Particular sort of Registry cleanup needed

[Tony]

I've migrated my retail XP Pro configuration a number of times across to new
hardware (MB upgrades). I've used either the Sysprep function or the Device
deletion method (before imaging the original drive and restoring to a new
one). Either method has always worked for me, I think mostly since the HAL
turned out to be the same on the newer system.

What I'd like to do, though, is clean up the Registry from leftover devices,
ports, and software drivers that are no longer in use. As an example, on my
last system I had two LPT ports that were labeled LPT1 and LPT2. When the
configuration was rebuilt on this new system it found my one and only new
parallel port, and promptly labeled it LPT3. You get the picture. What I'd
like to find is a tool that will identify all this kind of stuff and let me
delete items like this, and hopefully then have stuff like LPT3 reconfigure
itself to LPT1. Possible?

I've installed jv16 Power Tools 2007 to see if it could do such a thing, but
it doesn't seem like it can.

 

[Leonard Grey]

Why do you feel you need to "clean up the Registry from leftover
devices, ports, and software drivers that are no longer in use"? Are you
experiencing a specific problem that you believe may be caused by these?
If so, describe the problem and we can work on it. Otherwise, a Windows
XP registry does not need and does not benefit by wholesale cleaning. On
the other hand, "cleaning" your registry is a good way to mess up your
system irreparably.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I've migrated my retail XP Pro configuration a number of times across to
new hardware (MB upgrades). I've used either the Sysprep function or the
Device deletion method (before imaging the original drive and restoring to
a new one). Either method has always worked for me, I think mostly since
the HAL turned out to be the same on the newer system.

What I'd like to do, though, is clean up the Registry from leftover
devices, ports, and software drivers that are no longer in use. As an
example, on my last system I had two LPT ports that were labeled LPT1 and
LPT2. When the configuration was rebuilt on this new system it found my
one and only new parallel port, and promptly labeled it LPT3. You get the
picture. What I'd like to find is a tool that will identify all this kind
of stuff and let me delete items like this, and hopefully then have stuff
like LPT3 reconfigure itself to LPT1. Possible?

I've installed jv16 Power Tools 2007 to see if it could do such a thing,
but it doesn't seem like it can.

The best and most reliable tool would be a clean installation.
It will give you guaranteed result with surprisingly little effort.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Think your Registry needs "cleaning"? Read
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=28099 and draw your own conclusions.

 

[Stefano \Dr. Tofu\ Gigante]

I've installed jv16 Power Tools 2007 to see if it could do such a thing, but
it doesn't seem like it can.

I usually use CCleaner and Eusing Free Registry Cleaner. They give me some
degree on the operation, so I don't risk to remove registry voices I still
need

 

[Kayman]

On Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:05:32 -0500, Tony wrote:

What I'd like to do, though, is clean up the Registry from leftover devices,
ports, and software drivers that are no longer in use.

RegSeeker
http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm
RegSeeker will remove all associated detritus (registry keys,files and
folders) from any application. I found this application user friendly and
very effective but suggest *not* to use the 'Clean the Registry' option.

Then use NTREGOPT to compact the registry; Follow instructions.
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I've migrated my retail XP Pro configuration a number of times across to new
hardware (MB upgrades). I've used either the Sysprep function or the Device
deletion method (before imaging the original drive and restoring to a new
one). Either method has always worked for me, I think mostly since the HAL
turned out to be the same on the newer system.

What I'd like to do, though, is clean up the Registry from leftover devices,
ports, and software drivers that are no longer in use. As an example, on my
last system I had two LPT ports that were labeled LPT1 and LPT2. When the
configuration was rebuilt on this new system it found my one and only new
parallel port, and promptly labeled it LPT3. You get the picture. What I'd
like to find is a tool that will identify all this kind of stuff and let me
delete items like this, and hopefully then have stuff like LPT3 reconfigure
itself to LPT1. Possible?

I've installed jv16 Power Tools 2007 to see if it could do such a thing, but
it doesn't seem like it can.

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.

 

[Dennis]

I use an Windows XP machine in a production environment and format thousands
of USB devices in a week's time.

Obviously the registry gets completely full of devices that are no longer
attached.

After a while the registry will not accept any new devices and I'm stuck
with doing a re-install of the whole operating system.

I'd like to know if there's a better way to remove the unused registry
entries to keep the machines performing well.

Dennis

 

[Daave]

I use an Windows XP machine in a production environment and format
thousands of USB devices in a week's time.

Obviously the registry gets completely full of devices that are no
longer attached.

After a while the registry will not accept any new devices and I'm
stuck with doing a re-install of the whole operating system.

What do you mean by the phrase "the registry will not accept any new
devices"?

I'd like to know if there's a better way to remove the unused registry
entries to keep the machines performing well.

As Ken indicated, leaving unused entries in the registry does not hinder
a PC's performance.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

How does a registry get "completely full" of anything?

 

[R. McCarty]

Performing well ? - I've never experienced a case where a particular
type of device reaches a maximum count and no more can be added.

Anyway, you can remove entire categories from the current Hardware
profile in HK Local Machine\CurrentControlSet\Enum. There is a USB
sub-key that expanded shows all the individual VID entries. You do
not want to remove Root_Hub entries only the Vid+GUIDs. This is a
9 on the 10-point "Shoot yourself in the foot scale" so you want a backup
(Or export the top level USB key ) before you attempt to do this.

 

[Dennis]

We have tried removing those entries but it doesn't resolve the problem.

I just tried something else today. I went to my oldest restore point and
the machine started recognizing newly attached USB devices though there was a
message about having to use a previous registry...hmmm.

I wonder if after a new install if I exported the registry and then when I
see the problem import the older version.

I'm sure that this is a very unusual circumstance and do appreciate your
input very much.

 

[crazyal]

registry cleaners cuase more problems than they fix

 

[smlunatick]

The best and most reliable tool would be a clean installation.
It will give you guaranteed result with surprisingly little effort.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

This is the only way to make sure the registry is clean and working
after. Most every other registry cleaners seem to work but damage to
the registry may / will come out some time later.

 

[Unknown]

That is an incorrect statement. Registry cleaners do not fix ANY problems
but, they create many problems.

 

[Bill in Co.]

About the "closest" you can get to that is if it reached a point where it
couldn't be compacted (as it could in some cases in Win98), but that isn't
really the same thing, anyways! So the answere really it, it doesn't!