Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

[Guest voujnbwuotkd@yahoo.com]

The registry is a very sensitive component of the windows operating

system which can most often be the core of any problems you may

experience. The reason why is because it contains very important

information about your computers hardware and software configurations

which are stored in the form of registry keys. So basically every time

you decide to add or remove software or upgrade hardware, those

relevant entries in the registry will change.This causes it to become

"clogged up" and will eventually lead to problems with functionality

of programs and general performances.

It would be great if computers would constantly function as if they

were new, but unfortunately as time passes the average pc user will

install and remove various software from their pc causing problems. We

all know what a pain it can be when a computer starts acting sluggish

and won't respond to certain actions we give and this can be sorted

out by using registry cleaners. There are quite a few of these

software programs available for download on the internet of which some

will perform better than others. I would like to briefly review one of

them which has been voted as the top registry cleaner available on the

net. It's called Reg Cure....

 

Registry Repair: http://groups.google.com/group/regrepairsbv

[Guest Gary S. Terhune]

DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

ALL registry cleaners are VERY dangerous to your system, and will actually

FIX a problem, even just "slowness", approximately NEVER.

 

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.grystmill.com

[Guest PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

SPAM!

 

Think your Registry needs "cleaning" or "repairing"? Read

http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=28099 and draw your own conclusions.

--

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)

MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002

AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net

DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

[Guest letterman@invalid.com]

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

On Mon, 5 May 2008 08:54:57 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote:

>ALL registry cleaners are VERY dangerous to your system, and will actually

>FIX a problem, even just "slowness", approximately NEVER.

 

I run Regseeker regularly and never had a problem. I have never seen

it fix any problems, but it does remove a lot of useless junk.

Without such programs, it seems to me that the registry would get so

huge that it would be crash prone. For example, lets say I created a

folder called "JUNK". I used that folder to temporarily place a bunch

of things I find on my hard drive, which are everything from text, or

Wordpad notes, to downloaded pictures, file downloads, etc. Then I

begin sorting out the junk, and use winzip to open many of the

downloads, and some photo viewer to look at the pictures, and Wordpad

to look at many of the notes. ALL of these things are documented in

the registry. Wordpad, Winzip, Photo Viewers all store "recently

opened files".

 

Eventually I get everything put on a CD or other media and I delete

the "Junk" folder. Then I remove several of the demo downloads I

tried.

 

Running Regseeker finds multiple references to that JUNK folder,

references to Winzip, Wordpad, etc opening files, and many things

relating to the demos I tried and removed. All of that is removed

from the registry, thus keeping it small and clean. Of course I

always read what is being cleaned (removed). 99.9% of the time it's

just this old stuff that is not needed or wanted.

 

So how can you say that Reg cleaners are dangerous and should not be

used. I do agree to be careful what is being removed, but without

them the registry will become a pile of useless garbage.

[Guest philo]

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

 

<letterman@invalid.com> wrote in message

news:1uku145tld6kusvbhp5hj9r48d4o7tolej@4ax.com...

> On Mon, 5 May 2008 08:54:57 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote:

>

> >ALL registry cleaners are VERY dangerous to your system, and will

actually

> >FIX a problem, even just "slowness", approximately NEVER.

>

> I run Regseeker regularly and never had a problem. I have never seen

> it fix any problems, but it does remove a lot of useless junk.

> Without such programs, it seems to me that the registry would get so

> huge that it would be crash prone. For example, lets say I created a

> folder called "JUNK". I used that folder to temporarily place a bunch

> of things I find on my hard drive, which are everything from text, or

> Wordpad notes, to downloaded pictures, file downloads, etc. Then I

> begin sorting out the junk, and use winzip to open many of the

> downloads, and some photo viewer to look at the pictures, and Wordpad

> to look at many of the notes. ALL of these things are documented in

> the registry. Wordpad, Winzip, Photo Viewers all store "recently

> opened files".

>

 

 

<snip>

 

I agree with Gary Terhune 100% .

 

Sure, you could run the cleaner and maybe it would not hurt anything...

and perhaps it would remove a few un-needed registry keys...

but from running Windows...you'd not notice any difference in performance.

 

 

Could someone please give me a good estimate of how many registry entries

that would be likely to exist and a typical Win98 installation???

 

 

I usually tell folks something like this:

 

What is removing a few un-needed registry keys going to do...

when your registry has perhaps 10,000 entries or more?

 

 

(That 10,000 figure was just a guess on my part...and I must say it was an

un-educated one.)

 

BTW: Since I often play with old, junk machines I have tested a number of

registry cleaners

and at least a few times, they *did *do some minor damage...

I'm sure they could potentially do some real damage.

[Guest Bill in Co.]

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

letterman@invalid.com wrote:

> On Mon, 5 May 2008 08:54:57 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote:

>

>> ALL registry cleaners are VERY dangerous to your system, and will

>> actually

>> FIX a problem, even just "slowness", approximately NEVER.

>

> I run Regseeker regularly and never had a problem. I have never seen

> it fix any problems, but it does remove a lot of useless junk.

