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Are registry cleaners safe to use?

C

CindySue22

Member
I'm running XP Home, and have added and deleted a bunch of stuff since install, so Registry is probably pretty "junked up". NOTE: I have edited a registry just once, when changing from a Voodoo card to an Nvidia one, and that was on 98SE. I was following very explicit instructions, and was still sweating bullets, so I am not comfortable with registry things, hence the question.
 
the only one i use now is EasyCleaner by ToniArts software. I have been using it for 4 years and have NEVER had a problem that I could blame on it's operation. hope u get some more thoughts on this.
 
It is my understanding that, unlike Win 98, XP needs very little if anything in the way of registry cleaning. Notrton Utilities and EasyCleaner as mentioned, are about the safest you can get, but I have had issues with XP and both these programs. Be very careful, and recommend removing only those entries for items you can identify as no longer on your system.
 
No registry cleaner is safe unless you know how to use it and are very familiar with registry and you are prepared to reformat.
 
Yeah, that's what I was afraid of; don't fix it if it ain't broke! Since I started digging into hardware and software, well, you know how it goes....🙂
 
I've tried a bunch, and a couple have messed up some programs(nothing big, a reinstallation fixed it, but a pain in the ass). Now I use REGSEEKER, works fine, and I used to use the regcleaner by jv16 Powertools.
 
I just started using RegCleaner and it seems to work very well. It automatically backsup the registry when changes are made and only deletes unused/obsolete reg entries during cleaning, unless otherwise specified. All changes are completely reversible.
 
Registry cleaners should only be used to locate 'obsolete' keys. You should do the decision making an deleting on your own. If you aren't informed enough to make the decision, don't delete it.

Do you know how to backup your registry?
Do you know how to put your backup in place if your computer is completely unbootable?

Registry cleaners are a great way for amatures to pose as power users and get themselves in trouble.
 
Originally posted by: Smilin
Registry cleaners should only be used to locate 'obsolete' keys. You should do the decision making an deleting on your own. If you aren't informed enough to make the decision, don't delete it.

Do you know how to backup your registry?
Do you know how to put your backup in place if your computer is completely unbootable?

Registry cleaners are a great way for amatures to pose as power users and get themselves in trouble.
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Yup, that's me! OK, I abstain! 🙂
 
Originally posted by: PrincessGuard
Has anyone actually had a measurable increase in performance from cleaning out the registry?
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i certainly never have, though on a friend's 98 machine it did seem to run snappier (i did tons of other adware removals too so that was prolly it)
 
I use the one built-in with VCOM SystemSuite V5,I had on a clean install of WinXP & just after all the latest updates over 300 invalid entires lol...anyway I removed them all using SystemSuite,never had any problems over the years of using it.
 
Originally posted by: Mem
I use the one built-in with VCOM SystemSuite V5,I had on a clean install of WinXP & just after all the latest updates over 300 invalid entires lol...anyway I removed them all using SystemSuite,never had any problems over the years of using it.
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Just to be clear:
You did a clean install, put on the latest updates and then deleted 300 entries out of your registry?
 
Just to be clear: You did a clean install, put on the latest updates and then deleted 300 entries out of your registry?
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Yep,Registry cleaner in SystemSuite found over 300 invalid registry entires,btw I`m typing with the same OS and PC at the moment,all is ship shape 😉.
 
I don't think it is really necessary to clean the registry. If you don't know what you are doing, you could really mess some stuff up. I say stay away from cleaning your registry since you obviously don't know what you are doing.

If you want to keep your PC in tip top shape, reload it from scratch and install an application that tracks every change that is made to your PC when you load a program. That way when you uninstall something you can look at the log and make sure it's gone complete. There are programs that thoroughly uninstall applications as well based off the technique mentioned above.
 
You can back up just the registry with XP's backup program in advanced mode, though I personally don't believe that cleaning out the registry will improve performance a lot.
 
Might try this, made by the devil himself. I have never had a prob with it and it does create a back up in case you need to restore, I have nerver had to restore anything it has done though, I LIKE😉


M$ Regclean
 
Originally posted by: Ludacris
If you want to keep your PC in tip top shape, reload it from scratch and install an application that tracks every change that is made to your PC when you load a program. That way when you uninstall something you can look at the log and make sure it's gone complete. There are programs that thoroughly uninstall applications as well based off the technique mentioned above.
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List some of these programs, please. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: Ludacris
I don't think it is really necessary to clean the registry. If you don't know what you are doing, you could really mess some stuff up. I say stay away from cleaning your registry since you obviously don't know what you are doing.

If you want to keep your PC in tip top shape, reload it from scratch and install an application that tracks every change that is made to your PC when you load a program. That way when you uninstall something you can look at the log and make sure it's gone complete. There are programs that thoroughly uninstall applications as well based off the technique mentioned above.
Click to expand...

What programs do you recommend?
 
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