Windows XP Registry

[Guest]

Hi.
Is there a way to remove all of the registry entries for applications that I
have uninstalled? I use the application uninstall feature and some traces
are left behind. I have also use the Windows Add/Remove feature and some
traces are left behind. Of course, this does not happen all the time.
I have even tried several registry applications to remove the traces, but
they are still there.
Is there some application that will really work and do this or will have to
do it by manually going into the registry.

Thanks,
George

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi.
Is there a way to remove all of the registry entries for applications that I
have uninstalled? I use the application uninstall feature and some traces
are left behind. I have also use the Windows Add/Remove feature and some
traces are left behind. Of course, this does not happen all the time.
I have even tried several registry applications to remove the traces, but
they are still there.
Is there some application that will really work and do this or will have to
do it by manually going into the registry.

Thanks,
George

Well, the manual method is certainly the safest, but why do you feel
that removing these "traces" is necessary? They generally don't cause
any problems.


--

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

 

[l]

Unless you are having trouble with your system, those leftover pieces of
programs that are scattered in the registry are harmless, and removing them
will not make any noticeable difference in the performance of your computer,
however, that said, RegSeeker can be used to seek out those leftovers. I
don't recommend using the' registry's option, but you can look for specific
entries.
'Search the registry' option is good for this, just type in the name of the
program, let it search and delete what it finds.

 

[Guest]

Also, have you tried using a registry repair called RegCleaner 4.3 by Jouni
Vuorio. This version is the free one, but he has created newer ones for
sale. You will have to search for those websites that have stored these
free softwares that were taken off the free market.

This version sorts the entire registry by software maker. Deleting the
software title or the maker will remove "all" registry entries. Be careful,
because it doesn't care if the selections you make are for orphaned entries
or active software.

PS: be sure to backup your registry or make a manual restore check point
before and after altering the registry.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Is there a way to remove all of the registry entries for applications
that I have uninstalled? I use the application uninstall feature and
some traces are left behind. I have also use the Windows Add/Remove
feature and some traces are left behind. Of course, this does not
happen all the time.
I have even tried several registry applications to remove the traces,
but they are still there.
Is there some application that will really work and do this or will
have to do it by manually going into the registry.

Some people will undoubtedly recommend that you use their favorite registry
cleaning program.

My advice is not to do so. These extraneous entries don't hurt you. 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 the registry cleaner erroneously
removing an entry you need is far geater than any potential benefit it may
have.