> Without such programs, it seems to me that the registry would get so

> huge that it would be crash prone. For example, lets say I created a

> folder called "JUNK". I used that folder to temporarily place a bunch

> of things I find on my hard drive, which are everything from text, or

> Wordpad notes, to downloaded pictures, file downloads, etc. Then I

> begin sorting out the junk, and use winzip to open many of the

> downloads, and some photo viewer to look at the pictures, and Wordpad

> to look at many of the notes. ALL of these things are documented in

> the registry. Wordpad, Winzip, Photo Viewers all store "recently

> opened files".

>

> Eventually I get everything put on a CD or other media and I delete

> the "Junk" folder. Then I remove several of the demo downloads I tried.

>

> Running Regseeker finds multiple references to that JUNK folder,

> references to Winzip, Wordpad, etc opening files, and many things

> relating to the demos I tried and removed. All of that is removed

> from the registry, thus keeping it small and clean. Of course I

> always read what is being cleaned (removed). 99.9% of the time it's

> just this old stuff that is not needed or wanted.

>

> So how can you say that Reg cleaners are dangerous and should not be

> used.

 

Because he (and a few others here) know what they're talking about.

> I do agree to be careful what is being removed, but without

> them the registry will become a pile of useless garbage.

 

Nonsense.

[Guest MEB]

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

Ah gosh I hate to do this, BUT,,,,

 

As we all know, the registry can become quite bloated with entries which

relate to nothing of value, from MRU lists to applications which fill the

registry with open files which no longer exist, to applications supposedly

removed but actually leave, at times, countless worthless entries; to any

number of other things which aren't need, or may have somehow been changed

at sometime.

We also know or should know that the registry will FAIL or be prone to

failure after exceeding a certain size [parsing issues].... which then

becomes an issue which may affect recoverability in a time of crisis.

 

All the MVP that I have observed here, have, at some time, posted methods

to clean errant registry entries, compact the registry, and otherwise work

upon the registry... They also have repeatedly advised, when confronted with

ghost entries, bad drivers or applications or otherwise,, advised HOW to

*manually* search the registry to *clean it*.

 

I personally have used [and still use] several tools to clean the registry,

which IF PROPERLY USED can be relied upon to make a system lean and mean,,,

but the key is PROPERLY USED... ANY use of a cleaner should be taken with *a

grain of salt*. AUTOMATIC cleaning is not a good idea. IF the user is

unfamiliar with the registry, then damage will likely occur. IF, on the

other hand, the user familiarizes theirselves with the registry, makes an

effort to first increase their knowledge of the entries by searching first

to see if they ARE un-needed PRIOR to removal, then the desired results can

be achieved.

 

Never overlook the KEY, that personal knowledge and understanding is YOUR

responsibility. OR stay away from these cleaners as they MIGHT cause more

harm than good.

 

These things ARE after all, relied upon quite heavily during cleanup

activities from SpyWare, Virus, and other such activities...

 

--

MEB http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com

--

_________

 

 

"Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message

news:O18TzSurIHA.5060@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

| letterman@invalid.com wrote:

| > On Mon, 5 May 2008 08:54:57 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote:

| >

| >> ALL registry cleaners are VERY dangerous to your system, and will

| >> actually

| >> FIX a problem, even just "slowness", approximately NEVER.

| >

| > I run Regseeker regularly and never had a problem. I have never seen

| > it fix any problems, but it does remove a lot of useless junk.

| > Without such programs, it seems to me that the registry would get so

| > huge that it would be crash prone. For example, lets say I created a

| > folder called "JUNK". I used that folder to temporarily place a bunch

| > of things I find on my hard drive, which are everything from text, or

| > Wordpad notes, to downloaded pictures, file downloads, etc. Then I

| > begin sorting out the junk, and use winzip to open many of the

| > downloads, and some photo viewer to look at the pictures, and Wordpad

| > to look at many of the notes. ALL of these things are documented in

| > the registry. Wordpad, Winzip, Photo Viewers all store "recently

| > opened files".

| >

| > Eventually I get everything put on a CD or other media and I delete

| > the "Junk" folder. Then I remove several of the demo downloads I tried.

| >

| > Running Regseeker finds multiple references to that JUNK folder,

| > references to Winzip, Wordpad, etc opening files, and many things

| > relating to the demos I tried and removed. All of that is removed

| > from the registry, thus keeping it small and clean. Of course I

| > always read what is being cleaned (removed). 99.9% of the time it's

| > just this old stuff that is not needed or wanted.

| >

| > So how can you say that Reg cleaners are dangerous and should not be

| > used.

|

| Because he (and a few others here) know what they're talking about.

|

| > I do agree to be careful what is being removed, but without

| > them the registry will become a pile of useless garbage.

|

| Nonsense.

|

|

[Guest philo]

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

 

"MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:OnaPSovrIHA.3616@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> Ah gosh I hate to do this, BUT,,,,

>

> As we all know, the registry can become quite bloated with entries which

> relate to nothing of value, from MRU lists to applications which fill the

> registry with open files which no longer exist, to applications supposedly

> removed but actually leave, at times, countless worthless entries; to any

> number of other things which aren't need, or may have somehow been changed

> at sometime.

