Registry cleanup tools?

[Tony Luxton]

You're welcome, Gordon - glad we sorted it out. And thanks for posting back!

Regards Tony.

 

[Sam Hobbs]

As a developer, I can understand the value of cleaning the registry. I don't
know what the value is, but it makes sense that it would be worthwhile.

One thing that might need to be cleaned up is the information about
registered DLLs. If a registered DLL is (to be) deleted, Windows will warn
us that deleting the file could make other software fail. If we delete the
file anyway then the registration information lingers in the registry and
will never be removed unless it is cleaned by something such as a registry
cleaner. The orphaned registration information will not cause a problem that
I am aware of but there might be a combination of other conditions that
could result in a problem that is very difficult to diagnose.

For example, if a client of the registerd DLL were try to use the DLL then
it would get the registration information eventhough the DLL is gone. If the
developer of the client is sloppy and does not check for errors then it
might (I don't know for sure) crash and the user might then curse at
Microsoft for being sloppy. In that situation, the guilty would be the
person that deleted the DLL or whatever. A registry cleaner should remove
the registration information since the registration information specifies a
DLL that does not exist. Note that there are many DLLs that get registered
that do not have a dll extension.

I certainly agree that it is very possible for a registry cleaner to mess up
a system. I am not familiar with any of them except there is or was a
registry cleaner provided by Microsoft for free that is nearly certainly
safe.

I recommend being skeptical of anyone saying that all registry cleaners are
unsafe. Continue in your quest for a safe one. Do of course be careful and
be skeptical of registry cleaners that the developer/provider is not well
known.

 

[John John]

As a developer, I can understand the value of cleaning the registry. I don't
know what the value is, but it makes sense that it would be worthwhile.

And if you run a race or marathon don't forget to clean out your belly
button lint. I don't know what the value is, but it makes sense that it
would be worthwhile, after all if you are a bit lighter you will
certainly run faster... It probably helps with all sports.

John

 

[Bruce Chambers]

As a developer, I can understand the value of cleaning the registry. I don't
know what the value is, but it makes sense that it would be worthwhile.

I'm sorry, but the above makes no sense, whatsover. If you don't know
the value of something, how can it possibly "Make sense" to you that
it's worthwhile?

One thing that might need to be cleaned up is the information about
registered DLLs. If a registered DLL is (to be) deleted, Windows will warn
us that deleting the file could make other software fail. If we delete the
file anyway then the registration information lingers in the registry and
will never be removed unless it is cleaned by something such as a registry
cleaner. The orphaned registration information will not cause a problem that
I am aware of but there might be a combination of other conditions that
could result in a problem that is very difficult to diagnose.

The above scenario would produce a clear error message stating that the
DLL could not be found, enabling one to reinstall the application that
still needs it. No need to remove the entry entirely from the registry,
because doing so would produce a more cryptic error, lacking the path to
the missing file.

For example, if a client of the registerd DLL were try to use the DLL then
it would get the registration information eventhough the DLL is gone. If the
developer of the client is sloppy and does not check for errors then it
might (I don't know for sure) crash and the user might then curse at
Microsoft for being sloppy.

Yes, people do always blame Microsoft. Even when it's a poorly
designed application that's at fault. How would cleaning the registry
change this?

In that situation, the guilty would be the
person that deleted the DLL or whatever. A registry cleaner should remove
the registration information since the registration information specifies a
DLL that does not exist. Note that there are many DLLs that get registered
that do not have a dll extension.

How does using a registry "cleaner" absolve an idiot of guilt for
removing registry entries necessary to the proper operation of an
application?

I certainly agree that it is very possible for a registry cleaner to mess up
a system. I am not familiar with any of them except there is or was a
registry cleaner provided by Microsoft for free that is nearly certainly
safe.

How can you conclude that Microsoft's registry cleaner is safe, if
you're unfamiliar with registry "cleaners," in general? What sort of
leap of faith is that?

I recommend being skeptical of anyone saying that all registry cleaners are
unsafe. Continue in your quest for a safe one. Do of course be careful and
be skeptical of registry cleaners that the developer/provider is not well
known.

