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Guest Maurice
Posted

Write to inquire if there is some application within XP SP3 to clean the

registry and identify problems. A third party trial version indicates that

there are over 200 issues. Guidance sought

  • Replies 33
  • Created
  • Last Reply
Guest Malke
Posted

Re: Registry Cleaning

 

Maurice wrote:

> Write to inquire if there is some application within XP SP3 to clean the

> registry and identify problems. A third party trial version indicates

> that

> there are over 200 issues. Guidance sought

 

The registry doesn't need to be cleaned. Leave it alone. See this link for

why:

 

http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=28099

 

However, I'm concerned about your last statement, "A third party trial

version indicates that there are over 200 issues". Is this coming from

something called Antivirus 2007/08/09, XP Antivirus, WinAntivirus, XP

Security Center or the like? If yes, your computer is infected with a rogue

antispyware program. It is called "rogue" because it pretends to be A Good

Guy but is really Evil. Do not pay them!

 

If my guess is correct, look for removal steps here:

 

Bleeping Computer removal how-to's -

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/forum55.html

 

These may work for you and all may be well. However, in many cases the

computer will also be infected with Zlob and/or Vundo trojans and protected

by a rootkit. These machines are extremely difficult to clean.

 

If your machine is one of these cases, either get guided help at one of the

specialty forums below OR back up your data and do a clean install of

Windows. It is your choice. If you are unsure how to back up your data or

how to do a clean install, you can take your machine to a local computer

professional. I don't recommend using BigComputerStore/GeekSquad types of

places.

 

PLEASE DO NOT POST LOGS IN THE MS NEWSGROUPS.

 

http://aumha.net/ - Click on the HijackThis forum. Read the announcement and

the stickies *first*.

http://www.atribune.org/forums/index.php?showforum=9

http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/forum22.html

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/cleanup

http://www.cybertechhelp.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=25Look

http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/Malware_Removal_HiJackThis_Logs_Go_Here-f37.html

http://gladiator-antivirus.com/forum/index.php?showforum=170

http://spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5

http://forums.techguy.org/54-security/

http://forums.tomcoyote.org/

 

Malke

--

MS-MVP

Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

Guest Kayman
Posted

Re: Registry Cleaning

 

On Sat, 9 Aug 2008 06:22:01 -0700, Maurice wrote:

> Write to inquire if there is some application within XP SP3 to clean the

> registry...

 

No, there isn't.

> ...and identify problems.

 

What seems to be the problem?

> A third party trial version indicates...

 

These are usually snake-oil!

> ...that there are over 200 issues.

 

These are usually non-issues, better ignore them.

> Guidance sought

 

Registry cleaners are not required for NT systems!

 

AUMHA Discussion: Should I Use a Registry Cleaner?

http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=28099

Note the comments from Mark Russinovich and the reference concerning ERUNT.

 

Why I don¢t use registry cleaners!

http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000643.html

 

Be guided accordingly :-)

Guest John Barnett MVP
Posted

Re: Registry Cleaning

 

If you are not competent to edit the registry manually, then leave well

alone. Third party registry cleaners, sadly, create more problems than they

actually solve and are best not even considered. Strangely, you could

probably run your 'third party trial version' on a machine that you have

just installed Windows XP (or any other version of Windows) on and it would

still come up with over 200 issues.

 

--

 

--

John Barnett MVP

Associate Expert

Windows Desktop Experience

 

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org

Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

 

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any

kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,

reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for

any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the

use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this

mail/post..

 

 

"Maurice" <Maurice@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:D509256F-BD18-47EF-AB78-D58163A896A4@microsoft.com...

> Write to inquire if there is some application within XP SP3 to clean the

> registry and identify problems. A third party trial version indicates

> that

> there are over 200 issues. Guidance sought

Guest db.·.. >
Posted

Re: Registry Cleaning

 

here is a second party

free version:

 

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

 

--

 

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

 

"Maurice" <Maurice@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:D509256F-BD18-47EF-AB78-D58163A896A4@microsoft.com...

> Write to inquire if there is some application within XP SP3 to clean the

> registry and identify problems. A third party trial version indicates that

> there are over 200 issues. Guidance sought

Guest Ken Blake, MVP
Posted

Re: Registry Cleaning

 

On Sat, 9 Aug 2008 06:22:01 -0700, Maurice

<Maurice@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> Write to inquire if there is some application within XP SP3 to clean the

> registry and identify problems.