> We also know or should know that the registry will FAIL or be prone to

> failure after exceeding a certain size [parsing issues].... which then

> becomes an issue which may affect recoverability in a time of crisis.

>

> All the MVP that I have observed here, have, at some time, posted methods

> to clean errant registry entries, compact the registry, and otherwise work

> upon the registry... They also have repeatedly advised, when confronted

with

> ghost entries, bad drivers or applications or otherwise,, advised HOW to

> *manually* search the registry to *clean it*.

>

> I personally have used [and still use] several tools to clean the

registry,

> which IF PROPERLY USED can be relied upon to make a system lean and

mean,,,

> but the key is PROPERLY USED... ANY use of a cleaner should be taken with

*a

> grain of salt*. AUTOMATIC cleaning is not a good idea. IF the user is

> unfamiliar with the registry, then damage will likely occur. IF, on the

> other hand, the user familiarizes theirselves with the registry, makes an

> effort to first increase their knowledge of the entries by searching first

> to see if they ARE un-needed PRIOR to removal, then the desired results

can

> be achieved.

>

> Never overlook the KEY, that personal knowledge and understanding is YOUR

> responsibility. OR stay away from these cleaners as they MIGHT cause more

> harm than good.

>

> These things ARE after all, relied upon quite heavily during cleanup

> activities from SpyWare, Virus, and other such activities...

>

 

 

Sure...as long as you know what you are doing...

or have expert help...manual deletion may sometimes be needed.

 

That said...it is still not a good idea to trust a registry utility.

 

If one really knows what they are doing...one probably could use such a

utility

with such a level of cognizance as to do some good...

however...one with sufficient skills to use a registry utility

judiciously...

would have the skills to simply manually delete problematic keys.

[Guest Bill in Co.]

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

philo wrote:

> "MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com> wrote in message

> news:OnaPSovrIHA.3616@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

>> Ah gosh I hate to do this, BUT,,,,

>>

>> As we all know, the registry can become quite bloated with entries which

>> relate to nothing of value, from MRU lists to applications which fill the

>> registry with open files which no longer exist, to applications

>> supposedly

>> removed but actually leave, at times, countless worthless entries; to any

>> number of other things which aren't need, or may have somehow been

>> changed

>> at sometime.

>> We also know or should know that the registry will FAIL or be prone to

>> failure after exceeding a certain size [parsing issues].... which then

>> becomes an issue which may affect recoverability in a time of crisis.

>>

>> All the MVP that I have observed here, have, at some time, posted

>> methods

>> to clean errant registry entries, compact the registry, and otherwise

>> work

>> upon the registry... They also have repeatedly advised, when confronted

>> with

>> ghost entries, bad drivers or applications or otherwise,, advised HOW to

>> *manually* search the registry to *clean it*.

>>

>> I personally have used [and still use] several tools to clean the

>> registry,

>> which IF PROPERLY USED can be relied upon to make a system lean and

>> mean,,,

>> but the key is PROPERLY USED... ANY use of a cleaner should be taken with

>> >> *a grain of salt*. AUTOMATIC cleaning is not a good idea. IF the user

>> is

>> unfamiliar with the registry, then damage will likely occur. IF, on the

>> other hand, the user familiarizes theirselves with the registry, makes an

>> effort to first increase their knowledge of the entries by searching

>> first

>> to see if they ARE un-needed PRIOR to removal, then the desired results

>> can

>> be achieved.

>>

>> Never overlook the KEY, that personal knowledge and understanding is

>> YOUR

>> responsibility. OR stay away from these cleaners as they MIGHT cause more

>> harm than good.

>>

>> These things ARE after all, relied upon quite heavily during cleanup

>> activities from SpyWare, Virus, and other such activities...

>>

>

>

> Sure...as long as you know what you are doing...

> or have expert help...manual deletion may sometimes be needed.

>

> That said...it is still not a good idea to trust a registry utility.

>

> If one really knows what they are doing...one probably could use such a

> utility with such a level of cognizance as to do some good...

> however...one with sufficient skills to use a registry utility

> judiciously...

> would have the skills to simply manually delete problematic keys.

 

Yup.

And as I've said before, if you aren't comfortable with regedit, you really

have no business messing with the registry with any of those "registry

cleaning" utilities.

 

Or, to put it another way, "a word to the wise is sufficient".

[Guest Gary S. Terhune]

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

You are absolutely wrong. MRU entries in the Registry are automatically

limited in number at some point and the lists become FIFO in nature. All

told, the MRUs add up to a miniscule amount of data, and removing them does

not help your system run better, not one bit. Now, if you're *paranoid* and

don't want those things in there, there are much better ways to go about

keeping them gone. As far as not breaking your system, HOW DO YOU KNOW?!?!?

Does your system run perfectly, with no hitches? Never any hiccup, never any

blue screens, etc., etc. How about just taking another five seconds to load

the first time you reboot or reload an app, while it RE-WRITES what your

stupid cleaner just removed? IOW, programs FIXING themselves after your

cleaner screws them up?

