Just wanted to say thanks for this thread and all of the replies. I'm debating whether or not to use a Reg cleaner on a new system I just built but after reading some of these responses I think I'll pass. They seem to offer very little benefit with very high potential risks! :Q
- Sep 4, 2003
- 4,668
- 46
- 91
I just ran Regedt32 in the "run" box, there is absolutely.
From what I've read and seen, Regedit.exe's functionality has been merged with regedt32.exe's, so regedit.exe now supports all the extra data types (e.g., multistring, security). If you start regedt32.exe, the system runs regedit.exe.
regedit.exe is the ONLY thing I get in SP2.
READ
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310426
While I agree with all your points (in XP the two are the same) I have no idea what you are trying to tell me.
I'm simply saying that registry editor, however you wish to call it, will fix minor registry corruption issues.
http://bluescreens.homeserver...._Another_Registry.html
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/814545
I'm simply saying that registry editor, however you wish to call it, will fix minor registry corruption issues.
http://bluescreens.homeserver...._Another_Registry.html
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/814545
iskim86
Banned
Website about fixing windows machines, made on a mac, hosted on a WHS machine? Dude, you are my hero.
Not really. A "cleaner" is an application that edits the registry programmatically.
Of course, with "cleaners" you could achieve the same result by having a monkey pound on your keyboad while regedit was open.
Originally posted by: DasFox
Originally posted by: Blain
We need to be CLEAR here, Regedit is an EDITOR, not a CLEANER, there is a BIG difference between an editor and a cleaner...
Do you not understand what people have been telling you? A registry "cleaner" is a bad, BAD idea. Stash works at MS. I used to work at MS. We're telling you this, and we're not stuttering - it's a BAD idea!
- Sep 4, 2003
- 4,668
- 46
- 91
Originally posted by: dclive
Originally posted by: DasFox
Originally posted by: Blain
We need to be CLEAR here, Regedit is an EDITOR, not a CLEANER, there is a BIG difference between an editor and a cleaner...
Do you not understand what people have been telling you? A registry "cleaner" is a bad, BAD idea. Stash works at MS. I used to work at MS. We're telling you this, and we're not stuttering - it's a BAD idea!
It's a BAD idea for a newbie, and did you not see the POST in the beginning?
---> P.S. This isn't a newbie discussion!
I'm not a newbie, been doing this 15 years, I didn't make this as a discussion topic, PLEASE go back and look at the original post, to get a better understanding.
I would of figured as PC Geeks around here you would of understood when I said Regedit is an editor not a cleaner, what that meant, but I guess not.
Please reconsider what I said before laughing if you think the comments were stupid.
The registry editor only has so many features, in that regard it's not a cleaning tool in the sense of what functions a cleaner has, I didn't think this was complicated to explain....
Even Microsoft the developers of this program don't call it, or consider it a cleaner...
Cleaner, Editor, whatever you want to call them, I don't really care, I use a Registry tool to make changes, fix, and edit it, etc., etc... I simply use a tool like JV16 to make the task easier then what the Regedit allows, that's all.
I'm not trying to be rude here, so please don't take offense, but you guys really need to get a clue as to what a tool like JV16 is, and what you do with it before making comments like Reg cleaners are bad, etc., because this just shows me you don't know what it is, and how you use it, or what you'd use it for, you just seem to have a general idea, and there is more to it then what you all seem to think.
This isn't about just automatic rip out, clean it up registry cleaning, and I get the feeling that you guys think this is about hit one button, CLEAN, and bingo cleaned up, no one is talking anything about some one button clean and fix task, and that is what I'm getting here, because when you say this is a BAD idea, that is what it's implying, and if you use a Reg Tool like JV16 for what it's intended for, then it's not bad, or will cause any problems, because it's about EXPERIENCE....
Are you telling everyone that has EXPERIENCE it's a BAD IDEA to use Regedit too? No of course not, and I'm talking about EXPERIENCED people using a proper tool to do a proper job, just with something that simplifies not needing to drudge around in Regedit is all.
So please let's drop the crap about this being a bad idea, because were not talking about some micky mouse $19.95 special RegMagic Cleaner, that will instantly clean and give you a sparkling new registry in seconds, I think this is what you guys must be thinking about.
Anyhow CAN we stick to the topic....
THANKS
mechBgon
Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
- Oct 31, 1999
- 30,699
- 1
- 0
Originally posted by: btcomm1
Would you be so kind Dasfox and explain what problems you have been able to actually fix other then the "problems" the registry "cleaner" tells you about?
It would be interesting to hear the answer to this question. I have something like 400,000 machine-hours of experience with my work fleet where I used to work, and found no pressing need, or in fact any need at all, for Registry cleaners.
What are the tangible benefits you're typically seeing?Yeah....it really is.
When I hear some self-described "IT Pro" talking about how great registry cleaners are for performance, I immediately tune them out.
^^ Bingo. The moment someone mentions "drivercleaner" or a registry cleaner, I immediately relegate them to newbie status.
- Sep 4, 2003
- 4,668
- 46
- 91
Originally posted by: mechBgon
Originally posted by: btcomm1
Would you be so kind Dasfox and explain what problems you have been able to actually fix other then the "problems" the registry "cleaner" tells you about?
