XP Registry - can it get to big ? - need compressing ?

[Guest spring]

I have so many progs installed i've lost count - nearly all desktop gone

 

and my pc is well overdue a rebuild but i was thinking

 

is there any mileage in uninstalling or is there such a concept as

compressing a registry ?

 

 

my pc was running short of space which i've fixed and defragged (diskeeper)

 

thanks

[Guest spring]

Re: XP Registry - can it get to big ? - need compressing ?

 

 

software file in config folder is 41 meg by the way

 

 

 

"spring" <spring@spring.com> wrote in message

news:wAUvj.52$Hm5.6@fe089.usenetserver.com...

 

I have so many progs installed i've lost count - nearly all desktop gone

 

and my pc is well overdue a rebuild but i was thinking

 

is there any mileage in uninstalling or is there such a concept as

compressing a registry ?

 

 

my pc was running short of space which i've fixed and defragged (diskeeper)

 

thanks

[Guest Malke]

Re: XP Registry - can it get to big ? - need compressing ?

 

spring wrote:

>

> software file in config folder is 41 meg by the way

>

>

>

> "spring" <spring@spring.com> wrote in message

> news:wAUvj.52$Hm5.6@fe089.usenetserver.com...

>

> I have so many progs installed i've lost count - nearly all desktop gone

>

> and my pc is well overdue a rebuild but i was thinking

>

> is there any mileage in uninstalling or is there such a concept as

> compressing a registry ?

>

>

> my pc was running short of space which i've fixed and defragged

> (diskeeper)

 

 

Leave the registry alone if you want your Windows install to keep working.

Some basic maintenance tips here:

 

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Maintenance

 

Malke

--

MS-MVP

Elephant Boy Computers

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com

Don't Panic!

[Guest smlunatick]

Re: XP Registry - can it get to big ? - need compressing ?

 

On Feb 23, 7:48 am, "spring" <spr...@spring.com> wrote:

> software file in config folder is 41 meg by the way

>

> "spring" <spr...@spring.com> wrote in message

>

> news:wAUvj.52$Hm5.6@fe089.usenetserver.com...

>

> I have so many progs installed i've lost count - nearly all desktop gone

>

> and my pc is well overdue a rebuild but i was thinking

>

> is there any mileage in uninstalling or is there such a concept as

> compressing a registry ?

>

> my pc was running short of space which i've fixed and defragged (diskeeper)

>

> thanks

 

By cleaning and compressing the Registry, you can, and will, cause

more problems. If you are running out of space, it is better to buy a

larger hard drive and move to Windows to this new drive.

[Guest Ken Blake, MVP]

Re: XP Registry - can it get to big ? - need compressing ?

 

On Sat, 23 Feb 2008 12:46:31 -0000, "spring" <spring@spring.com>

wrote:

>

> I have so many progs installed i've lost count - nearly all desktop gone

>

> and my pc is well overdue a rebuild

 

 

If you mean a clean reinstallation of Windows, I disagree. Windows is

never "*due* to be reinstalled. Reinstallation should be reserved as a

last resort for solving a problem when all other attempts have failed.

> but i was thinking

>

> is there any mileage in uninstalling

 

 

Do you mean uninstalling applications you don't use? You save the disk

space they take up--that's all. It won't improve performance, if

that's what you were hoping for.

 

> or is there such a concept as

> compressing a registry ?

 

 

Entirely unnecessary. Stay far away from all registry compacting or

cleaning programs. They are far more likely to cause a problem than to

solve one.

 

--

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

Please Reply to the Newsgroup

[Guest mikeyhsd]

Re: XP Registry - can it get to big ? - need compressing ?

 

it is a proven fact that windows chews itself up over time and slows down.

 

only way to really over come it is to do a clean install occasionally.

the old excuse of no longer used registry items do not hurt is bogus. they make the file larger and searching takes longer.

 

 

of course the ms kiss ups will disagree.

but too many people from cnet, pcworld etc... agree.