 

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.grystmill.com

 

<letterman@invalid.com> wrote in message

news:1uku145tld6kusvbhp5hj9r48d4o7tolej@4ax.com...

> On Mon, 5 May 2008 08:54:57 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote:

>

>>ALL registry cleaners are VERY dangerous to your system, and will actually

>>FIX a problem, even just "slowness", approximately NEVER.

>

> I run Regseeker regularly and never had a problem. I have never seen

> it fix any problems, but it does remove a lot of useless junk.

> Without such programs, it seems to me that the registry would get so

> huge that it would be crash prone. For example, lets say I created a

> folder called "JUNK". I used that folder to temporarily place a bunch

> of things I find on my hard drive, which are everything from text, or

> Wordpad notes, to downloaded pictures, file downloads, etc. Then I

> begin sorting out the junk, and use winzip to open many of the

> downloads, and some photo viewer to look at the pictures, and Wordpad

> to look at many of the notes. ALL of these things are documented in

> the registry. Wordpad, Winzip, Photo Viewers all store "recently

> opened files".

>

> Eventually I get everything put on a CD or other media and I delete

> the "Junk" folder. Then I remove several of the demo downloads I

> tried.

>

> Running Regseeker finds multiple references to that JUNK folder,

> references to Winzip, Wordpad, etc opening files, and many things

> relating to the demos I tried and removed. All of that is removed

> from the registry, thus keeping it small and clean. Of course I

> always read what is being cleaned (removed). 99.9% of the time it's

> just this old stuff that is not needed or wanted.

>

> So how can you say that Reg cleaners are dangerous and should not be

> used. I do agree to be careful what is being removed, but without

> them the registry will become a pile of useless garbage.

[Guest Gary S. Terhune]

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

Please provide documentation of Registry bloat causing any significant

failures". Only such thing I've heard of is SCANREG /FIX failing to run on a

large Registry. BFD.

 

Yes, sometimes the Registry needs work, usually after a wide-spread disaster

involving the user doing something that shouldn't have been done, but only

an expert is likely to know for sure, and while tools *might* locate a few

of those entries, you know better than most, I think, how much of any real

Registry *REPAIR*, as opposed to "cleaning", is a painstaking MANUAL search

and research procedure that few if any tools do well at all.

 

I used them regularly for several years, to find "crap" and delete it,

ALWAYS having to refuse the deletion of some things I had learned weren't a

good idea to remove (or were unimportant MRUs, etc.), and after many years

of such experience, I arrived at the stance I take now. I've never once had

any success helping anyone else by having them run any Registry tools,

whereas I have several times dealt with people who were screwed by their

Registry tools, even the same ones I'd been using and thought were

"idiot-proof".

 

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.grystmill.com

 

 

"MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:OnaPSovrIHA.3616@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> Ah gosh I hate to do this, BUT,,,,

>

> As we all know, the registry can become quite bloated with entries which

> relate to nothing of value, from MRU lists to applications which fill the

> registry with open files which no longer exist, to applications supposedly

> removed but actually leave, at times, countless worthless entries; to any

> number of other things which aren't need, or may have somehow been changed

> at sometime.

> We also know or should know that the registry will FAIL or be prone to

> failure after exceeding a certain size [parsing issues].... which then

> becomes an issue which may affect recoverability in a time of crisis.

>

> All the MVP that I have observed here, have, at some time, posted methods

> to clean errant registry entries, compact the registry, and otherwise work

> upon the registry... They also have repeatedly advised, when confronted

> with

> ghost entries, bad drivers or applications or otherwise,, advised HOW to

> *manually* search the registry to *clean it*.

>

> I personally have used [and still use] several tools to clean the

> registry,

> which IF PROPERLY USED can be relied upon to make a system lean and

> mean,,,

> but the key is PROPERLY USED... ANY use of a cleaner should be taken with

> *a

> grain of salt*. AUTOMATIC cleaning is not a good idea. IF the user is

> unfamiliar with the registry, then damage will likely occur. IF, on the

> other hand, the user familiarizes theirselves with the registry, makes an

> effort to first increase their knowledge of the entries by searching first

> to see if they ARE un-needed PRIOR to removal, then the desired results

> can

> be achieved.

>

> Never overlook the KEY, that personal knowledge and understanding is YOUR

> responsibility. OR stay away from these cleaners as they MIGHT cause more

> harm than good.

>

> These things ARE after all, relied upon quite heavily during cleanup

> activities from SpyWare, Virus, and other such activities...

>

> --

> MEB http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com

> --

> _________

>

>

> "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message

> news:O18TzSurIHA.5060@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> | letterman@invalid.com wrote:

> | > On Mon, 5 May 2008 08:54:57 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote:

> | >

> | >> ALL registry cleaners are VERY dangerous to your system, and will

> | >> actually

> | >> FIX a problem, even just "slowness", approximately NEVER.

> | >

> | > I run Regseeker regularly and never had a problem. I have never seen

> | > it fix any problems, but it does remove a lot of useless junk.

