Regiatry First Aid

[Jeff]

I downloaded a utility called Registry First Aid which claims to safely
cleanup the registry files on my XP Home PC.

I just ran it as a test, without letting it correct anything. It is
supposedly safe, but I am concerned that it found almost 900 registry
entries needing correction!

Does anyone have any experience with this "Registry FirstAid"?

Thanks.

--

Jeff Williams
Email address deliberately false to avoid spam
(e-mail address removed)
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free by AVG

 

[Alias]

I wouldn't do that if I were you.

Alias

 

[zag]

Jeff -
First, make a backup copy of your Registry. It's easy to
do, but if you don't already know how, then you shouldn't
be messing with it.
Once you make the backup, let Reg. First Aid do its thing.
See how things go for a few days or a week. If you are
satisfied, that's fine... if not, then restore the backup.
z -------------------------------------------------------

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

The XP Registry manages itself very well. Some these Registry 'cleaners'
will clean more than they should do and could render your PC unbootable.
May I suggest that you leave those Registry entries alone.

 

[noitisnotme]

have used registry first aid for years and never had to
correct anything it removed. I does allow you to save
what you removed so you can reinstall if there are
problems.

 

[Alias]

have used registry first aid for years and never had to
correct anything it removed. I does allow you to save
what you removed so you can reinstall if there are
problems.

Unless, of course, you are having problems but don't know it or find out
about it after installing SP2 ...

Alias

 

[zag]

Will -
We totally disagree. The Registry, by itself, becomes
a garbage pit quickly. These registry utilities, when
wisely applied, make your computer run a lot better.
If you want to leave yours alone, that's fine with me.
z -----------------------------------------------------

 

[Will Denny]

I'm not stopping you using Registry 'cleaners'.

 

[M$]

Quote:
"The XP Registry manages itself very well."

That is the best joke I've ever heard. You are either very naive or
inexperienced.

The registry is a garbage dump at the best of time. Just try it and install
a program and then remove it and search the registry and you will find all
kinds of entries that refer to that program. Not that such entries are
necessarily detrimental, but they do show how garbage accumulates in the
registry. Microsoft Office is a good example of garbage left in the registry
after you remove it not to mention things like adware, malware, etc.
Speaking of adware, if you have ever accessed the internet, chances are that
there are adware entries in the registry.

Registry tools can be quite helpful at times in cleaning up. But, if you are
not experienced in that regard, you can cause all kinds of problems as well.

 

[GTS]

Registry FirstAid is an excellent program that I often use in service work.
(I first found it in a Microsoft info bulletin about useful utilities.)
HOWEVER - I recommend that end users who may not fully understand the
actions of such programs should generally avoid them or at least use great
caution. If you are going to use one, this is probably the best choice out
there. It will prompt you to create a System Restore Point (Don't skip
this.) and will also save a .reg undo file. I've never seen it cause a
problem (definitely not true of some others). Note that unless you purchase
the program and enter a registration number it will only allow 10
corrections at a time.

Whether registry cleaning as a routine maintenance measure is advisable is a
matter of some dispute. It is true that the registry accumulates a lot of
'junk' over time, but it generally doesn't cause problems. It's not in the
slightest unusual to see the 900 items you mentioned - usually obsolete file
links and the like. In my opinion, cleaning can be useful but the risk
might outweigh the benefit for the casual user.

 

[Will Denny]

I'm neither!!!! I've seen too many Registry 'cleaners' that have been used
and afterwards a 'clean' install of the OS has been needed!!!!

 

[Kenny]

I use the registry cleaner which is part of Iolo's System Mechanic and never
had a problem with it, it's the only one I trust with XP after having had
bad experiences with other registry cleaners.

 

[M$]

Been there and done that myself. I have spent many hours/days
troubleshooting the registry. Some times with success and other times a
fresh install was in order. But what has that got to do with your statement
"The XP Registry manages itself very well." Any one that has some experience
with the windows registry knows that that is not the case! I don't play with
the registry for fun - only when I have no other choice and registry tools
can be helpful in such situations.

 

[Will Denny]

I've seen too many systems completely decimated by these so called Registry
'cleaners'. All I can do is suggest that they are more trouble than they
are worth. I certainly will never use one.

 

[Guest]

Decimated means 10% taken out.

-----Original Message-----
I've seen too many systems completely decimated by these so called Registry
'cleaners'. All I can do is suggest that they are more trouble than they
are worth. I certainly will never use one.

--

Will Denny
MVP - Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups





.

 

[Will Denny]

Over here it means completly s*ed.

 

[somebunny]

Over where?
And what is s*ed? I plugged in every letter of the
alphabet and I can't manage to come up with a word that
needs a *.