XP Registry - can it get to big ? - need compressing ?

[spring]

I have so many progs installed i've lost count - nearly all desktop gone

and my pc is well overdue a rebuild but i was thinking

is there any mileage in uninstalling or is there such a concept as
compressing a registry ?


my pc was running short of space which i've fixed and defragged (diskeeper)

thanks

 

[spring]

software file in config folder is 41 meg by the way




I have so many progs installed i've lost count - nearly all desktop gone

and my pc is well overdue a rebuild but i was thinking

is there any mileage in uninstalling or is there such a concept as
compressing a registry ?


my pc was running short of space which i've fixed and defragged (diskeeper)

thanks

 

[Malke]

software file in config folder is 41 meg by the way




I have so many progs installed i've lost count - nearly all desktop gone

and my pc is well overdue a rebuild but i was thinking

is there any mileage in uninstalling or is there such a concept as
compressing a registry ?


my pc was running short of space which i've fixed and defragged
(diskeeper)

Leave the registry alone if you want your Windows install to keep working.
Some basic maintenance tips here:

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Maintenance

Malke

 

[smlunatick]

software file in config folder is 41 meg by the way



I have so many progs installed i've lost count - nearly all desktop gone

and my pc is well overdue a rebuild but i was thinking

is there any mileage in uninstalling or is there such a concept as
compressing a registry ?

my pc was running short of space which i've fixed and defragged (diskeeper)

thanks

By cleaning and compressing the Registry, you can, and will, cause
more problems. If you are running out of space, it is better to buy a
larger hard drive and move to Windows to this new drive.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have so many progs installed i've lost count - nearly all desktop gone

and my pc is well overdue a rebuild

If you mean a clean reinstallation of Windows, I disagree. Windows is
never "*due* to be reinstalled. Reinstallation should be reserved as a
last resort for solving a problem when all other attempts have failed.

but i was thinking

is there any mileage in uninstalling

Do you mean uninstalling applications you don't use? You save the disk
space they take up--that's all. It won't improve performance, if
that's what you were hoping for.

or is there such a concept as
compressing a registry ?

Entirely unnecessary. Stay far away from all registry compacting or
cleaning programs. They are far more likely to cause a problem than to
solve one.

 

[mikeyhsd]

it is a proven fact that windows chews itself up over time and slows down.

only way to really over come it is to do a clean install occasionally.
the old excuse of no longer used registry items do not hurt is bogus. they make the file larger and searching takes longer.


of course the ms kiss ups will disagree.
but too many people from cnet, pcworld etc... agree.

having been a windows user since version "1". I know it is true




(e-mail address removed)




I have so many progs installed i've lost count - nearly all desktop gone

and my pc is well overdue a rebuild but i was thinking

is there any mileage in uninstalling or is there such a concept as
compressing a registry ?


my pc was running short of space which i've fixed and defragged (diskeeper)

thanks

 

[Bruce Chambers]

it is a proven fact that windows chews itself up over time and slows down.

No, that's almost always a lie propagated by lazy people who don't know
how, or can't be bothered, to properly maintain a computer. On
occasion, it's a meaningless mantra mindlessly parroted by the truly
ignorant who are trying to sound informed.

only way to really over come it is to do a clean install occasionally.

The only valid technical reasons to perform a clean re-installation of
Windows are a hardware failure (most often the hard drive, but, on rare
occasions, the motherboard) or a malware infestation of a critical
system. Period.

the old excuse of no longer used registry items do not hurt is bogus. they make the file larger and searching takes longer.

More proof that you've no idea how Windows and its registry works. The
registry is an indexed database and is not "searched" by the operating
system in normal day-to-day operations; the OS always "knows" exactly
where to access the data needed at any given time. The only times the
registry is searched are when is one is troubleshooting a registry
problem, or when one uses one of those snake oil registry "cleaners" to
undermine system integrity. In either case, a few additional
nanoseconds won't be noticeable to the individual.

of course the ms kiss ups will disagree.

So will any technically competent and experienced hobbyist, technician,
or IT professional.

but too many people from cnet, pcworld etc... agree.