> | > Without such programs, it seems to me that the registry would get so

> | > huge that it would be crash prone. For example, lets say I created a

> | > folder called "JUNK". I used that folder to temporarily place a bunch

> | > of things I find on my hard drive, which are everything from text, or

> | > Wordpad notes, to downloaded pictures, file downloads, etc. Then I

> | > begin sorting out the junk, and use winzip to open many of the

> | > downloads, and some photo viewer to look at the pictures, and Wordpad

> | > to look at many of the notes. ALL of these things are documented in

> | > the registry. Wordpad, Winzip, Photo Viewers all store "recently

> | > opened files".

> | >

> | > Eventually I get everything put on a CD or other media and I delete

> | > the "Junk" folder. Then I remove several of the demo downloads I

> tried.

> | >

> | > Running Regseeker finds multiple references to that JUNK folder,

> | > references to Winzip, Wordpad, etc opening files, and many things

> | > relating to the demos I tried and removed. All of that is removed

> | > from the registry, thus keeping it small and clean. Of course I

> | > always read what is being cleaned (removed). 99.9% of the time it's

> | > just this old stuff that is not needed or wanted.

> | >

> | > So how can you say that Reg cleaners are dangerous and should not be

> | > used.

> |

> | Because he (and a few others here) know what they're talking about.

> |

> | > I do agree to be careful what is being removed, but without

> | > them the registry will become a pile of useless garbage.

> |

> | Nonsense.

> |

> |

>

>

[Guest glee]

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

> letterman wrote ...

>>

>> I run Regseeker regularly and never had a problem.

>> snip

 

That's the same logic as saying:

"I always smoke cigarettes while I pump gasoline, and I never caused an explosion"

;-)

--

Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+

http://dts-l.net/

http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm

[Guest Gary S. Terhune]

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

Hey, I resemble that argument!

 

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.grystmill.com

 

"glee" <glee29@spamindspring.com> wrote in message

news:%23b$mU$xrIHA.4228@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>> letterman wrote ...

>>>

>>> I run Regseeker regularly and never had a problem.

>>> snip

>

> That's the same logic as saying:

> "I always smoke cigarettes while I pump gasoline, and I never caused an

> explosion"

> ;-)

> --

> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+

> http://dts-l.net/

> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm

>

[Guest Bill in Co.]

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

glee wrote:

>> letterman wrote ...

>>>

>>> I run Regseeker regularly and never had a problem.

>>> snip

>

> That's the same logic as saying:

> "I always smoke cigarettes while I pump gasoline, and I never caused an

> explosion" ;-)

 

Actually, it would almost be funny, if it weren't so sadly true - and

pathetic.

[Guest MEB]

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

I'll put the response here, rather than go through all the postings for

individual responses...

 

Locating the issue areas is the primary purpose for which I use the

programs for, though I have tested them extensively, which is why I caution

not to use the auto cleanup.

 

But for the rest, I suggest a perusal through the archives of this group;

remind the parties of their postings; and direct to the SpyWare and Virus

removal forums and sites.

These tools [ccleaner, regseeker, and others] are used regularly during the

process. Granted, under the guidance of people familiar with them and the

registry, but certainly are used far more often than suggesting manual

editing. Moreover, who in here, doesn't have their favorite regedit addin or

replacement that they use because of the limited capabilities of the basic

regedit. Is there anyone still that far in the mud?

 

So my statement stands, careful application of these cleaners can be of

use, but not to those who fail to take the time to understand them.

 

--

MEB http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com

--

_________

 

"Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message

news:uJJ8wpwrIHA.4952@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

| Please provide documentation of Registry bloat causing any significant

| failures". Only such thing I've heard of is SCANREG /FIX failing to run on

a

| large Registry. BFD.

|

| Yes, sometimes the Registry needs work, usually after a wide-spread

disaster

| involving the user doing something that shouldn't have been done, but only

| an expert is likely to know for sure, and while tools *might* locate a few

| of those entries, you know better than most, I think, how much of any real

| Registry *REPAIR*, as opposed to "cleaning", is a painstaking MANUAL

search

| and research procedure that few if any tools do well at all.

|

| I used them regularly for several years, to find "crap" and delete it,

| ALWAYS having to refuse the deletion of some things I had learned weren't

a

| good idea to remove (or were unimportant MRUs, etc.), and after many years

| of such experience, I arrived at the stance I take now. I've never once

had

| any success helping anyone else by having them run any Registry tools,

| whereas I have several times dealt with people who were screwed by their

| Registry tools, even the same ones I'd been using and thought were

| "idiot-proof".

|

| --

| Gary S. Terhune

| MS-MVP Shell/User

| http://www.grystmill.com

|

|

| "MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com> wrote in message

| news:OnaPSovrIHA.3616@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

| > Ah gosh I hate to do this, BUT,,,,

| >

| > As we all know, the registry can become quite bloated with entries which

| > relate to nothing of value, from MRU lists to applications which fill

the

| > registry with open files which no longer exist, to applications

supposedly

| > removed but actually leave, at times, countless worthless entries; to

any

| > number of other things which aren't need, or may have somehow been

changed

| > at sometime.

