Registry editing

  • Thread starter Thread starter REE
  • Start date Start date
R

REE

I am new to XP and would like to know if there is an easy way to remove
multiple entries other than "find next" . I downloaded a program which I
wish to remove from my system but it seems there are hundreds of entries
.. TIA for your help .
 
Replied to [REE]s message :
I am new to XP and would like to know if there is an easy way to remove
multiple entries other than "find next" . I downloaded a program which I
wish to remove from my system but it seems there are hundreds of entries
. TIA for your help .
Click to expand...


Go to Add/Remove > Program name from the list > Remove
 
Been there , done that ; still no joy . Registry entries persist . I can
remove one at a time but there must be hundreds .
Ayush said:
Replied to [REE]s message :
I am new to XP and would like to know if there is an easy way to
remove multiple entries other than "find next" . I downloaded a
program which I wish to remove from my system but it seems there are
hundreds of entries . TIA for your help .
Click to expand...


Go to Add/Remove > Program name from the list > Remove
Click to expand...
 
REE said:
Been there , done that ; still no joy . Registry entries persist . I can
remove one at a time but there must be hundreds .
Click to expand...

Make sure that the files for the program have been deleted. Some
programs leave files behind after they are uninstalled.

Then download RegSeeker (free) from
http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."
 
Thank you , Ron . RegSeeker did the trick ! There were 223 entries which
had remained after the usual add/remove process . I used this program
once before on Win98se but had forgotten about it . Neat program !
 
Hello REE:

I see a lot of discussion in these newsgroups about the pros and cons of
registry cleaning.

Do you feel that removing these 223 entries solved a particular problem
for you? For example, were you seeing error messages that you don't see
now, or do one or more of your applications work better since you
removed these entries?

Earl Grey
 
Earl , your question is a good one which I will try to answer and give
you my perspective . The additional registry entries did not affect my
machine or browsing whatsoever . It is my feeling that when you download
a program for trial purposes and you do not wish to use it , you should
be able to remove it entirely with the uninstall provided or add/remove
.. It bugs the hell out of me when unwanted software leaves their junk on
my pc . Just my 2 cents and paranoia .
 
REE said:
Earl , your question is a good one which I will try to answer and give
you my perspective . The additional registry entries did not affect my
machine or browsing whatsoever .
Click to expand...


No surprise there.

It is my feeling that when you
download a program for trial purposes and you do not wish to use it ,
you should be able to remove it entirely with the uninstall provided
or add/remove . It bugs the hell out of me when unwanted software
leaves their junk on my pc . Just my 2 cents and paranoia .
Click to expand...


Although I understand that point of view, in this case your paranoia is
misdirected. You should not be afraid of leaving the registry entries in
place, but of removing them.

I always recommend *against* the routine use of registry cleaners. Routine
cleaning of the registry isn't needed and is dangerous. Leave the registry
alone and don't use a 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.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup
 
Thank you Ken . I appreciate your guidance and will stand corrected . I
will put my annoyance aside and no longer be troubled by registry
additions . You are obviously correct since whenever I start toying
around there invariably I begin having problems .
 
REE said:
Thank you Ken . I appreciate your guidance and will stand corrected .
I will put my annoyance aside and no longer be troubled by registry
additions . You are obviously correct since whenever I start toying
around there invariably I begin having problems .
Click to expand...


You're welcome. Glad to help. And thanks for understanding.
 
Hi Ken:

The advice you gave matches what I have read in these newsgroups and
elsewhere. In earlier versions of Windows it may have been beneficial to
remove unused registry entries. However, IMHO and based on my research,
XP is much more effective at managing the registry, and the only real
reason to edit the XP registry is to solve a specific problem, inwhich
case you would be following specific instructions.

I suppose every 'rule' has exceptions, but I believe a hands off policy
is the best thing for the Windows XP registry.

Earl Grey
 
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