 

 

No, there isn't, and that's good, not bad.

 

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.

 

 

> A third party trial version indicates that

> there are over 200 issues. Guidance sought

 

 

 

"Issues" that are meaningless, and don't hurt you at all. Ignore them,

and stay far away from all such programs.

 

 

--

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

Please Reply to the Newsgroup

Posted

Re: Registry Cleaning

 

Not a good idea.

Freeware registry cleaners can trash your PC at no cost $$$ to you.

Those registry cleaner utilities that cost money are best known

for cleaning your wallet and then trashing your PC.

 

Example #1

Ran a scan to count the number of entries in my PC's registry

Total was over 260,000

So if a registry cleaner (if it worked properly) removed say 1,000 entries

that would be less than one half of one percent space savings.

 

Example #2

I very recently ran a registry cleaner knowing in advance what some of the

fixes the cleaner should find and the suggested changes.

This was based on the fact I had uninstalled an application (knowing it

would leave some orphaned registry entries) and then reinstalled the same

application to a different directory location.

 

The cleaner's default suggested fix for the application's old directory

location (the orphaned entries) was to change these entries to the new

location, which was not necessary, so I manually deleted these entries.

 

Now here is where a registry cleaner could cause a real problem!

A few months ago I removed a large number but not all of the

$NtUninstallKBxxxxxx$ folders

(these are the folders and associated files left behind each time you

install the latest Windows Updates each month)

The cleaner reported the broken registry entries but the suggested fix was

to point the broken registry entries to the remaining $NtUninstall files (on

a random basis) thus royally screwing up the pointers. By that I mean you go

to uninstall (in rare cases) a patch that may be giving you problems and due

to the screwed up registry entry it instead removes the wrong patch.

 

JS

http://www.pagestart.com

 

 

"Maurice" <Maurice@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:D509256F-BD18-47EF-AB78-D58163A896A4@microsoft.com...

> Write to inquire if there is some application within XP SP3 to clean the

> registry and identify problems. A third party trial version indicates

> that

> there are over 200 issues. Guidance sought

Guest Bruce Chambers
Posted

Re: Registry Cleaning

 

Maurice wrote:

> Write to inquire if there is some application within XP SP3 to clean the

> registry and identify problems. A third party trial version indicates that

> there are over 200 issues. Guidance sought

 

 

A registry cleaner - even a safe one, should such ever be developed

- is an exercise in, at best, futility. There is no real need for

registry cleaners, other than to provide a profit to their manufacturers.

 

Why do you even think you'd ever need to clean your registry? What

specific *problems* are you actually experiencing (not some program's

bogus listing of imaginary problems) that you think can be fixed by

using a registry cleaner?

 

If you do have a real problem that is rooted in the registry, it

would be far better to simply edit (after backing up, of course) only

the specific key(s) and/or value(s) that are causing the problem. After

all, why use a chainsaw when a scalpel will do the job? Additionally,

the manually changing of one or two registry entries is far less likely

to have the dire consequences of allowing an automated product to make

multiple changes simultaneously. The only thing needed to safely clean

your registry is knowledge and Regedit.exe.

 

The registry contains all of the operating system's "knowledge" of

the computer's hardware devices, installed software, the location of the

device drivers, and the computer's configuration. A misstep in the

registry can have severe consequences. One should not even turning

loose a poorly understood automated "cleaner," unless he is fully

confident that he knows *exactly* what is going to happen as a result of

each and every change.

 

Having repeatedly seen the results of inexperienced people using

automated registry "cleaners," I can only advise all but the most

experienced computer technicians (and/or hobbyists) to avoid them all.

Experience has shown me that such tools simply are not safe in the hands

of the inexperienced user. If you lack the knowledge and experience to

maintain your registry by yourself, then you also lack the knowledge and

experience to safely configure and use any automated registry cleaner,

no matter how safe they claim to be.

 

More importantly, no one has ever demonstrated that the use of an

automated registry cleaner, particularly by an untrained, inexperienced

computer user, does any real good, whatsoever. There's certainly been

no empirical evidence offered to demonstrate that the use of such

products to "clean" WinXP's registry improves a computer's performance

or stability. Given the potential for harm, it's just not worth the risk.

