,
allowing ailing computers to function properly while avoiding a Vista
reinstall. However, preventing this buildup in the first place may be a
better solution. When you want to uninstall a program permanently and before
installing a new version, you should completely remove the old program from
your computer. The usual uninstall measures will frequently not be able to
achieve this by themselves.
You can achieve this manually with the help of Windows Installer Cleanup
Utility, although this can involve time consuming and tedious work (with
potentially serious consequences) identifying program remnants and deleting
files, folders, and registry entries. Alternatively, regular use of programs
like Smarty Uninstaller and Your Uninstaller will prevent the buildup of
install/uninstall debris in your OS and in your registry. Running a scan,
Smarty Uninstaller identifies and lists all programs on your computer and any
broken programs as well. Select the program you wish to uninstall, click on
“Uninstall†to use the associated uninstall program, and allow that program
to complete its actions. Then Smarty Uninstaller will rescan your computer
and identify any remnants of the program scattered over your system.
Clicking on “Cleanupâ€, Smarty Uninstaller will then remove these identified
program remnants from files and folders and from your registry. Your
Uninstaller performs similar operations.
Whether you use a concurrent program like Smarty Uninstaller or Your
Uninstaller to prevent buildup of broken programs and install/uninstall
debris with each install/uninstall, or use a registry cleaner to remove this
debris after it has accumulated for some time, these tools are necessary to
help maintain your system and keep it functioning properly. As far as
registry cleaners, the secret is to find the right one: one that can backup
the registry (and restore if needed) before it removes anything, is able to
defragment the registry after cleaning, and one that will clean the debris
and leave the healthy parts alone. Unfortunately, there is little sound and
impartial information available for registry cleaners and it’s hard to know
which meet the optimal criteria, and which will trash your computer. The
following links are to a tutorial that discusses the details of
install/uninstall problems in Vista, and to downloads for Smarty Uninstaller
and Your Uninstaller. There is also a link to a tutorial that discusses
Repair Vista Options.
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/87249-unable-install-latest-version-program-vista.html
http://www.winnertweak.com/uninstaller/
http://www.ursoftware.com/uninstaller.htm
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/101393-repair-vista-options-preferred-sequence.html
If Windows were better designed, we would not be having these problems that
necessitate using these third-party applications. I challenge MSFT to build
a better uninstaller for Windows along the lines of Smarty Uninstaller/Your
Uninstaller. I also challenge MSFT to build into Windows a decent, safe
registry cleaner so we don't become victims of the malicious marketing of
registry cleaners that currently goes on. These third-party applications are
essential to keep Windows running and should be a built-in part of Windows.
clintonG said:
I've tended to agree with the assertions you and other have made and while I
have the experience to go into the registry I have no idea how to be
thorough doing the cleaning manually. Perhaps if we had some sort of
"scanning" tool as you implied. A tool that would scan and report keys in
respective hives as a group. Eh?
The Filing Cabinet blog item [1] that has been suggested is promising for
VIsta users. I just got Vista for another machine within the past two weeks
so I'm learning all I can at the moment.
Why I want to do so on XP? Because the machine doesn't "run" it "crawls" and
I've been trying to do this and that to tune it up.
<%= Clinton
[1]
http://blogs.technet.com/filecab/ar...s-cover-why-windows-vista-defrag-is-cool.aspx
Bruce Chambers said:
Why do you 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.
It's not hard to avoid something that's non-existent.
--
Bruce Chambers
Help us help you:
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
recommend Raxco. Their product with the