Uninstall/Reinstall - Registry question

[Paradoxdb3]

Recently, I decided to uninstall Nero SmartStart Essentials (7) due to
problems with making an audio CD. I decided to install Nero Burning Rom 5
because I've used it in the past and liked it. However, after installing it,
it would not see my DVD burner (probably can only see a CD burner). So, I
decided to put Nero 7 back on. I noticed that some of my settings were
retained which led me to believe the registry entries were not removed when I
did the uninstall. My question is, does uninstalling and reinstalling simply
"overwrite" any registry entries left behind, or are new entries created,
causing the registry to grow larger?

I also have TweakNow Registry cleaner basic installed and periodically check
for errors. If and when it finds errors, I delete the safe ones, trusting
the program knows best. Having done this (and assuming the enties were
indeed safe to delete) does this cause other potential errors in the registry
like large "gaps" or fragmenting? Is there a need to do anything about this
(defragment the registry)? Thanks for any replies and sorry for the long
post.

 

[philo]

Recently, I decided to uninstall Nero SmartStart Essentials (7) due to
problems with making an audio CD. I decided to install Nero Burning Rom 5
because I've used it in the past and liked it. However, after installing it,
it would not see my DVD burner (probably can only see a CD burner). So, I
decided to put Nero 7 back on. I noticed that some of my settings were
retained which led me to believe the registry entries were not removed when I
did the uninstall. My question is, does uninstalling and reinstalling simply
"overwrite" any registry entries left behind, or are new entries created,
causing the registry to grow larger?

I also have TweakNow Registry cleaner basic installed and periodically check
for errors. If and when it finds errors, I delete the safe ones, trusting
the program knows best. Having done this (and assuming the enties were
indeed safe to delete) does this cause other potential errors in the registry
like large "gaps" or fragmenting? Is there a need to do anything about this
(defragment the registry)? Thanks for any replies and sorry for the long
post.

Though some might be over-written...
since you had a different version of Nero installed...
there could be a few old registry settings from Nero 5.
However, if Nero7 is working ok I would not worry about it...
but a good registry cleaning program should cleanup any un-needed entries

 

[JS]

As you found out, uninstalling a software product does not always guaranty
total removal of all product related registry entries.
A reinstall may or may not reset any registry entries that you have changed
through the user interface when you used the product the first time you
installed it. Yes gaps are created but I doubt that it would make any
difference in performance that you would notice.

Best not to use any automated registry cleaners as they often cause more
problems then they fix.

However, you might want to take a look at this: PageDefrag v2.32 (which I
have used)
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897426.aspx
And: http://www.registry-clean.net/free-registry-defrag.htm (which I have
not tried, yet)

As always....perform a backup of your system before you start (which I
always do)
as it may be your only way back to a stable system.

JS

 

[John John]

Recently, I decided to uninstall Nero SmartStart Essentials (7) due to
problems with making an audio CD. I decided to install Nero Burning Rom 5
because I've used it in the past and liked it. However, after installing it,
it would not see my DVD burner (probably can only see a CD burner). So, I
decided to put Nero 7 back on. I noticed that some of my settings were
retained which led me to believe the registry entries were not removed when I
did the uninstall. My question is, does uninstalling and reinstalling simply
"overwrite" any registry entries left behind, or are new entries created,
causing the registry to grow larger?

I also have TweakNow Registry cleaner basic installed and periodically check
for errors. If and when it finds errors, I delete the safe ones, trusting
the program knows best. Having done this (and assuming the enties were
indeed safe to delete) does this cause other potential errors in the registry
like large "gaps" or fragmenting? Is there a need to do anything about this
(defragment the registry)? Thanks for any replies and sorry for the long
post.

Almost all of these CD\DVD recording programs change the Upper/Lower
filter keys in the registry when they install and almost none of them
properly remove or change the filter entries when they are uninstalled.
At times this can even prevent the computer from booting properly.
See here for more information:

You can no longer access the CD drive or the DVD drive, or you receive
an error message after you remove a CD recording program or a DVD
recording program in Windows XP: "error code 31"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060/en-us

As for the Registry Cleaner my advice is that you not use it at all,
they can cause more harm than good. With regards to registry
"fragmentation", the easiest way to compact the registry is with
NTRegOpt: http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/

John

 

[Paradoxdb3]

Okay thank you! However, I decided to keep Nero 5 because I like the wave
editor that comes with it (didn't see anything like that with Nero 7). Nero
5 was not overwritten, so I have a redundant CD burning software on my
computer, but I'm okay with that. Nero 5 is under Program Files >Ahead,
where Nero 7 is under Program files >Nero.

But again, do I need to "defragment" the registry at all? Or is removing
invalid entries good enough? Thanks again.

 

[Daave]

But again, do I need to "defragment" the registry at all?

No, not at all.

Or is removing invalid entries good enough?

Actually, ninety-nine times out of a hundred, this is not necessary
whatsoever. And since there is always a chance of causing harm to the
system, it is seldom recommended. See "AUMHA Discussion: Should I Use a
Registry Cleaner?":

http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=28099

 

[Paradoxdb3]

Thanks Daave! I read the first page only in the link you provided, but that
seems enough to get the overall point. The registry cleaner I'm using wasn't
listed at all, but that probably doesn't mean anything. I still feel
compelled to use the registry cleaner as I've had no problems ever using it.
But perhaps I should be focusing on other critical areas of operating system
maintenance as one person pointed out in the thread you mentioned. Anyway,
thanks again everyone for the great advice!

 

[philo]

Okay thank you! However, I decided to keep Nero 5 because I like the wave
editor that comes with it (didn't see anything like that with Nero 7). Nero
5 was not overwritten, so I have a redundant CD burning software on my
computer, but I'm okay with that. Nero 5 is under Program Files >Ahead,
where Nero 7 is under Program files >Nero.

But again, do I need to "defragment" the registry at all? Or is removing
invalid entries good enough? Thanks again.

No need to defragment the registry...
and though you can use a registry cleaner to remove un-needed entries...
the few "leftovers" there are not likely to do any harm

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

My question is, does uninstalling and reinstalling simply
"overwrite" any registry entries left behind, or are new entries created,

Probably either could happen, depending on what program is doing the
reinstallation. But it doesn't matter.

causing the registry to grow larger?

Even it did, the size of the registry is not something to be concerned
about. A bigger registry does not hurt performance.

I also have TweakNow Registry cleaner basic installed

My very strong recommendation is to uninstall it.

Registry cleaning programs are *all* snake oil. Cleaning of the
registry isn't needed and is dangerous. Leave the registry alone and
don't use any 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.

and periodically check
for errors. If and when it finds errors, I delete the safe ones, trusting
the program knows best.

Not a good assumption at all.

Having done this (and assuming the enties were
indeed safe to delete) does this cause other potential errors in the registry
like large "gaps" or fragmenting? Is there a need to do anything about this
(defragment the registry)?

No. The registry needs no maintenance of any kind. Do not try to
defragment it, clean it, or anything else.

 

[dot]

Probably either could happen, depending on what program is doing the
reinstallation. But it doesn't matter.




Even it did, the size of the registry is not something to be concerned
about. A bigger registry does not hurt performance.





My very strong recommendation is to uninstall it.

Registry cleaning programs are *all* snake oil. Cleaning of the
registry isn't needed and is dangerous. Leave the registry alone and
don't use any 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.





Not a good assumption at all.




No. The registry needs no maintenance of any kind. Do not try to
defragment it, clean it, or anything else.

Have you used the Nero Clean tool? Do a search to get the
links..... Wipes Nero software remnants from the 'puter.