 

Granted, most registry "cleaners" won't cause problems each and

every time they're used, but the potential for harm is always there.

And, since no registry "cleaner" has ever been demonstrated to do any

good, whatsoever (think of them like treating the flu with chicken soup

- there's no real medicinal value, but it sometimes provides a warming

placebo effect), I always tell people that the risks far out-weigh the

non-existent benefits.

 

I will concede that a good registry *scanning* tool, in the hands

of an experienced and knowledgeable technician or hobbyist can be a

useful time-saving diagnostic tool, as long as it's not allowed to make

any changes automatically. But I really don't think that there are any

registry cleaners that are truly safe for the general public to use.

Experience has proven just the opposite: such tools simply are not safe

in the hands of the inexperienced user.

 

 

--

 

Bruce Chambers

 

Help us help you:

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

 

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

Guest Bruce Chambers
Posted

Re: Registry Cleaning

 

db.·.. ><))) ·>` .. . wrote:

> here is a second party

> free version:

>

 

But it's still just as worthless, and potentially as dangerous, as all

3rd party ones.

 

Please stop deliberately trying to sabotage people's computers.

 

--

 

Bruce Chambers

 

Help us help you:

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

 

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

Guest Alias
Posted

Re: Registry Cleaning

 

Bruce Chambers wrote:

> db.·.. ><))) ·>` .. . wrote:

>> here is a second party

>> free version:

>>

>

> But it's still just as worthless, and potentially as dangerous, as

> all 3rd party ones.

>

> Please stop deliberately trying to sabotage people's computers.

>

 

So you're saying that Microsoft's One Care program will sabotage

people's computers? Have you notified Microsoft yet?

 

Alias

Guest Alias
Posted

Re: Registry Cleaning

 

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:

> On Sat, 9 Aug 2008 06:22:01 -0700, Maurice

> <Maurice@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>

>> Write to inquire if there is some application within XP SP3 to clean the

>> registry and identify problems.

>

>

> No, there isn't, and that's good, not bad.

>

> Registry cleaning programs are *all* snake oil.

 

Not according to Microsoft:

 

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

 

Alias

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.

>

>

>

>> A third party trial version indicates that

>> there are over 200 issues. Guidance sought

>

>

>

> "Issues" that are meaningless, and don't hurt you at all. Ignore them,

> and stay far away from all such programs.

>

>

Guest db.·.. >
Posted

Re: Registry Cleaning

 

Why do want to sabotage

peoples computers and

say not to use Microsoft's

registry cleaner and other

system maintenance utilities

they engineered for

Windows?

 

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

 

 

--

 

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

 

"Bruce Chambers" <bchambers@cable0ne.n3t> wrote in message news:e3j0iWj%23IHA.872@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> db.·.. ><))) ·>` .. . wrote:

>> here is a second party

>> free version:

>>

>

> But it's still just as worthless, and potentially as dangerous, as all 3rd party ones.

>

> Please stop deliberately trying to sabotage people's computers.

>

> --

>

> Bruce Chambers

>

> Help us help you:

> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

>

> 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

Guest db.·.. >
Posted

Re: Registry Cleaning

 

why are you putting all

the newsgroup readers

to sleep with this mindless

rant?

 

--

 

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

 

 

"Bruce Chambers" <bchambers@cable0ne.n3t> wrote in message news:u$6EiVj%23IHA.872@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> Maurice wrote:

>> Write to inquire if there is some application within XP SP3 to clean the registry and identify problems. A third party trial

>> version indicates that there are over 200 issues. Guidance sought

>

>

> A registry cleaner - even a safe one, should such ever be developed - is an exercise in, at best, futility. There is no real

> need for registry cleaners, other than to provide a profit to their manufacturers.

>

> Why do you even think you'd ever need to clean your registry? What specific *problems* are you actually experiencing (not some

> program's bogus listing of imaginary problems) that you think can be fixed by using a registry cleaner?

>

> If you do have a real problem that is rooted in the registry, it would be far better to simply edit (after backing up, of

> course) only the specific key(s) and/or value(s) that are causing the problem. After all, why use a chainsaw when a scalpel will

> do the job? Additionally, the manually changing of one or two registry entries is far less likely to have the dire consequences

> of allowing an automated product to make multiple changes simultaneously. The only thing needed to safely clean your registry is

> knowledge and Regedit.exe.