And I recommend being skeptical of a so-called, self-proclaimed
"developer" who admits about his ignorance of a subject (the registry
and registry cleaning) but then recommends that people so it anyway.
What software product(s) do you "develop?" I want to be sure to avoid
using it(them).


--

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

 

[Poprivet`]

I'm sorry, but the above makes no sense, whatsover. If you don't know
the value of something, how can it possibly "Make sense" to you that
it's worthwhile?

It actually makes more sense than your closed-minded never justified
mindset, believe me.

....

How can you conclude that Microsoft's registry cleaner is safe, if
you're unfamiliar with registry "cleaners," in general? What sort of
leap of faith is that?

It was safe, "back then". AFAIK it no longer exists. Others do though,
that are safe, do backups, can recover removed entries and work very
well. But you know that; you're just pissed because your ego is
questioned. I on the other hand could be convinced to change my
opinion, based on verifiable evidence, if it existed, which you have
failed to supply over and over and over, over the years of your
ignorance here. You appear to be "sure" of your opinion in the same
manner this poster used in his introductory paragraph.
It' too bad you insist on continuing your tirade because every time
you do, you add further challenges to your own value to this or any
group you participate on.

And I recommend being skeptical of a so-called, self-proclaimed
"developer" who admits about his ignorance of a subject (the registry
and registry cleaning) but then recommends that people so it anyway.
What software product(s) do you "develop?" I want to be sure to avoid
using it(them).

And I recommend being skeptical of any closed mind unwilling to consider
or even accept new input. Instead of trying to troll the OP into a
troll-fest, why don't you just try to get a grasp on reality?

Pop`

 

[Sam Hobbs]

The above scenario would produce a clear error message stating that the
DLL could not be found, enabling one to reinstall the application that
still needs it. No need to remove the entry entirely from the registry,
because doing so would produce a more cryptic error, lacking the path to
the missing file.

Do you understand the difference between a regular DLL that is not
registered and a COM object or other registered DLL that requires
registration for Windows to find? How does Windows find a COM object DLL or
other registered DLL? The following page shows a "Sample of the Registry
Entries for a Simple COM Object". Note that the page is in my web site; I
wrote that page.

http://simplesamples.info/Windows/COMandActiveX/COMRegistry.php

That sample is an out-of-process (local) server, which means it is an exe
specified in the LocalServer32 key. An in-process server is implemented in a
DLL and the location of them are specified in the InprocServer32 key.

The link in that page to "COM Registry Entries" is not working; the page is
at:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms680055.aspx

That page in the MSDN does not say much but the "See Also" links have
relevant details. Those details are incomplete so it is necessary to do a
lot of reading to get some of the details I show in my sample.

That stuff shows how registered DLLs are located. There is no direct
indication in the exe file of what DLLs are used for COM objects (and such)
so it is not possible for Windows to issue an error message in the manner
you describe about a missing DLL that is registered and the client (program)
is using the server but not using the DLL as a regular DLL.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Do you understand the difference between a regular DLL that is not
registered and a COM object or other registered DLL that requires
registration for Windows to find? How does Windows find a COM object DLL or
other registered DLL? The following page shows a "Sample of the Registry
Entries for a Simple COM Object". Note that the page is in my web site; I
wrote that page.

http://simplesamples.info/Windows/COMandActiveX/COMRegistry.php

That sample is an out-of-process (local) server, which means it is an exe
specified in the LocalServer32 key. An in-process server is implemented in a
DLL and the location of them are specified in the InprocServer32 key.

The link in that page to "COM Registry Entries" is not working; the page is
at:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms680055.aspx

That page in the MSDN does not say much but the "See Also" links have
relevant details. Those details are incomplete so it is necessary to do a
lot of reading to get some of the details I show in my sample.

That stuff shows how registered DLLs are located. There is no direct
indication in the exe file of what DLLs are used for COM objects (and such)
so it is not possible for Windows to issue an error message in the manner
you describe about a missing DLL that is registered and the client (program)
is using the server but not using the DLL as a regular DLL.

Thanks for providing the links to prove my point.

--

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

 

[Sam Hobbs]

Thanks for providing the links to prove my point.

Actually I did not, but if your belief that I did will get us out of here
then that will be good.