 

having been a windows user since version "1". I know it is true

 

 

 

 

mikeyhsd@sprintpcs.com

 

 

 

"spring" <spring@spring.com> wrote in message news:wAUvj.52$Hm5.6@fe089.usenetserver.com...

 

I have so many progs installed i've lost count - nearly all desktop gone

 

and my pc is well overdue a rebuild but i was thinking

 

is there any mileage in uninstalling or is there such a concept as

compressing a registry ?

 

 

my pc was running short of space which i've fixed and defragged (diskeeper)

 

thanks

[Guest Bruce Chambers]

Re: XP Registry - can it get to big ? - need compressing ?

 

mikeyhsd wrote:

> it is a proven fact that windows chews itself up over time and slows down.

>

 

 

No, that's almost always a lie propagated by lazy people who don't know

how, or can't be bothered, to properly maintain a computer. On

occasion, it's a meaningless mantra mindlessly parroted by the truly

ignorant who are trying to sound informed.

 

> only way to really over come it is to do a clean install occasionally.

 

 

The only valid technical reasons to perform a clean re-installation of

Windows are a hardware failure (most often the hard drive, but, on rare

occasions, the motherboard) or a malware infestation of a critical

system. Period.

 

> the old excuse of no longer used registry items do not hurt is bogus. they make the file larger and searching takes longer.

>

>

 

More proof that you've no idea how Windows and its registry works. The

registry is an indexed database and is not "searched" by the operating

system in normal day-to-day operations; the OS always "knows" exactly

where to access the data needed at any given time. The only times the

registry is searched are when is one is troubleshooting a registry

problem, or when one uses one of those snake oil registry "cleaners" to

undermine system integrity. In either case, a few additional

nanoseconds won't be noticeable to the individual.

 

> of course the ms kiss ups will disagree.

 

 

So will any technically competent and experienced hobbyist, technician,

or IT professional.

 

> but too many people from cnet, pcworld etc... agree.

>

 

So you'd take the technical advice of journalists supported by

advertising over that of people who actually work on computers everyday?

Your vast experience (Or rather, the experience you've unbelievably

claimed below) should have taught you better.

 

> having been a windows user since version "1". I know it is true

>

 

I seriously doubt that. First of all, it's unlikely you've been around

that long. You've certainly not displayed any significant degree of

maturity. (Not to put too fine a point on it, you write as if you're a

14-year-old sneaking computer time when his parents are out of the

house.) Secondly, you've never, ever posted anything to indicate that

you've the slightest familiarity with computers in general or any

operating system, in particular. I find it impossible to believe that

anyone can be so utterly incapable as to have years of purported

experience with computers and yet remain so utterly uninformed. Just so

you'll know for future reference, there was no such thing as a Windows

registry until Win95; earlier versions of Windows weren't even operating

systems.

 

 

--

 

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 (PeteCresswell)]

Re: XP Registry - can it get to big ? - need compressing ?

 

Per Bruce Chambers:

>The only valid technical reasons to perform a clean re-installation of

>Windows are a hardware failure (most often the hard drive, but, on rare

>occasions, the motherboard) or a malware infestation of a critical

>system. Period.

 

Let a 13-year-old pound on your PC couple hours a day for a

month.

 

Then come back and tell me there isn't at least one other

reason.... -)

--

PeteCresswell

[Guest Doug W.]

Re: XP Registry - can it get to big ? - need compressing ?

 

 

"mikeyhsd" <mikeyhsd@sprintpcs.com> wrote in message news:eYqDwujdIHA.2404@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

it is a proven fact that windows chews itself up over time and slows down.

 

-Never found it to be so.

 

only way to really over come it is to do a clean install occasionally.

the old excuse of no longer used registry items do not hurt is bogus. they make the file larger and searching takes longer.

 

-Never found this to be so.

 

of course the ms kiss ups will disagree.

but too many people from cnet, pcworld etc... agree.

 

-Never found CNET and PCWorld to be right most of the time.