So you'd take the technical advice of journalists supported by
advertising over that of people who actually work on computers everyday?
Your vast experience (Or rather, the experience you've unbelievably
claimed below) should have taught you better.

having been a windows user since version "1". I know it is true

I seriously doubt that. First of all, it's unlikely you've been around
that long. You've certainly not displayed any significant degree of
maturity. (Not to put too fine a point on it, you write as if you're a
14-year-old sneaking computer time when his parents are out of the
house.) Secondly, you've never, ever posted anything to indicate that
you've the slightest familiarity with computers in general or any
operating system, in particular. I find it impossible to believe that
anyone can be so utterly incapable as to have years of purported
experience with computers and yet remain so utterly uninformed. Just so
you'll know for future reference, there was no such thing as a Windows
registry until Win95; earlier versions of Windows weren't even operating
systems.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

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

 

[(PeteCresswell)]

Per Bruce Chambers:

The only valid technical reasons to perform a clean re-installation of
Windows are a hardware failure (most often the hard drive, but, on rare
occasions, the motherboard) or a malware infestation of a critical
system. Period.

Let a 13-year-old pound on your PC couple hours a day for a
month.

Then come back and tell me there isn't at least one other
reason.... -)

 

[Doug W.]

it is a proven fact that windows chews itself up over time and slows down.

-Never found it to be so.

only way to really over come it is to do a clean install occasionally.
the old excuse of no longer used registry items do not hurt is bogus. they make the file larger and searching takes longer.

-Never found this to be so.

of course the ms kiss ups will disagree.
but too many people from cnet, pcworld etc... agree.

-Never found CNET and PCWorld to be right most of the time.

having been a windows user since version "1". I know it is true
-
-With proper maintenance, the system should run perfectly smooth as it did on day one.
-I have not had to re-install Win XP yet and it is very perky and I have many, many programs installed.
-
Doug W.
------------




(e-mail address removed)




I have so many progs installed i've lost count - nearly all desktop gone

and my pc is well overdue a rebuild but i was thinking

is there any mileage in uninstalling or is there such a concept as
compressing a registry ?


my pc was running short of space which i've fixed and defragged (diskeeper)

thanks

 

[mikeyhsd]

like I said the MS kiss ups will deny it happens.

thats why everyone who does a fresh install claims their system speeds up. till enough times go by that it starts slowing down again.



--

(e-mail address removed)

it is a proven fact that windows chews itself up over time and slows down.

No, that's almost always a lie propagated by lazy people who don't know
how, or can't be bothered, to properly maintain a computer. On
occasion, it's a meaningless mantra mindlessly parroted by the truly
ignorant who are trying to sound informed.

only way to really over come it is to do a clean install occasionally.

The only valid technical reasons to perform a clean re-installation of
Windows are a hardware failure (most often the hard drive, but, on rare
occasions, the motherboard) or a malware infestation of a critical
system. Period.

the old excuse of no longer used registry items do not hurt is bogus. they make the file larger and searching takes longer.

More proof that you've no idea how Windows and its registry works. The
registry is an indexed database and is not "searched" by the operating
system in normal day-to-day operations; the OS always "knows" exactly
where to access the data needed at any given time. The only times the
registry is searched are when is one is troubleshooting a registry
problem, or when one uses one of those snake oil registry "cleaners" to
undermine system integrity. In either case, a few additional
nanoseconds won't be noticeable to the individual.

of course the ms kiss ups will disagree.

So will any technically competent and experienced hobbyist, technician,
or IT professional.

but too many people from cnet, pcworld etc... agree.

So you'd take the technical advice of journalists supported by
advertising over that of people who actually work on computers everyday?
Your vast experience (Or rather, the experience you've unbelievably
claimed below) should have taught you better.

having been a windows user since version "1". I know it is true

I seriously doubt that. First of all, it's unlikely you've been around
that long. You've certainly not displayed any significant degree of
maturity. (Not to put too fine a point on it, you write as if you're a
14-year-old sneaking computer time when his parents are out of the
house.) Secondly, you've never, ever posted anything to indicate that
you've the slightest familiarity with computers in general or any
operating system, in particular. I find it impossible to believe that
anyone can be so utterly incapable as to have years of purported
experience with computers and yet remain so utterly uninformed. Just so
you'll know for future reference, there was no such thing as a Windows
registry until Win95; earlier versions of Windows weren't even operating
systems.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

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

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Per Bruce Chambers:

Let a 13-year-old pound on your PC couple hours a day for a
month.

Then come back and tell me there isn't at least one other
reason.... -)

Not at all. One need only teach the teenager proper computing habits.
(I know, I'm a single parent, though my son is now well past 13.)


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

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