>

> The registry contains all of the operating system's "knowledge" of the computer's hardware devices, installed software, the

> location of the device drivers, and the computer's configuration. A misstep in the registry can have severe consequences. One

> should not even turning loose a poorly understood automated "cleaner," unless he is fully confident that he knows *exactly* what

> is going to happen as a result of each and every change.

>

> Having repeatedly seen the results of inexperienced people using automated registry "cleaners," I can only advise all but the

> most experienced computer technicians (and/or hobbyists) to avoid them all. Experience has shown me that such tools simply are not

> safe in the hands of the inexperienced user. If you lack the knowledge and experience to maintain your registry by yourself, then

> you also lack the knowledge and experience to safely configure and use any automated registry cleaner, no matter how safe they

> claim to be.

>

> More importantly, no one has ever demonstrated that the use of an automated registry cleaner, particularly by an untrained,

> inexperienced computer user, does any real good, whatsoever. There's certainly been no empirical evidence offered to demonstrate

> that the use of such products to "clean" WinXP's registry improves a computer's performance or stability. Given the potential for

> harm, it's just not worth the risk.

>

> Granted, most registry "cleaners" won't cause problems each and every time they're used, but the potential for harm is always

> there. And, since no registry "cleaner" has ever been demonstrated to do any good, whatsoever (think of them like treating the flu

> with chicken soup - there's no real medicinal value, but it sometimes provides a warming placebo effect), I always tell people

> that the risks far out-weigh the non-existent benefits.

>

> I will concede that a good registry *scanning* tool, in the hands of an experienced and knowledgeable technician or hobbyist

> can be a useful time-saving diagnostic tool, as long as it's not allowed to make any changes automatically. But I really don't

> think that there are any registry cleaners that are truly safe for the general public to use. Experience has proven just the

> opposite: such tools simply are not safe in the hands of the inexperienced user.

>

>

> --

>

> Bruce Chambers

>

> Help us help you:

> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

>

> 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

Guest Gerry
Posted

Re: Registry Cleaning

 

 

 

Alias

 

From your link: "Not to worry. Just like Microsoft Word, your PC has an

"undo" option. In this case, it's called System Restore. Once it's

finished scanning, the Windows Live Safety scanner creates a System

Restore point on your PC. This allows you to revert your system to its

original state, before you performed the scan, in case you inadvertently

remove any valid registry items."

 

Microsoft have a lot more confidence in System Restore than many who

post to these newsgroups. Which side of the fence do you reside Alias? A

number of well known security programmes prevent System Restore from

working!

 

~~~~

 

 

Gerry

~~~~

FCA

Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

Alias wrote:

> Ken Blake, MVP wrote:

>> On Sat, 9 Aug 2008 06:22:01 -0700, Maurice

>> <Maurice@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>>

>>> Write to inquire if there is some application within XP SP3 to

>>> clean the registry and identify problems.

>>

>>

>> No, there isn't, and that's good, not bad.

>>

>> Registry cleaning programs are *all* snake oil.

>

> Not according to Microsoft:

>

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

>

> Alias

> 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.

>>

>>

>>

>>> A third party trial version indicates that

>>> there are over 200 issues. Guidance sought

>>

>>

>>

>> "Issues" that are meaningless, and don't hurt you at all. Ignore

>> them, and stay far away from all such programs.

Guest John Barnett MVP
Posted

Re: Registry Cleaning

 

I beta tested Microsoft One Care and found it next to useless. I certainly

wouldn't use it, nor would I recommend people to use it.

 

As for registry cleaners in general I stick with what I have already posted.

'If you are not competent enough to manually edit the registry, then leave

it well alone.'

 

--

 

--

John Barnett MVP

Associate Expert

Windows Desktop Experience

 

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org

Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

 

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any

kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,

reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for

any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the

use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this

mail/post..

 

 

"Alias" <iamalias@gmailREMOVE.com> wrote in message

news:g7ke6i$eet$2@aioe.org...

> Bruce Chambers wrote:

>> db.·.. ><))) ·>` .. . wrote:

>>> here is a second party

>>> free version:

>>>

>>

>> But it's still just as worthless, and potentially as dangerous, as

>> all 3rd party ones.

