Best Registry Cleaner?

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Berryracer

Berryracer

Platinum Member
Oct 4, 2006
2,779
1
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What is the best Registry Cleaner out there that does not break your windows?

I don't mind a paid one but I want quality.

Thanks
 
Berryracer

Berryracer

Platinum Member
Oct 4, 2006
2,779
1
81
I've heard that also from a few people, just wanted to confirm with you guys.

Thanks a lot! you just saved me $30 USD on purchasing a Registry Cleaner and saved me the hassle of breaking my registry!

Cheers
 
lxskllr

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
59,071
9,481
126
Matrix Leader said:
I've heard that also from a few people, just wanted to confirm with you guys.

Thanks a lot! you just saved me $30 USD on purchasing a Registry Cleaner and saved me the hassle of breaking my registry!

Cheers
Click to expand...

A registry cleaner use I find legitimate is for finding a key you're reasonably certain is causing a problem. and removing that single key. For that purpose, you can use Ccleaner. Tell it to find "problem" entries, then go through the list, and take out the one you think is an issue. Don't use the mass clean function.

You'd most likely use something like this after manually cleaning up after a virus.
 
Berryracer

Berryracer

Platinum Member
Oct 4, 2006
2,779
1
81
Can someone explain to me this......

Example: a person buys a new PC, installs a fresh clean copy of Windows 7 on it, then if he runs a scan with any registry cleaner, it comes up with at least 50 erros in the registry it found...


This seriously makes me wonder, does Microsoft release an OS with a broken registry or erroneous entries? (i think not), so what are these registry cleaning programs thinking....... could never figure that one out
 
lxskllr

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
59,071
9,481
126
Matrix Leader said:
Can someone explain to me this......

Example: a person buys a new PC, installs a fresh clean copy of Windows 7 on it, then if he runs a scan with any registry cleaner, it comes up with at least 50 erros in the registry it found...


This seriously makes me wonder, does Microsoft release an OS with a broken registry or erroneous entries? (i think not), so what are these registry cleaning programs thinking....... could never figure that one out
Click to expand...

They might be features that aren't used, or were changed during the install process. They may not be in active use, but the error is in thinking they're "broken", or are any kind of problem that needs to be dealt with.

I don't trust automagic cleaners. The best outcome is nothing happens. You save a couple hundred kb of disk space. Worst case is it cleans something you needed, and your not sure what, especially if the problem pops up a month or so later, and you forget you ever cleaned the registry in the first place.
 
Berryracer

Berryracer

Platinum Member
Oct 4, 2006
2,779
1
81
lxskllr said:
They might be features that aren't used, or were changed during the install process. They may not be in active use, but the error is in thinking they're "broken", or are any kind of problem that needs to be dealt with.

I don't trust automagic cleaners. The best outcome is nothing happens. You save a couple hundred kb of disk space. Worst case is it cleans something you needed, and your not sure what, especially if the problem pops up a month or so later, and you forget you ever cleaned the registry in the first place.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice man! Cheers
 
Oyeve

Oyeve

Lifer
Oct 18, 1999
22,043
875
126
Matrix Leader said:
Can someone explain to me this......

Example: a person buys a new PC, installs a fresh clean copy of Windows 7 on it, then if he runs a scan with any registry cleaner, it comes up with at least 50 erros in the registry it found...


This seriously makes me wonder, does Microsoft release an OS with a broken registry or erroneous entries? (i think not), so what are these registry cleaning programs thinking....... could never figure that one out
Click to expand...
Of course it will show errors. They want you to buy their advanced version of the program (not MS, the reg cleaner devs).
 
Matt1970

Matt1970

Lifer
Mar 19, 2007
12,320
3
0
Leave your registry alone. I have run registry cleaners on PCs that have had the same install for years and it doesn't make a difference.
 
Nothinman

Nothinman

Elite Member
Sep 14, 2001
30,672
0
0
Matrix Leader said:
Can someone explain to me this......

Example: a person buys a new PC, installs a fresh clean copy of Windows 7 on it, then if he runs a scan with any registry cleaner, it comes up with at least 50 erros in the registry it found...


This seriously makes me wonder, does Microsoft release an OS with a broken registry or erroneous entries? (i think not), so what are these registry cleaning programs thinking....... could never figure that one out
Click to expand...

All that really means to me is that the Windows' registry is too complicated and convoluted for anyone to fully understand. To really determine if a key is broken, you need to understand its point and how Windows uses it and I highly doubt there's anyone that can do that for all of them. And like lxskllr says, it's very possible that some of those "broken" keys are put there proactively during install just in case you install a feature of which they're a part. It would be better if adding the feature added the key at installation time, but Windows is a huge, monolithic beast so I would consider it very reasonable that its installer sets up infrastructure for things that aren't installed or enabled by default.
 
shimpster

shimpster

Senior member
Jul 5, 2007
458
1
0
Last edited:
M

MadScientist

Platinum Member
Jul 15, 2001
2,171
51
91
Not this question again!!!
If the OP would have taken a minute or two to use the search function he would have found multiple threads on this subject.

