XP

[Fez]

Hi

My XP machinces are running slower then usual. I intalled XP 6 months ago
and now users are complaining that their machines are working slower then
normal. I reinstalled the Win XP on one of the computer and this computer is
working normally. We have not made any changes on our network and we have not
installed any new software on the client computers. These machines are
completely clean. Has any one encoutered this kind of problem? Does XP become
slower over the time? Do we need to reinstall it after some time?

Secondly, Can anyone recommend good registry cleaner and system cleaner
software to tune up my xp machine?

Thanks in advance

 

[Bob I]

Forget the reg cleaner-snake oil approach. Check for background
processes like crappy Anti-virus programs and the hard drive access
reverting to PIO due to read errors, it should be DMA.

 

[R. McCarty]

Forget Registry Cleaning. Slowness generally happens as the volume
with Windows on it becomes fragmented. Also accumulated Temp
folder content will impact performance. The Windows defrag app is
not 100% effective, use of Perfect Disk or Diskeeper is better. Both
offer a Server based app that can defragment client machines.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi

My XP machinces are running slower then usual. I intalled XP 6 months ago
and now users are complaining that their machines are working slower then
normal. I reinstalled the Win XP on one of the computer and this computer is
working normally. We have not made any changes on our network and we have not
installed any new software on the client computers. These machines are
completely clean.

How do you know that?

Has any one encoutered this kind of problem?

There are very problems that are unique to a single user. I've never
personally experienced it on any of my XP machines, though.

Does XP become slower over the time?

No.


Do we need to reinstall it after some time?

No.


Secondly, Can anyone recommend good registry cleaner and system cleaner
software to tune up my xp machine?

There is no such thing as a "good registry cleaner" or good "system
cleaner software." 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.

 

[db.·.. >]

it won't hurt to
use this:

http://onecare.live.com/site/en-US/center/cleanup.htm

if it doesn't help
then you eliminated
some of the possibilities.

 

[Doug W.]

" db.·.. ><))) ·>` .. ."

it won't hurt to
use this:

http://onecare.live.com/site/en-US/center/cleanup.htm

if it doesn't help
then you eliminated
some of the possibilities.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
Yes,
if
it
doesn't
help,
it
won't
hurt.

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

ANY Registry cleaner will hurt Just because it's from Microsoft doesn't mean
it isn't snake-oil. In fact, I'd say the opposite is more the case, lately.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi

My XP machinces are running slower then usual. I intalled XP 6 months ago
and now users are complaining that their machines are working slower then
normal. I reinstalled the Win XP on one of the computer and this computer is
working normally. We have not made any changes on our network and we have not
installed any new software on the client computers. These machines are
completely clean. Has any one encoutered this kind of problem? Does XP become
slower over the time?

If the users are cluttering up the hard drive with temporary files and
if you're not clearing those temp files and defragmenting the hard drive
periodically, yes, there will be a performance degradation.

Do we need to reinstall it after some time?

No, of course not. About the only time one actually *needs* to
reinstall WinXP is after a hard drive failure. A properly maintain OS
installation will last years (longer than the hardware, sometimes).

Secondly, Can anyone recommend good registry cleaner and system cleaner
software to tune up my xp machine?

There are no such things. All such products are pure snake oil. If
you actually believe such things are useful, you need to find someone
else, with a modicum of technical knowledge, experience, and ability, to
support your users; your lack of knowledge may well be part of the
users' problems.


--

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

 

[db.·.. >]

well, just because your
an MVP doesn't mean
that your any good at
providing tech assistance.

 

[HeyBub]

ANY Registry cleaner will hurt Just because it's from Microsoft
doesn't mean it isn't snake-oil. In fact, I'd say the opposite is
more the case, lately.

I dunno. I personally think Microsoft's registry cleaner is a placebo.

Users run it then feel better, thereby putting the lie to those who claim
Microsoft doesn't listen to its users.

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

Doesn't mean that any sane tech should recommend it. We're talking
Microsoft, here. They're capable of turning something innocuous into
something very bad due to noting more than a boss saying, "So, what have you
done for Microsoft today", and off the peon goes to "do something".

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

Doesn't mean I'm not good at it, either. I'm certainly not expecting you to
make that judgment. I don't assist you. Don't even like you, just based upon
your idiotic formatting of your posts. In fact, that reminds me to block you
(again) when I'm finished with this post.

In the case at hand, Microsoft is definitely following the rest of the
industry and shilling BAD software disguised as magical cures for what ails
your Windows computer when there is no such thing.

 

[db.·.. >]

well, you should let
windows go and switch
to a different o.s.

perhaps, you can become
a MVP for Linux then
your criticisms would
be in line.

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

Changed my mind. I can't ignore you and let others suffer from your bad
advice.

Your lack of knowledge about what makes an MVP an MVP is a perfect example
that shows you for what you are -- a shallow, ignorant jackass.

 

[Bill in Co.]

Gary, please do keep in mind that you're talking to the same person who also
said that a transformer converts AC to DC (etc, etc). (that, in addition
to his "intelligent" advice on using a so-called "Microsoft recommended"
registry cleaner - snort!)

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

No problem. I've known that for at least a couple of years, now. But there's
always this fine line to walk: Do I block someone, for whatever reason, (say
just to reduce the number of ignorant jackasses in the NG list, which clears
out 90 percent of posts in a group like this,) if they are passing out
crappy advice to people? Do I not have a responsibility to prevent such an
ignorant jackass from leading innocents astray and potentially into
disaster? What is my responsibility towards those poor innocents?

 

[Bill in Co.]

No problem. I've known that for at least a couple of years, now. But
there's
always this fine line to walk: Do I block someone, for whatever reason,
(say
just to reduce the number of ignorant jackasses in the NG list, which
clears
out 90 percent of posts in a group like this,) if they are passing out
crappy advice to people? Do I not have a responsibility to prevent such an
ignorant jackass from leading innocents astray and potentially into
disaster?

I think so.

What is my responsibility towards those poor innocents?

To help them.

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

Thank you for the affirmation of what I'd already decided, Bill. You've
truly been a big help, both in the past and lately.

 

[Dustin Cook]

How do you know that?




There are very problems that are unique to a single user. I've never
personally experienced it on any of my XP machines, though.




There is no such thing as a "good registry cleaner" or good "system
cleaner software." 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.

http://onecare.live.com/site/en-US/article/registry_cleaner_why.htm

Seems MS disagrees..

 

[Dustin Cook]

If the users are cluttering up the hard drive with temporary
files and
if you're not clearing those temp files and defragmenting the hard
drive periodically, yes, there will be a performance degradation.



No, of course not. About the only time one actually *needs* to
reinstall WinXP is after a hard drive failure. A properly maintain OS
installation will last years (longer than the hardware, sometimes).



There are no such things. All such products are pure snake oil.
If
you actually believe such things are useful, you need to find someone
else, with a modicum of technical knowledge, experience, and ability,
to support your users; your lack of knowledge may well be part of the
users' problems.

Hi Bruce,

I don't practice registry cleaning myself, and I was surprised to see MS
discussing why you should do it.

So.. Do you have any urls handy that discuss the hazards specifically?