| > We also know or should know that the registry will FAIL or be prone to

| > failure after exceeding a certain size [parsing issues].... which then

| > becomes an issue which may affect recoverability in a time of crisis.

| >

| > All the MVP that I have observed here, have, at some time, posted

methods

| > to clean errant registry entries, compact the registry, and otherwise

work

| > upon the registry... They also have repeatedly advised, when confronted

| > with

| > ghost entries, bad drivers or applications or otherwise,, advised HOW to

| > *manually* search the registry to *clean it*.

| >

| > I personally have used [and still use] several tools to clean the

| > registry,

| > which IF PROPERLY USED can be relied upon to make a system lean and

| > mean,,,

| > but the key is PROPERLY USED... ANY use of a cleaner should be taken

with

| > *a

| > grain of salt*. AUTOMATIC cleaning is not a good idea. IF the user is

| > unfamiliar with the registry, then damage will likely occur. IF, on the

| > other hand, the user familiarizes theirselves with the registry, makes

an

| > effort to first increase their knowledge of the entries by searching

first

| > to see if they ARE un-needed PRIOR to removal, then the desired results

| > can

| > be achieved.

| >

| > Never overlook the KEY, that personal knowledge and understanding is

YOUR

| > responsibility. OR stay away from these cleaners as they MIGHT cause

more

| > harm than good.

| >

| > These things ARE after all, relied upon quite heavily during cleanup

| > activities from SpyWare, Virus, and other such activities...

| >

| > --

| > MEB http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com

| > --

| > _________

| >

| >

| > "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message

| > news:O18TzSurIHA.5060@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

| > | letterman@invalid.com wrote:

| > | > On Mon, 5 May 2008 08:54:57 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote:

| > | >

| > | >> ALL registry cleaners are VERY dangerous to your system, and will

| > | >> actually

| > | >> FIX a problem, even just "slowness", approximately NEVER.

| > | >

| > | > I run Regseeker regularly and never had a problem. I have never

seen

| > | > it fix any problems, but it does remove a lot of useless junk.

| > | > Without such programs, it seems to me that the registry would get so

| > | > huge that it would be crash prone. For example, lets say I created

a

| > | > folder called "JUNK". I used that folder to temporarily place a

bunch

| > | > of things I find on my hard drive, which are everything from text,

or

| > | > Wordpad notes, to downloaded pictures, file downloads, etc. Then I

| > | > begin sorting out the junk, and use winzip to open many of the

| > | > downloads, and some photo viewer to look at the pictures, and

Wordpad

| > | > to look at many of the notes. ALL of these things are documented in

| > | > the registry. Wordpad, Winzip, Photo Viewers all store "recently

| > | > opened files".

| > | >

| > | > Eventually I get everything put on a CD or other media and I delete

| > | > the "Junk" folder. Then I remove several of the demo downloads I

| > tried.

| > | >

| > | > Running Regseeker finds multiple references to that JUNK folder,

| > | > references to Winzip, Wordpad, etc opening files, and many things

| > | > relating to the demos I tried and removed. All of that is removed

| > | > from the registry, thus keeping it small and clean. Of course I

| > | > always read what is being cleaned (removed). 99.9% of the time it's

| > | > just this old stuff that is not needed or wanted.

| > | >

| > | > So how can you say that Reg cleaners are dangerous and should not be

| > | > used.

| > |

| > | Because he (and a few others here) know what they're talking about.

| > |

| > | > I do agree to be careful what is being removed, but without

| > | > them the registry will become a pile of useless garbage.

| > |

| > | Nonsense.

| > |

| > |

| >

| >

|

[Guest Bill in Co.]

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

MEB wrote:

> I'll put the response here, rather than go through all the postings for

> individual responses...

>

> Locating the issue areas is the primary purpose for which I use the

> programs for, though I have tested them extensively, which is why I

> caution

> not to use the auto cleanup.

>

> But for the rest, I suggest a perusal through the archives of this group;

> remind the parties of their postings; and direct to the SpyWare and Virus

> removal forums and sites.

> These tools [ccleaner, regseeker, and others] are used regularly during

> the

> process. Granted, under the guidance of people familiar with them and the

> registry, but certainly are used far more often than suggesting manual

> editing. Moreover, who in here, doesn't have their favorite regedit addin

> or

> replacement that they use because of the limited capabilities of the basic

> regedit. Is there anyone still that far in the mud?

>

> So my statement stands, careful application of these cleaners can be of

> use, but not to those who fail to take the time to understand them.

 

Which also means they have used regedit and do some manual editing, at least

at some point. (If they haven't, they won't have the understanding,

wisdom, and prudence necessary to responsibly use (and not misuse) any of

these "registry cleaner" utilities).

 

Or, to put it another way: one must first learn to walk, before one can

run.

 

> --

> MEB http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com

> --

> _________

>

> "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message

> news:uJJ8wpwrIHA.4952@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

>> Please provide documentation of Registry bloat causing any significant

>> failures". Only such thing I've heard of is SCANREG /FIX failing to run

>> on a

>> large Registry. BFD.