>>

>> Please stop deliberately trying to sabotage people's computers.

>>

>

> So you're saying that Microsoft's One Care program will sabotage people's

> computers? Have you notified Microsoft yet?

>

> Alias

Guest Bill in Co.
Posted

Re: Registry Cleaning

 

Self projection noted.

> why are you putting all

> the newsgroup readers

> to sleep with this mindless

> rant?

>

> --

>

> db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

>

>

> "Bruce Chambers" <bchambers@cable0ne.n3t> wrote in message

> news:u$6EiVj%23IHA.872@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

>> Maurice wrote:

>>> Write to inquire if there is some application within XP SP3 to clean the

>>> registry and identify problems. A third party trial version indicates

>>> that

>>> there are over 200 issues. Guidance sought

>>

>>

>> A registry cleaner - even a safe one, should such ever be developed -

>> is

>> an exercise in, at best, futility. There is no real need for registry

>> cleaners, other than to provide a profit to their manufacturers. Why do

>> you even think you'd ever need to clean your registry? What

>> specific *problems* are you actually experiencing (not some program's

>> bogus

>> listing of imaginary problems) that you think can be fixed by using a

>> registry cleaner? If you do have a real problem that is rooted in the

>> registry, it would

>> be far better to simply edit (after backing up, of course) only the

>> specific

>> key(s) and/or value(s) that are causing the problem. After all, why use

>> a

>> chainsaw when a scalpel will do the job? Additionally, the manually

>> changing of one or two registry entries is far less likely to have the

>> dire

>> consequences of allowing an automated product to make multiple changes

>> simultaneously. The only thing needed to safely clean your registry is

>> knowledge and Regedit.exe. The registry contains all of the operating

>> system's "knowledge" of the

>> computer's hardware devices, installed software, the location of the

>> device

>> drivers, and the computer's configuration. A misstep in the registry can

>> have severe consequences. One should not even turning loose a poorly

>> understood automated "cleaner," unless he is fully confident that he

>> knows

>> *exactly* what is going to happen as a result of each and every change.

>> Having repeatedly seen the results of inexperienced people using

>> automated registry "cleaners," I can only advise all but the most

>> experienced computer technicians (and/or hobbyists) to avoid them all.

>> Experience has shown me that such tools simply are not safe in the hands

>> of

>> the inexperienced user. If you lack the knowledge and experience to

>> maintain your registry by yourself, then you also lack the knowledge and

>> experience to safely configure and use any automated registry cleaner, no

>> matter how safe they claim to be. More importantly, no one has ever

>> demonstrated that the use of an

>> automated registry cleaner, particularly by an untrained, inexperienced

>> computer user, does any real good, whatsoever. There's certainly been no

>> empirical evidence offered to demonstrate that the use of such products

>> to

>> "clean" WinXP's registry improves a computer's performance or stability.

>> Given the potential for harm, it's just not worth the risk. Granted,

>> most registry "cleaners" won't cause problems each and every

>> time they're used, but the potential for harm is always there. And, since

>> no

>> registry "cleaner" has ever been demonstrated to do any good, whatsoever

>> (think of them like treating the flu with chicken soup - there's no real

>> medicinal value, but it sometimes provides a warming placebo effect), I

>> always tell people that the risks far out-weigh the non-existent

>> benefits. I will concede that a good registry *scanning* tool, in the

>> hands of an

>> experienced and knowledgeable technician or hobbyist can be a useful

>> time-saving diagnostic tool, as long as it's not allowed to make any

>> changes

>> automatically. But I really don't think that there are any registry

>> cleaners that are truly safe for the general public to use. Experience

>> has

>> proven just the opposite: such tools simply are not safe in the hands of

>> the

>> inexperienced user. --

>>

>> Bruce Chambers

>>

>> Help us help you:

>> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

>>

>> 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

Guest Bill in Co.
Posted

Re: Registry Cleaning

 

Thank you. And this is the sanest post in this thread. And presents the

real truth.

 

John Barnett MVP wrote:

> If you are not competent to edit the registry manually, then leave well

> alone.

 

Exactly! And well said. "A word to the wise is sufficient".

(Unfortunately, there are quite a few who are not).