 

having been a windows user since version "1". I know it is true

-

-With proper maintenance, the system should run perfectly smooth as it did on day one.

-I have not had to re-install Win XP yet and it is very perky and I have many, many programs installed.

-

Doug W.

------------

 

 

 

 

mikeyhsd@sprintpcs.com

 

 

 

"spring" <spring@spring.com> wrote in message news:wAUvj.52$Hm5.6@fe089.usenetserver.com...

 

I have so many progs installed i've lost count - nearly all desktop gone

 

and my pc is well overdue a rebuild but i was thinking

 

is there any mileage in uninstalling or is there such a concept as

compressing a registry ?

 

 

my pc was running short of space which i've fixed and defragged (diskeeper)

 

thanks

[Guest mikeyhsd]

Re: XP Registry - can it get to big ? - need compressing ?

 

like I said the MS kiss ups will deny it happens.

 

thats why everyone who does a fresh install claims their system speeds up. till enough times go by that it starts slowing down again.

 

 

 

--

 

mikeyhsd@sprintpcs.com

 

 

 

"Bruce Chambers" <bchambers@cable0ne.n3t> wrote in message news:OtqmiBkdIHA.5208@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

mikeyhsd wrote:

> it is a proven fact that windows chews itself up over time and slows down.

>

 

 

No, that's almost always a lie propagated by lazy people who don't know

how, or can't be bothered, to properly maintain a computer. On

occasion, it's a meaningless mantra mindlessly parroted by the truly

ignorant who are trying to sound informed.

 

> only way to really over come it is to do a clean install occasionally.

 

 

The only valid technical reasons to perform a clean re-installation of

Windows are a hardware failure (most often the hard drive, but, on rare

occasions, the motherboard) or a malware infestation of a critical

system. Period.

 

> the old excuse of no longer used registry items do not hurt is bogus. they make the file larger and searching takes longer.

>

>

 

More proof that you've no idea how Windows and its registry works. The

registry is an indexed database and is not "searched" by the operating

system in normal day-to-day operations; the OS always "knows" exactly

where to access the data needed at any given time. The only times the

registry is searched are when is one is troubleshooting a registry

problem, or when one uses one of those snake oil registry "cleaners" to

undermine system integrity. In either case, a few additional

nanoseconds won't be noticeable to the individual.

 

> of course the ms kiss ups will disagree.

 

 

So will any technically competent and experienced hobbyist, technician,

or IT professional.

 

> but too many people from cnet, pcworld etc... agree.

>

 

So you'd take the technical advice of journalists supported by

advertising over that of people who actually work on computers everyday?

Your vast experience (Or rather, the experience you've unbelievably

claimed below) should have taught you better.

 

> having been a windows user since version "1". I know it is true

>

 

I seriously doubt that. First of all, it's unlikely you've been around

that long. You've certainly not displayed any significant degree of

maturity. (Not to put too fine a point on it, you write as if you're a

14-year-old sneaking computer time when his parents are out of the

house.) Secondly, you've never, ever posted anything to indicate that

you've the slightest familiarity with computers in general or any

operating system, in particular. I find it impossible to believe that

anyone can be so utterly incapable as to have years of purported

experience with computers and yet remain so utterly uninformed. Just so

you'll know for future reference, there was no such thing as a Windows

registry until Win95; earlier versions of Windows weren't even operating

systems.

 

 

--

 

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]

Re: XP Registry - can it get to big ? - need compressing ?

 

(PeteCresswell) wrote:

> Per Bruce Chambers:

>> The only valid technical reasons to perform a clean re-installation of

>> Windows are a hardware failure (most often the hard drive, but, on rare

>> occasions, the motherboard) or a malware infestation of a critical

>> system. Period.

>

> Let a 13-year-old pound on your PC couple hours a day for a

> month.

>

> Then come back and tell me there isn't at least one other

> reason.... -)

 

 

Not at all. One need only teach the teenager proper computing habits.

(I know, I'm a single parent, though my son is now well past 13.)

 

 

--

 

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