Registry Cleanup Question

[Stuart Burns]

I have just recently upgraded to WindowsXP. I have determined that my
Windows XP registry contains a lot of garbage related to programs I no
longer have on my computer. Can anyone recommend a good quality Registry
Clean-up Utility that will strip out all of the garbage without causing any
other damage? I have heard some pretty hair-raising horror stories about
run-away registry cleaners.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

I have found that System Mechanic (www.iolo.com) to be one
of the best and least intrusive utility programs one can buy.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| I have just recently upgraded to WindowsXP. I have determined that my
| Windows XP registry contains a lot of garbage related to programs I no
| longer have on my computer. Can anyone recommend a good quality Registry
| Clean-up Utility that will strip out all of the garbage without causing any
| other damage? I have heard some pretty hair-raising horror stories about
| run-away registry cleaners.
|
|

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

The XP Registry looks after itself. How have you determined that it
contains 'garbage? Trying to clean any Registry can cause more problems
than it's worth.

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User


| I have just recently upgraded to WindowsXP. I have determined that my
| Windows XP registry contains a lot of garbage related to programs I no
| longer have on my computer. Can anyone recommend a good quality Registry
| Clean-up Utility that will strip out all of the garbage without causing
any
| other damage? I have heard some pretty hair-raising horror stories about
| run-away registry cleaners.
|
|

 

[Rocket J. Squirrel]

If you have determined that your Windows XP registry "contains a lot of
garbage" then why not use Windows' own registry editor to get rid of it? I
mean, if you're smart enough to know that you have "garbage" in your
registry, then you're smart enough to know exactly what it is and how to
remove it.

But if you're truly smart, then you'll leave your registry alone and avoid
so-called registry cleaner toys.

Rocky

 

[Stuart Burns]

I am smart enough to know how to determine that the Registry contains a lot
of references to programs and files that have been deleted from my machine
without using the "Add/Delete Programs" function. In fact, over 70% of the
entries in some categories are stuff that no longer exists. I am also smart
enough to know that if I go monkeying around using the Registry Editor, I
will probably make things worse. So a nice smart tool is what I need.

 

[Unknown]

Try JV16 Power tools. You wont regret it.

 

[Unknown]

Well it also prevents a lot of problems. How does it cause problems. There has
only been one problem reported as best I can remember in the last 5 years. And
that was the user failed to set the cleaner to ignore 'help'.

 

[Unknown]

Have you tried cleaning out 300 useless keys in your registry?

 

[Rocket J. Squirrel]

Last question, then I'll leave you alone: All these superfluous registry
keys - how are they harming your computer?

Rocky

 

[Will Denny]

That's the most common problem - the help files are 'eradicated'!! Live &
learn!!

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User


| Well it also prevents a lot of problems. How does it cause problems. There
has
| only been one problem reported as best I can remember in the last 5 years.
And
| that was the user failed to set the cleaner to ignore 'help'.
| | > Hi
| >
| > The XP Registry looks after itself. How have you determined that it
| > contains 'garbage? Trying to clean any Registry can cause more problems
| > than it's worth.
| >
| > --
| >
| > Will Denny
| > MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
| >
| >
| > | > | I have just recently upgraded to WindowsXP. I have determined that my
| > | Windows XP registry contains a lot of garbage related to programs I no
| > | longer have on my computer. Can anyone recommend a good quality
Registry
| > | Clean-up Utility that will strip out all of the garbage without
causing
| > any
| > | other damage? I have heard some pretty hair-raising horror stories
about
| > | run-away registry cleaners.
| > |
| > |
| >
|

 

[Unknown]

They are NOT eradicated. There is a very simple fix to restore the ability to
click on the help file. You can find it at MS and many times on these news
groups. Whats more only one program caused that.

 

[Ron Martell]

I am smart enough to know how to determine that the Registry contains a lot
of references to programs and files that have been deleted from my machine
without using the "Add/Delete Programs" function. In fact, over 70% of the
entries in some categories are stuff that no longer exists. I am also smart
enough to know that if I go monkeying around using the Registry Editor, I
will probably make things worse. So a nice smart tool is what I need.

Deleting programs without using "Add/Remove Programs" or the uninstall
routine included with the program is not really that smart.

Here is a registry cleaner that worked well for me - I had a slave
drive crash and die with a lot of installed software on it.
RegSeeker removed over 11,000 entries and the machine was still fully
operable.

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

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

 

[Dave]

Try this...I have never had a problem with it yet!
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=812248
Or
Follow this link:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Line 48, Right column "Disk Cleanup - Compress..."
Save on Desktop.
Double click the icon once downloaded.
The icon can then be discarded.

 

[News]

I submit that before using a registry cleaner you do not have to know
which entries are garbage. You only need to know how to resurrect a
machine that fails to boot, in case the cleaner deletes something
essential.

srdiamond

 

[David Candy]

Unless of course you don't use that feature that is broken for 6 months. Then it's inexplicable.

 

[John R Weiss]

The XP Registry looks after itself. How have you determined that it
contains 'garbage? Trying to clean any Registry can cause more problems
than it's worth.

That may be true to some extent, but I have yet to see XP clean the Registry
of now-invalid references from apps that uninstall themselves
incompletely...

 

[Rocket J. Squirrel]

....because there is no need.

Rocky

That may be true to some extent, but I have yet to see XP clean the Registry
of now-invalid references from apps that uninstall themselves
incompletely...