> Third party registry cleaners, sadly, create more problems than they

> actually solve and are best not even considered. Strangely, you could

> probably run your 'third party trial version' on a machine that you have

> just installed Windows XP (or any other version of Windows) on and it

> would

> still come up with over 200 issues.

>

> --

>

> --

> John Barnett MVP

> Associate Expert

> Windows Desktop Experience

>

> Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org

> Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

>

> The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any

> kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,

> reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable

> for

> any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of

> the

> use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this

> mail/post..

>

>

> "Maurice" <Maurice@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:D509256F-BD18-47EF-AB78-D58163A896A4@microsoft.com...

>> Write to inquire if there is some application within XP SP3 to clean the

>> registry and identify problems. A third party trial version indicates

>> that

>> there are over 200 issues. Guidance sought

Guest Kayman
Posted

Re: Registry Cleaning

 

On Sat, 9 Aug 2008 12:09:26 -0500,

databaseben.public.newsgroup.microsoft.com wrote:

> Why do want to sabotage

> peoples computers and

> say not to use Microsoft's

> registry cleaner and other

> system maintenance utilities

> they engineered for

> Windows?

>

It's called 'bowing under customer pressure'!

Most of the users are not very well versed when it comes to the innards of

the Windows NT system.

As you and others may well be aware, the general public is very fair game

of advertisement attacks. When companies advertise their products in

various PC magazines and get "favourable" reviews from the 'in-house'

(so-called) "experts", the unassuming reader will believe this hype without

questioning it; Not realizing that these reviews are driven by the

advertisement dollar (the same applies incidentally to 3rd party firewalls

-PFW- ).

 

Now, the costumer informed by these biased reports want to have these

software (especilally when its 'free' and has an 'attractive' interface and

icon to look at.

 

It is sad that MSFT Marketing Department for inexplicable reasons is

following this trend instead of educating the public about the perils of

these r/cleaners.

Just looking at the additions offered in WLOC makes me wonder if they have

lost the plot.

 

But it is refreshing that at least some knowledgable MVP's are standing up

speaking against the use of these software!

 

IMO, MSFT's software engineers (the people who actually intimitaly know

their products) are often antagonized by their very own Marketing

Department (the people who mostly care about anything but realities); Which

BTW is very common in large companies. One only has to look at Sunbelt (the

makers of Kerio Firewall), the situation is almost identical concerning a

certain software product. But their software engineers actually admitted

the hype created by their advertisement department is nothing but hot air!

 

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>, based on reading some previous posts from you, you seem

knowledgable enough to realize that some 3rd party software applictions are

nothing but snake oil and am surprised (even if they're suported by MSFT)

you're touting this kind product.

You are provoking inessential debates and (in this case) providing a

dis-service to the uninformed readers here!

Posted

Re: Registry Cleaning

 

Gerry wrote:

> Alias

>

> From your link: "Not to worry. Just like Microsoft Word, your PC has an

> "undo" option. In this case, it's called System Restore. Once it's

> finished scanning, the Windows Live Safety scanner creates a System

> Restore point on your PC. This allows you to revert your system to its

> original state, before you performed the scan, in case you inadvertently

> remove any valid registry items."

>

> Microsoft have a lot more confidence in System Restore than many who

> post to these newsgroups. Which side of the fence do you reside Alias? A

> number of well known security programmes prevent System Restore from

> working!

>

> ~~~~

>

>

> Gerry

> ~~~~

> FCA

> Stourport, England

> Enquire, plan and execute

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

The only registry cleaner I use is Crap Cleaner and I use it selectively

to, say, remove crap left over from an uninstall. Other than that, I see

no reason to use them. I wouldn't use NoCare for anything. I just find

it ironic that a lot the MVPs (except Carey Frisch, of course; he's sold

on One Care and a "Vista Enthusiast) are saying that registry cleaners

are snake oil when Microsoft has one of their own.

 

Alias

>

>

> Alias wrote:

>> Ken Blake, MVP wrote:

>>> On Sat, 9 Aug 2008 06:22:01 -0700, Maurice

>>> <Maurice@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>>>

>>>> Write to inquire if there is some application within XP SP3 to

>>>> clean the registry and identify problems.

>>>

>>> No, there isn't, and that's good, not bad.

>>>

>>> Registry cleaning programs are *all* snake oil.

>> Not according to Microsoft:

>>

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

>>

>> Alias

>> 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.