>>

>> Yes, sometimes the Registry needs work, usually after a wide-spread

>> disaster

>> involving the user doing something that shouldn't have been done, but

>> only

>> an expert is likely to know for sure, and while tools *might* locate a

>> few

>> of those entries, you know better than most, I think, how much of any

>> real

>> Registry *REPAIR*, as opposed to "cleaning", is a painstaking MANUAL

>> search

>> and research procedure that few if any tools do well at all.

>>

>> I used them regularly for several years, to find "crap" and delete it,

>> ALWAYS having to refuse the deletion of some things I had learned weren't

>> a

>> good idea to remove (or were unimportant MRUs, etc.), and after many

>> years

>> of such experience, I arrived at the stance I take now. I've never once

>> had

>> any success helping anyone else by having them run any Registry tools,

>> whereas I have several times dealt with people who were screwed by their

>> Registry tools, even the same ones I'd been using and thought were

>> "idiot-proof".

>>

>> --

>> Gary S. Terhune

>> MS-MVP Shell/User

>> http://www.grystmill.com

>>

>>

>> "MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com> wrote in message

>> news:OnaPSovrIHA.3616@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

>>> Ah gosh I hate to do this, BUT,,,,

>>>

>>> As we all know, the registry can become quite bloated with entries which

>>> relate to nothing of value, from MRU lists to applications which fill

>>> the

>>> registry with open files which no longer exist, to applications

>>> supposedly

>>> removed but actually leave, at times, countless worthless entries; to

>>> any

>>> number of other things which aren't need, or may have somehow been

>>> changed

>>> at sometime.

>>> We also know or should know that the registry will FAIL or be prone to

>>> failure after exceeding a certain size [parsing issues].... which then

>>> becomes an issue which may affect recoverability in a time of crisis.

>>>

>>> All the MVP that I have observed here, have, at some time, posted

>>> methods

>>> to clean errant registry entries, compact the registry, and otherwise

>>> work

>>> upon the registry... They also have repeatedly advised, when confronted

>>> with

>>> ghost entries, bad drivers or applications or otherwise,, advised HOW to

>>> *manually* search the registry to *clean it*.

>>>

>>> I personally have used [and still use] several tools to clean the

>>> registry,

>>> which IF PROPERLY USED can be relied upon to make a system lean and

>>> mean,,,

>>> but the key is PROPERLY USED... ANY use of a cleaner should be taken

>>> with

>>> *a

>>> grain of salt*. AUTOMATIC cleaning is not a good idea. IF the user is

>>> unfamiliar with the registry, then damage will likely occur. IF, on the

>>> other hand, the user familiarizes theirselves with the registry, makes

>>> an

>>> effort to first increase their knowledge of the entries by searching

>>> first

>>> to see if they ARE un-needed PRIOR to removal, then the desired results

>>> can

>>> be achieved.

>>>

>>> Never overlook the KEY, that personal knowledge and understanding is

>>> YOUR

>>> responsibility. OR stay away from these cleaners as they MIGHT cause

>>> more

>>> harm than good.

>>>

>>> These things ARE after all, relied upon quite heavily during cleanup

>>> activities from SpyWare, Virus, and other such activities...

>>>

>>> --

>>> MEB http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com

>>> --

>>> _________

>>>

>>>

>>> "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message

>>> news:O18TzSurIHA.5060@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>>>> letterman@invalid.com wrote:

>>>>> On Mon, 5 May 2008 08:54:57 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote:

>>>>>

>>>>>> ALL registry cleaners are VERY dangerous to your system, and will

>>>>>> actually

>>>>>> FIX a problem, even just "slowness", approximately NEVER.

>>>>>

>>>>> I run Regseeker regularly and never had a problem. I have never seen

>>>>> it fix any problems, but it does remove a lot of useless junk.

>>>>> Without such programs, it seems to me that the registry would get so

>>>>> huge that it would be crash prone. For example, lets say I created a

>>>>> folder called "JUNK". I used that folder to temporarily place a bunch

>>>>> of things I find on my hard drive, which are everything from text, or

>>>>> Wordpad notes, to downloaded pictures, file downloads, etc. Then I

>>>>> begin sorting out the junk, and use winzip to open many of the

>>>>> downloads, and some photo viewer to look at the pictures, and Wordpad

>>>>> to look at many of the notes. ALL of these things are documented in

>>>>> the registry. Wordpad, Winzip, Photo Viewers all store "recently

>>>>> opened files".

>>>>>

>>>>> Eventually I get everything put on a CD or other media and I delete

>>>>> the "Junk" folder. Then I remove several of the demo downloads I

>>>>> tried.

>>>>>

>>>>> Running Regseeker finds multiple references to that JUNK folder,

>>>>> references to Winzip, Wordpad, etc opening files, and many things

>>>>> relating to the demos I tried and removed. All of that is removed

>>>>> from the registry, thus keeping it small and clean. Of course I

>>>>> always read what is being cleaned (removed). 99.9% of the time it's

>>>>> just this old stuff that is not needed or wanted.

