Registry cleaners, ram optimizers, junk removers etc., etc., etc. are they of any use, if so which?

[Derrick Fawsitt]

My heading really has the whole question, I have recently been using
Registry First Aid, then I downloaded Reg Clean, and I have been looking
at Coffee Cup which I have also downloaded.
I then read in a recent post that Ram Optimizers are simply a waste of
time, (or words to that effect), as Windows does not work that way, (my
layman's description). This has made me wonder if I should now
un-install the lot, your collective advice please.

 

[R. McCarty]

Memory Optimizers apply to old 9X OS's and don't have any value
XP. Registry Cleaners are over rated. My opinion is if you have a
System Image backup, then go ahead. If something gets overzealous,
restore the image. However, I wouldn't mix-&-match Registry tools.
The interactions could be bad. One might nick a Key that causes the
other to remove even more components.
A condition I call "Twiddle-It-Till-It-Won't-Boot".
Experimenting is fine, as long as your data and System Partition are
safely backed up.

 

[Steve Nielsen]

Memory Optimizers apply to old 9X OS's and don't have any value
XP.

I never saw any the had any value in 9x either

Registry Cleaners are over rated.

I agree. There are way too many ways for a not-quite-knowledgable-enough
person to hose a system with them. However, I do find them usefull for
cleaning up unused/invalid reg entries after not-so-well-behaved
software un-installs prior to re-installing the same software. Also some
are ok to use just to backup the registry but there are other tools that
can do that. I've never seen a reg cleaner actualy directly fix any
other kind of real problem, though.

My opinion is if you have a
System Image backup, then go ahead. If something gets overzealous,
restore the image. However, I wouldn't mix-&-match Registry tools.
The interactions could be bad. One might nick a Key that causes the
other to remove even more components.
A condition I call "Twiddle-It-Till-It-Won't-Boot".
Experimenting is fine, as long as your data and System Partition are
safely backed up.

Good advice.

Steve

 

[Derrick Fawsitt]

I never saw any the had any value in 9x either


I agree. There are way too many ways for a
not-quite-knowledgable-enough person to hose a system with them.
However, I do find them usefull for cleaning up unused/invalid reg
entries after not-so-well-behaved software un-installs prior to
re-installing the same software. Also some are ok to use just to backup
the registry but there are other tools that can do that. I've never
seen a reg cleaner actualy directly fix any other kind of real problem,
though.



Good advice.

Steve

Thank you all so much, so far from your advice it looks like my next
action is going to be, Control Pane, Add Remove Programmes, then Cuffee
Cup, Reg Clean and Registry First Aid although this last on has not done
me any harm and may have done me some good. I am tempter to leave it
and use it sparingly, we shall see.
I have found these answers so helpful and informative. I only wish a
second query I posted elsewhere in this NG would get the same response
as I am having no joy with transferring mobile phone photos to my PC and
yet have not got a single response to my query.
Perhaps some kind person helping me hear might have a brief look at my
other query, the subject is..."Blue in the teeth with Bluetooth". I
badly need an answer but so far have had not even one reply.

 

[Mary]

Yeah, I tried a cleaner once and nothing worked after that. I learned my
lesson. You had better know what you are doing.

Mary

 

[Alex Nichol]

My heading really has the whole question, I have recently been using
Registry First Aid, then I downloaded Reg Clean, and I have been looking
at Coffee Cup which I have also downloaded.
I then read in a recent post that Ram Optimizers are simply a waste of
time, (or words to that effect), as Windows does not work that way, (my
layman's description).

Registry cleaners are all very well, used with caution. But make sure
that you can undo what they have done - they are inclined to delete
things that are needed. On the whole I think one is better without; the
amount of junk that builds up is small compared with the enormous amount
of needed things that get into the XP registry.

RAM Optimisers are dreadful. To quote Dorothy Parker - "This book
cannot be put down; it must be thrown with all possible force". At best
they produce a purely cosmetic feel good without actually making things
better (probably slightly worse) - at worst they can force things out of
RAM and swell the swap file needlessly. Get rid of them. And see why
at my page www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm


Programs like Adaware; CWShredder and Sbybot are essential to cope with
the flood of malicious spyware and ads that are around

 

[Derrick Fawsitt]

Registry cleaners are all very well, used with caution. But make sure
that you can undo what they have done - they are inclined to delete
things that are needed. On the whole I think one is better without; the
amount of junk that builds up is small compared with the enormous amount
of needed things that get into the XP registry.

RAM Optimisers are dreadful. To quote Dorothy Parker - "This book
cannot be put down; it must be thrown with all possible force". At best
they produce a purely cosmetic feel good without actually making things
better (probably slightly worse) - at worst they can force things out of
RAM and swell the swap file needlessly. Get rid of them. And see why
at my page www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm


Programs like Adaware; CWShredder and Sbybot are essential to cope with
the flood of malicious spyware and ads that are around

Alex. I have already taken the good advice given me here, all of those I
listed are gone and I already have and use Adaware and Spybot and will
be looking at CWShredder. Thank you so much for taking the time to "put
me right".