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>> A third party trial version indicates that

>>>> there are over 200 issues. Guidance sought

>>>

>>>

>>> "Issues" that are meaningless, and don't hurt you at all. Ignore

>>> them, and stay far away from all such programs.

>

>

Posted

Re: Registry Cleaning

 

"Alias" <iamalias@gmailREMOVE.com> wrote in message

news:g7lcd8$ka6$1@aioe.org...

> I just find it ironic that a lot the MVPs (except Carey Frisch, of

> course; he's sold on One Care and a "Vista Enthusiast) are saying

> that registry cleaners are snake oil when Microsoft has one of their

> own.

 

Although I understand what you're saying, upon closer consideration,

there is no irony IMO. There is a big difference between the Microsoft

corporation (which has its profit motive and markets its products

accordingly) and users of Microsoft products (who do not share this

motive and are thus more independent). It's sort of like when citizens

of a nation disagree with their government's actions.

Guest Gary S. Terhune
Posted

Re: Registry Cleaning

 

If he isn't, I sure as heck am.

 

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://grystmill.com

 

"Alias" <iamalias@gmailREMOVE.com> wrote in message

news:g7ke6i$eet$2@aioe.org...

> Bruce Chambers wrote:

>> db.·.. ><))) ·>` .. . wrote:

>>> here is a second party

>>> free version:

>>>

>>

>> But it's still just as worthless, and potentially as dangerous, as

>> all 3rd party ones.

>>

>> Please stop deliberately trying to sabotage people's computers.

>>

>

> So you're saying that Microsoft's One Care program will sabotage people's

> computers? Have you notified Microsoft yet?

>

> Alias

Guest Gary S. Terhune
Posted

Re: Registry Cleaning

 

It could cost $500, doesn't matter. *Anything* that claims to be able to

analyze and "clean" or "fix" the Registry is an absolute scam, practically

guaranteed to screw up your system.

 

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://grystmill.com

 

"JS" <@> wrote in message news:%23p0j46i%23IHA.4788@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> Not a good idea.

> Freeware registry cleaners can trash your PC at no cost $$$ to you.

> Those registry cleaner utilities that cost money are best known

> for cleaning your wallet and then trashing your PC.

>

> Example #1

> Ran a scan to count the number of entries in my PC's registry

> Total was over 260,000

> So if a registry cleaner (if it worked properly) removed say 1,000 entries

> that would be less than one half of one percent space savings.

>

> Example #2

> I very recently ran a registry cleaner knowing in advance what some of the

> fixes the cleaner should find and the suggested changes.

> This was based on the fact I had uninstalled an application (knowing it

> would leave some orphaned registry entries) and then reinstalled the same

> application to a different directory location.

>

> The cleaner's default suggested fix for the application's old directory

> location (the orphaned entries) was to change these entries to the new

> location, which was not necessary, so I manually deleted these entries.

>

> Now here is where a registry cleaner could cause a real problem!

> A few months ago I removed a large number but not all of the

> $NtUninstallKBxxxxxx$ folders

> (these are the folders and associated files left behind each time you

> install the latest Windows Updates each month)

> The cleaner reported the broken registry entries but the suggested fix was

> to point the broken registry entries to the remaining $NtUninstall files

> (on a random basis) thus royally screwing up the pointers. By that I mean

> you go to uninstall (in rare cases) a patch that may be giving you

> problems and due to the screwed up registry entry it instead removes the

> wrong patch.

>

> JS

> http://www.pagestart.com

>

>

> "Maurice" <Maurice@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:D509256F-BD18-47EF-AB78-D58163A896A4@microsoft.com...

>> Write to inquire if there is some application within XP SP3 to clean the

>> registry and identify problems. A third party trial version indicates

>> that

>> there are over 200 issues. Guidance sought

>

>

Posted

Re: Registry Cleaning

 

Daave wrote:

> "Alias" <iamalias@gmailREMOVE.com> wrote in message

> news:g7lcd8$ka6$1@aioe.org...

>

>> I just find it ironic that a lot the MVPs (except Carey Frisch, of

>> course; he's sold on One Care and a "Vista Enthusiast) are saying

>> that registry cleaners are snake oil when Microsoft has one of their

>> own.

