Registry Fix

[Fran]

Is there any FREE registry scan and repair software available on the net
that is effective and safe?
Thanks in advance,
Fran

 

[Guest]

Try the free 30 day trial version of System Mechanic.
www.iolo.com

 

[Ron Martell]

Is there any FREE registry scan and repair software available on the net
that is effective and safe?
Thanks in advance,
Fran

Free? Yes
Effective? Possibly.
Also safe? Probably not, at least not totally idiot proof.

My personal choice is RegSeeker (free) from
http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm

Remember that modifying the regisry (including cleaning) is best done
in the same way that porcupines make love - very very carefully.

Good luck

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

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Plato]

Is there any FREE registry scan and repair software available on the net
that is effective and safe?

No such animal. If your registry is hosed, Then its' hosed.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Is there any FREE registry scan and repair software available on the net
that is effective and safe?
Thanks in advance,
Fran

No, there's no such animal. In fact, *none* of them are truly safe in
the hands of an untrained individual, regardless of cost.

And, anyway, why would you think you need to clean your registry?

What specific problem are you experiencing that you *know* beyond
all reasonable doubt will be fixed by using a registry "cleaner?" If
you do have a problem that is rooted in the registry, it would be far
better to simply edit (after backing up, of course) only the specific
key(s) and/or value(s) that are causing the problem. Why use a shotgun
when a scalpel will do the job? Additionally, the manually changing of
one or two registry entries is far less likely to have the dire
consequences of allowing an automated product to make multiple changes
simultaneously.

The registry contains all of the operating system's "knowledge" of
the computer's hardware devices, installed software, the location of the
device drivers, and the computer's configuration. A misstep in the
registry can have severe consequences. One should not even turning
loose a poorly understood automated "cleaner," unless he is fully
confident that he knows *exactly* what is going to happen as a result of
each and every change. Having seen the results of inexperienced people
using automated registry "cleaners," I can only advise all but the most
experienced computer technicians (and/or hobbyists) to avoid them all.
Experience has shown me that such tools simply are not safe in the hands
of the inexperienced user.

The only thing needed to safely maintain your registry is knowledge
and Regedit.exe. If you lack the knowledge and experience to maintain
your registry by yourself, then you also lack the knowledge and
experience to safely configure and use any automated registry "cleaner,"
no matter how safe they claim to be.

Further, no one has ever demonstrated, to my satisfaction, that the
use of an automated registry "cleaner," particularly by an untrained,
inexperienced computer user, does any real good. There's certainly been
no empirical evidence offered to demonstrate that the use of such
products to "clean" WinXP's registry improves a computer's performance
or stability.



--

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

Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery? .... I know not what course others may take, but as
for me, give me liberty, or give me death! -Patrick Henry

 

[PopS]

....

Further, no one has ever demonstrated, to my satisfaction,
that the use of an automated registry "cleaner," particularly
by an untrained, inexperienced computer user, does any real
good. There's certainly been no empirical evidence offered to
demonstrate that the use of such products to "clean" WinXP's
registry improves a computer's performance or stability.

....

That's only because you have a closed mind, Bruce. I find it
interesting coming from an MVP that you could be so closed
minded.

Go get yourself a GAIN program, say, smilies, and after it's well
infested into your machine, see how useful your manual edits are.
Install/uninstall a few programs a week, and watch the registry
grow. Or, just watch your registry period: If you do ANYthing
that resembles work, you'll find it interesting.
I cleaned a machine last week that had 492 registry errors an
dother things too numerous to detail.

In this area, you are totally and unacceptably wrong. There are
indeed good uses for registry cleaners, AND reliable ones, to
boot. THAT is where your interests should lie, not in spreading
this continuing bit of misinformation boilerplate over and over.
Don't be so lazy.

Pop

 

[Bruce Chambers]

That's only because you have a closed mind, Bruce. I find it
interesting coming from an MVP that you could be so closed
minded.

Gee, a personal attack, rather than a factual rebuttal. I guess that
puts me in my place, doesn't it?

Go get yourself a GAIN program, say, smilies, and after it's well
infested into your machine, see how useful your manual edits are.

Registry edits (or even registry cleaners) are no substitute for the
simple concept of prevention. If one refrains from installing crapware,
one has very few problems. Nevertheless, a manual repair of such an
infested machine generally takes me no more than a few minutes. (Much
less time than it takes to obtain and install a "cleaner," and then to
verify that each and every suggested change is safe.)

Install/uninstall a few programs a week, and watch the registry
grow. Or, just watch your registry period: If you do ANYthing
that resembles work, you'll find it interesting.

So what? So the registry grows? How does that affect performance?
Where's the scientific data that proves this has any affect upon
performance? It certainly makes no difference to my perceptions;
perhaps there's a bench-marking application that will detect the
nano-seconds of difference that my human senses can't detect?

I cleaned a machine last week that had 492 registry errors an
dother things too numerous to detail.

Real errors that were causing actual problems, or just something spit
out by the software to make you feel better about spending money on a
registry cleaner? What were the specific problems these 492 purported
"errors" caused?

In this area, you are totally and unacceptably wrong.

If so, please provide independent proof. Something a bit more
substantial that name-calling and your "Am Too!" - "Are not!" approach
to discussing a technical issue.

There are
indeed good uses for registry cleaners, AND reliable ones, to
boot.

I have always conceded that some registry scanners, in the hands of a
competent technician, can serve as useful and time-saving diagnostic
tools. But I have yet to see any that is safe for the average computer
users.

THAT is where your interests should lie,

Why would I have an interest in advising people to follow a risky
course of action?

not in spreading
this continuing bit of misinformation boilerplate over and over.

No misinformation. Simply trying to prevent more problems. (And, if
it is misinformation, why don't you counter it with verifiable data,
rather than name-calling?)

Don't be so lazy.

I'm lazy because I prefer to know how to maintain my own computer for
myself, rather than place its fate into the hands of some 3rd party
automated software? Interesting train of thought...


--

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

Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery? .... I know not what course others may take, but as
for me, give me liberty, or give me death! -Patrick Henry