I agree with most in this thread. A registry cleaner is not needed. If you insist on using one then use Ccleaner. It seems pretty benign. It doesn't dig too deep and deletes mostly those few entries left over after uninstalls.
 
M

Mr. Pedantic

Diamond Member
Feb 14, 2010
5,027
0
76
Matrix Leader said:
What is the best Registry Cleaner out there that does not break your windows?

I don't mind a paid one but I want quality.

Thanks
Click to expand...
Seriously, you need to stop thinking that paying for someone's Windows maintenance software will actually help your computer. Because free alternatives exist, and if there is a benefit to be gained, those free alternatives are as likely as not to do it better.
 
goobernoodles

goobernoodles

Golden Member
Jun 5, 2005
1,820
2
81
Talk about some serious overreactions. I have never once seen CCleaner cause a problem - only fix errors due to programs or services trying to start due to a registry setting. Generally startup and shutdown errors. Now, I could have just gone into most likely the run key in either HKLM or HKCU to clear that one entry, however not everyone is going to know where to look or do so with confidence.

With that said, I agree in theory that it's not a good policy to take such a wide approach to "cleaning" the registry. I just don't agree on take this obtuse DONT USE REGISTRY CLEANERS stance. The pro's for most people probably outweigh any perceived negatives.
 
H

Harvey

Administrator<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
35,057
67
91
Magic Carpet said:
Ccleaner used to remove Adobe PDF Reader's icon, not sure if it's been fixed.
Click to expand...

CCleaner was deleting my SuperAntispyware log files. I keep only the most recent log file, and it wasn't catastrophic, but it was annoying to find that they were being deleted.

I found that, under the Cleaner section, you can click the Applications tab and set the program not to act on specific programs. Works fine, now. :cool:
 
Magic Carpet

Magic Carpet

Diamond Member
Oct 2, 2011
3,477
233
106
Harvey said:
CCleaner was deleting my SuperAntispyware log files. I keep only the most recent log file, and it wasn't catastrophic, but it was annoying to find that they were being deleted.

I found that, under the Cleaner section, you can click the Applications tab and set the program not to act on specific programs. Works fine, now. :cool:
Click to expand...
That is correct, however, only commonly used apps allow for such customization. Not sure how the default Adobe Reader icon got into "problem area" though, that needed to be broken... *cough*, "fixed", sorry.

Moral of the story: while automation tools make life easier, sometimes, it's best to rely on your own instincts and good old backups :)

EDIT:
People paying money for registry cleaners?

- No comment.
 
Last edited:
gevorg

gevorg

Diamond Member
Nov 3, 2004
5,070
1
0
TuneUp Utilities has a nice registry cleaner but you have to know what you're doing and not just approve all suggested changes. It comes with a 15-day trial and decent for install, repair, uninstall scenarios. A geek wouldn't need it but if a geek is fixing some idiot's machine, something like TuneUp Utilities or CCleaner might come handy.
 
C

CaptainGoodnight

Golden Member
Oct 13, 2000
1,427
30
91
Like many have said: Snake oil.

The only exception is maybe helping cleaning up registry entries that prevent a clean install.

There is not really much bloat there. On my Windows 7 machine that I have owned for 2 years the registry is only around ~200 MB.
 
H

Harvey

Administrator<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
35,057
67
91
Magic Carpet said:
That is correct, however, only commonly used apps allow for such customization. Not sure how the default Adobe Reader icon got into "problem area" though, that needed to be broken... *cough*, "fixed", sorry.

Moral of the story: while automation tools make life easier, sometimes, it's best to rely on your own instincts and good old backups :)
Click to expand...

I've had good results with CCleaner and no disasters. With careful, regular use, it does improve performance. That said, I'm crazy, not stupid. I sweep and clone my hard drive at least once a week and before I install any new program. My basic motto is, "Never allow anything to fsck your machine more than you can UN-fsck it." :cool:

Magic Carpet said:
EDIT:
People paying money for registry cleaners?

- No comment.
Click to expand...

CCleaner is free. I like PC Tools Registry Mechanic better, but I wait for it to go on sale somewhere between free and $5 after rebate before renewing it. PC Tools is owned by Symantec, and they sell the same program under their banner, as well. The difference is, if you really need tech support, PC Tools has live bodies answering their toll-free phone, whereas, even after digging through their absurd automated decision tree, trying to get a live person on Symantec's phone is like waiting for the third coming... or Godot...., whichever comes first. :rolleyes:
 
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