>

> Although I understand what you're saying, upon closer consideration,

> there is no irony IMO. There is a big difference between the Microsoft

> corporation (which has its profit motive and markets its products

> accordingly) and users of Microsoft products (who do not share this

> motive and are thus more independent). It's sort of like when citizens

> of a nation disagree with their government's actions.

>

>

 

More like subjects that disagree with the monarchy. There aren't any

elections in Redmond. It also confirms my contention that Microsoft not

only doesn't care about their paying customers but holds them in total

disdain.

 

Alias

Posted

Re: Registry Cleaning

 

"Alias" <iamalias@gmailREMOVE.com> wrote in message

news:g7mmn1$ost$2@aioe.org...

> Daave wrote:

>> "Alias" <iamalias@gmailREMOVE.com> wrote in message

>> news:g7lcd8$ka6$1@aioe.org...

>>

>>> I just find it ironic that a lot the MVPs (except Carey Frisch, of

>>> course; he's sold on One Care and a "Vista Enthusiast) are saying

>>> that registry cleaners are snake oil when Microsoft has one of their

>>> own.

>>

>> Although I understand what you're saying, upon closer consideration,

>> there is no irony IMO. There is a big difference between the

>> Microsoft corporation (which has its profit motive and markets its

>> products accordingly) and users of Microsoft products (who do not

>> share this motive and are thus more independent). It's sort of like

>> when citizens of a nation disagree with their government's actions.

>

> More like subjects that disagree with the monarchy. There aren't any

> elections in Redmond. It also confirms my contention that Microsoft

> not only doesn't care about their paying customers but holds them in

> total disdain.

 

A bit hyperbolic, but I would agree that Microsoft cares more about

their profits than their customers. But that's how all corporations

operate. The MVPs care more about Microsoft's customers than Microsoft's

profits, don't you agree?

Guest db.·.. >
Posted

Re: Registry Cleaning

 

you to find a publisher

instead of a windows

newsgroup.

 

in the interim the first

source of information

for windows comes

directly from microsoft.

 

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

 

all others need not

pretend to be experts,

including mvp's.

 

(brown nosing mvp's that

bash the hand that feeds

their egos is unprofessional)

--

 

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

 

 

"Kayman" <kaymanDeleteThis@operamail.com> wrote in message news:OPo3run%23IHA.4196@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> On Sat, 9 Aug 2008 12:09:26 -0500,

> databaseben.public.newsgroup.microsoft.com wrote:

>

>> Why do want to sabotage

>> peoples computers and

>> say not to use Microsoft's

>> registry cleaner and other

>> system maintenance utilities

>> they engineered for

>> Windows?

>>

> It's called 'bowing under customer pressure'!

> Most of the users are not very well versed when it comes to the innards of

> the Windows NT system.

> As you and others may well be aware, the general public is very fair game

> of advertisement attacks. When companies advertise their products in

> various PC magazines and get "favourable" reviews from the 'in-house'

> (so-called) "experts", the unassuming reader will believe this hype without

> questioning it; Not realizing that these reviews are driven by the

> advertisement dollar (the same applies incidentally to 3rd party firewalls

> -PFW- ).

>

> Now, the costumer informed by these biased reports want to have these

> software (especilally when its 'free' and has an 'attractive' interface and

> icon to look at.

>

> It is sad that MSFT Marketing Department for inexplicable reasons is

> following this trend instead of educating the public about the perils of

> these r/cleaners.

> Just looking at the additions offered in WLOC makes me wonder if they have

> lost the plot.

>

> But it is refreshing that at least some knowledgable MVP's are standing up

> speaking against the use of these software!

>

> IMO, MSFT's software engineers (the people who actually intimitaly know

> their products) are often antagonized by their very own Marketing

> Department (the people who mostly care about anything but realities); Which

> BTW is very common in large companies. One only has to look at Sunbelt (the

> makers of Kerio Firewall), the situation is almost identical concerning a

> certain software product. But their software engineers actually admitted

> the hype created by their advertisement department is nothing but hot air!

>

> db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>, based on reading some previous posts from you, you seem

> knowledgable enough to realize that some 3rd party software applictions are

> nothing but snake oil and am surprised (even if they're suported by MSFT)

> you're touting this kind product.

> You are provoking inessential debates and (in this case) providing a

> dis-service to the uninformed readers here!


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