It would be interesting to hear the answer to this question. I have something like 400,000 machine-hours of experience with my work fleet where I used to work, and found no pressing need, or in fact any need at all, for Registry cleaners.
The biggest concerns for me are when there are malware issues in the registry and you don't want to use Regedit and dig one key at a time looking.
So as an example you need to find something by name that you know, you type it and do a search, and BINGO all keys related to this are found, so you can deal with it.
For customers pcs that I clean out with virus/spy/malware issues that aren't that bad, and there is no need for a format and reinstall, along with spyware cleaners, and AV apps, I'll use JV16 also to help find these keys to help me get them out of the registry.
This I find is one of the biggest reasons I use Jv16 for computer cleanups I do all the time.
mechBgon
Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
- Oct 31, 1999
- 30,699
- 1
- 0
Originally posted by: DasFox
Originally posted by: mechBgon
Originally posted by: btcomm1
Would you be so kind Dasfox and explain what problems you have been able to actually fix other then the "problems" the registry "cleaner" tells you about?
It would be interesting to hear the answer to this question. I have something like 400,000 machine-hours of experience with my work fleet where I used to work, and found no pressing need, or in fact any need at all, for Registry cleaners.
The biggest concerns for me are when there are malware issues in the registry and you don't want to use Regedit and dig one key at a time looking.
So as an example you need to find something by name that you know, you type it and do a search, and BINGO all keys related to this are found, so you can deal with it.
For customers pcs that I clean out with virus/spy/malware issues that aren't that bad, and there is no need for a format and reinstall, along with spyware cleaners, and AV apps, I'll use JV16 also to help find these keys to help me get them out of the registry.
This I find is one of the biggest reasons I use Jv16 for computer cleanups I do all the time.
I see. Personally, with the exponentially-expanding amount of malware out there, I would always prefer to take the safe, certain route and "clean" the Registry with DBAN :evil: and then reinstall Windows etc. But I know that isn't always possible when it isn't your own PC.
It is requested that other thread participants (including myself) try to keep an open mind about the potential usefulness of Registry-cleaning software in light of how the OP uses it himself, which sounds a bit different than what we might be accustomed to ourselves.
AnandTech Moderator
mechBgon
Not sure why it took three pages for the OP to tell us how he is using a registry cleaner.
That said, I agree with mech. The idea with computer security is to prevent the bad stuff from getting on the machine in the first place.
It doesn't really matter how screwed up the machine is. If you have a machine where a single file was created on the drive by someone other than you, even if that file is completely harmless, that machine is compromised and should be flattened. Digging around in the registry, and using antimalware tools to "clean" a compromised machine is a great way to increase billable hours, but really isn't helpful because the machine is almost guaranteed to get hit again.
Giving users the tools they need to avoid compromise in the first place (limited user accounts, a decent inbound filtering firewall, possibly antivirus, and education (don't click on the dancing pigs)) is a better solution IMO.
But don't let me stop your fun...I'm done with this thread (again)
That said, I agree with mech. The idea with computer security is to prevent the bad stuff from getting on the machine in the first place.
It doesn't really matter how screwed up the machine is. If you have a machine where a single file was created on the drive by someone other than you, even if that file is completely harmless, that machine is compromised and should be flattened. Digging around in the registry, and using antimalware tools to "clean" a compromised machine is a great way to increase billable hours, but really isn't helpful because the machine is almost guaranteed to get hit again.
Giving users the tools they need to avoid compromise in the first place (limited user accounts, a decent inbound filtering firewall, possibly antivirus, and education (don't click on the dancing pigs)) is a better solution IMO.
But don't let me stop your fun...I'm done with this thread (again)
- Sep 4, 2003
- 4,668
- 46
- 91
MAYBE if people like stash would OPEN their eyes and READ there wouldn't be PAGES of posting, sheesh...
I ONLY had ONE question for this post ----> Besides Macecraft is anyone else making something at a pro quality level of a tool?
So what are we saying, everytime someone gets a bit of spy/malware on the box and it's only going to take an hour or two to clean it up we should always reformat the box and reinstall, give me a break.
YES when things get BAD, then I reinstall, but I'm certainly not going to reinstall someone's box when it can be cleaned out.
Anyhow PLEASE READ next time people....
I ONLY had ONE question for this post ----> Besides Macecraft is anyone else making something at a pro quality level of a tool?
So what are we saying, everytime someone gets a bit of spy/malware on the box and it's only going to take an hour or two to clean it up we should always reformat the box and reinstall, give me a break.
YES when things get BAD, then I reinstall, but I'm certainly not going to reinstall someone's box when it can be cleaned out.
Anyhow PLEASE READ next time people....
TRENDING THREADS
-
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)- Started by DisEnchantment
- Replies: 25K
-
Discussion Intel Meteor, Arrow, Lunar & Panther Lakes + WCL Discussion Threads
- Started by Tigerick
- Replies: 23K
-
Discussion Intel current and future Lakes & Rapids thread- Started by TheF34RChannel
- Replies: 23K
-
-
Facebook
Twitter