reg cleaners

sobranie · Jun 20, 2009, 10:29:38

interesting.

http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6138_102-0.html?messageID=3056183&tag=nl.e400

Sebby · Jun 20, 2009, 11:57:52

Interesting stuff. Personally, I've never been a great fan of registry cleaners. I much prefer to do a clean install of Windows.

mrapoc · Jun 20, 2009, 12:20:37

Ccleaner tbh

free and iv never had problems

quandam · Jun 20, 2009, 12:24:35

Quote from: mrapoc on Jun 20, 2009, 12:20:37
Ccleaner tbh

free and iv never had problems

Agree

sobranie · Jun 20, 2009, 13:26:47

Recently used Regcure which is one of the highest rated. Found a few hundred probs which it said it had cleaned. However, ran it again and it still found the same probs so ran it 4 times in all and it still found the same probs. jftr it killed system restore too which is still crippled!!
Conclusion: A total waste of time and effort .... back to Ccleaner and 'tis time I did a reformat anyway.

Niall · Jun 20, 2009, 13:29:52

I used to use Regcleaner until the subscription ran out, and I think it's not made anymore. I use CCleaner now, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't get rid of everything as I discovered entries for programs I no longer have installed and blank entries too, when I was bored and having a nose about a while ago.

D-Dan · Jun 20, 2009, 13:46:56

If you want to reduce registry junk from the get go, I find most errors found by registry cleaners are orphaned entries after uninstalling a program. Use a different uninstall program than Windows built in one (I use Revo uninstaller, though others are available) and do an advanced uninstall using that instead. Most registry entries will be cleaned out at the time.

CCleaner finds a fraction of registry errors when I use it now than it did when I used the built in Windows uninstaller.

Just my two cents.

Steve

Simon · Jun 20, 2009, 14:13:46

Quote from: D-Dan on Jun 20, 2009, 13:46:56
If you want to reduce registry junk from the get go, I find most errors found by registry cleaners are orphaned entries after uninstalling a program. Use a different uninstall program than Windows built in one (I use Revo uninstaller, though others are available) and do an advanced uninstall using that instead. Most registry entries will be cleaned out at the time.

CCleaner finds a fraction of registry errors when I use it now than it did when I used the built in Windows uninstaller.

Just my two cents.

Steve

I agree, and I use, and would recommend, YourUninstaller.

Quote from: the original articleI have Registry Cleaner version 4.0.1.547 that is a registered retail version which I paid $30 for. I use it fairly often and sometimes it gives me errors and I click fix and it does its cleaning. I have also downloaded the free version of RegCure and after running my paid Registry cleaner I run the RegCure Version 1.5.2 and it tells me I have 355 errors on my computer. What is up with this? The RegCure won't clean these errors unless I buy the Pro version. Is this their way of getting people to buy their product?

I'm with him on this, and I do think some of these programs try to scare people into purchasing them - anti spyware scanners do it to. I don't trust these types of program, and would never purchase something under threat.

Sebby · Jun 20, 2009, 14:20:35

If only Windows didn't have a registry...

Gary · Jun 20, 2009, 14:33:44

By Hand using regedit is the safest if you know what to do or feel comfortable following instructions. I had an issue with a program, I removed NTI backup 5 when I got my Acer and it left a context menu item as it had orfen file associations I could not delete (only in Vista) so I went into the registry deleted what I had googled as the issues and the ghost entry went, that's great.
As far as every day running of a pc, I see know need to use one, you gain very little if any performance from them, and they can do more damage than good. CCleaners is probably the safest of them all but if you don't have a problem leave the Registry well alone.

quandam · Jun 20, 2009, 18:15:04

Quote from: Gary on Jun 20, 2009, 14:33:44
By Hand using regedit is the safest if you know what to do or feel comfortable following instructions. I had an issue with a program, I removed NTI backup 5 when I got my Acer and it left a context menu item as it had orfen file associations I could not delete (only in Vista) so I went into the registry deleted what I had googled as the issues and the ghost entry went, that's great.
As far as every day running of a pc, I see know need to use one, you gain very little if any performance from them, and they can do more damage than good. CCleaners is probably the safest of them all but if you don't have a problem leave the Registry well alone.

Good advice

colonelsun · Jun 20, 2009, 19:35:28

Registry cleaners are my personal nightmare. As a newbie to the web my first ISP AOL more or less ordered me to try a named reg cleaner, i didn't know anything different. Thankfully the program had a facility to return the registry to before i installed the cleaner, the damn programs are no good unless you are sure what you're doing, otherwise i would have happily deleted everything the program told me to do.

drummer · Jun 21, 2009, 00:42:12

Quote from: Simon on Jun 20, 2009, 14:13:46
I agree, and I use, and would recommend, YourUninstaller.

Another vote YourUninstaller here - bought it on a special offer for about a tenner a few years back and ain't arsed about updating it, but it continues to uninstall everything connected to a program, including registry entries.

Gary · Jun 21, 2009, 07:49:38

Quote from: drummer on Jun 21, 2009, 00:42:12
Another vote YourUninstaller here - bought it on a special offer for about a tenner a few years back and ain't arsed about updating it, but it continues to uninstall everything connected to a program, including registry entries.

I have heard good things about this program Drummer but some AV's don't like to be uninstalled that way, have come across this on some forums, when people go to reinstall if they had an issue and used YourUninstaller it all goes horribly wrong., I think its safer to use your particular AV's own uninstaller most have one on support pages.....hopefully. Also I wonder if the program may delete registry entries that its sees as being associated with the program, but are actually from another process that interacts with it. I still think its best to uninstall and leave be unless you have issues personally. As I see it if Microsoft don't make one as a standalone download there is good reason for it. Best option would be to get a Mac and be free of that nightmare

Simon · Jun 21, 2009, 10:01:14

I think, with AVs, it's best to use the vendor's dedicated removal software, which most provide.

mrapoc · Jun 21, 2009, 11:45:21

A 3rd party uninstaller eh?

Never ever thought about getting one - which seems to be the most efficient in terms of removing and system resources etc?

Simon · Jun 21, 2009, 12:05:57

I've only ever used YourUninstaller. It places a right click menu link on program icons, which makes them very easy to remove, as you don't even have to open the program.

Sebby · Jun 21, 2009, 12:15:47

Interesting. Apart from CleanSweap all those years ago, I've never used a dedicated uninstaller.

mrapoc · Jun 21, 2009, 12:25:50

so revo vs youruninstaller

anyone had issues with either?

are the free versions "enough"?

Baz · Jun 21, 2009, 13:47:23

used Revo before and it seems quite good

mrapoc · Jun 21, 2009, 14:02:51

iv got revo now

works a treat