>>>>>

>>>>> So how can you say that Reg cleaners are dangerous and should not be

>>>>> used.

>>>>

>>>> Because he (and a few others here) know what they're talking about.

>>>>

>>>>> I do agree to be careful what is being removed, but without

>>>>> them the registry will become a pile of useless garbage.

>>>>

>>>> Nonsense.

[Guest philo]

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

 

"glee" <glee29@spamindspring.com> wrote in message

news:%23b$mU$xrIHA.4228@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> > letterman wrote ...

> >>

> >> I run Regseeker regularly and never had a problem.

> >> snip

>

> That's the same logic as saying:

> "I always smoke cigarettes while I pump gasoline, and I never caused an

explosion"

> ;-)

 

 

 

 

LOL!!!!

 

 

For my "real job" I work on industrial equipment...

and am usually in an explosive atmosphere.

 

Though I am observant of the proper precautions...in my 33 years on the

job...

I did *once* cause a real nice explosion!

 

(The damage was not extreme..but suffice it to say my ears were ringing for

24 hours.)

 

 

Since the work I do is quite dangerous...I highly discourage the small crowd

of people

who like to watch me work... (they seem to think that it's interesting)

 

Most of the time they ask in puzzlement: "Wow...isn't that explosive?"

 

I smile very nonchalantly as I remove my respirator to talk:

 

"Oh, it's perfectly safe, I hardly ever blow these things up."

 

 

I usually end up working in complete seclusion <G>

[Guest Gary S. Terhune]

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

I don't use any such add-on and never have. Yes, I suppose they might have

come in handy once or twice, but by the time I thought of grabbing one for

the momentary purpose, I was done.

 

I don't get involved in detailed spyware and virus removal. With minor

exceptions, when I encounter a seriously infested machine, I recommend a

full rebuild. Once a machine is infested, I consider it permanently suspect.

Besides, it would seem to me that in the case of viruses and spyware

removal, the experts should already know EXACTLY what spyware and virus(es)

they are dealing with and which Registry entries to remove, and even have

REG files for the purpose. If they are GUESSING to the point that they need

tools to seek out (intelligently, one presumes) just the signs of crap, then

we're back to a full wipe and reinstall AFAIC. Not to be too blunt about it,

but I consider such pastimes precisely that. Pastimes. Just like a lot of

"fixing" that goes on here, say in the networking and DUN sphere, for

instance, with the interminable and often unresolved threads, all your AT

commands, blah, blah... The way to FIX a DUN problem is almost ALWAYS to

remove all networking and related devices and services and let them

reinstall themselves.

 

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.grystmill.com

 

"MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:eQZZwCzrIHA.484@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> I'll put the response here, rather than go through all the postings for

> individual responses...

>

> Locating the issue areas is the primary purpose for which I use the

> programs for, though I have tested them extensively, which is why I

> caution

> not to use the auto cleanup.

>

> But for the rest, I suggest a perusal through the archives of this group;

> remind the parties of their postings; and direct to the SpyWare and Virus

> removal forums and sites.

> These tools [ccleaner, regseeker, and others] are used regularly during

> the

> process. Granted, under the guidance of people familiar with them and the

> registry, but certainly are used far more often than suggesting manual

> editing. Moreover, who in here, doesn't have their favorite regedit addin

> or

> replacement that they use because of the limited capabilities of the basic

> regedit. Is there anyone still that far in the mud?

>

> So my statement stands, careful application of these cleaners can be of

> use, but not to those who fail to take the time to understand them.

>

> --

> MEB http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com

> --

> _________

>

> "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message

> news:uJJ8wpwrIHA.4952@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> | Please provide documentation of Registry bloat causing any significant

> | failures". Only such thing I've heard of is SCANREG /FIX failing to run

> on

> a

> | large Registry. BFD.

> |

> | Yes, sometimes the Registry needs work, usually after a wide-spread

> disaster

> | involving the user doing something that shouldn't have been done, but

> only

> | an expert is likely to know for sure, and while tools *might* locate a

> few

> | of those entries, you know better than most, I think, how much of any

> real

> | Registry *REPAIR*, as opposed to "cleaning", is a painstaking MANUAL

> search

> | and research procedure that few if any tools do well at all.

> |

> | I used them regularly for several years, to find "crap" and delete it,

> | ALWAYS having to refuse the deletion of some things I had learned

> weren't

> a

> | good idea to remove (or were unimportant MRUs, etc.), and after many

> years

> | of such experience, I arrived at the stance I take now. I've never once

> had

> | any success helping anyone else by having them run any Registry tools,

> | whereas I have several times dealt with people who were screwed by their

> | Registry tools, even the same ones I'd been using and thought were

> | "idiot-proof".

> |

> | --

> | Gary S. Terhune

> | MS-MVP Shell/User

> | http://www.grystmill.com

> |

> |

> | "MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com> wrote in message

> | news:OnaPSovrIHA.3616@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> | > Ah gosh I hate to do this, BUT,,,,

> | >

> | > As we all know, the registry can become quite bloated with entries

> which

> | > relate to nothing of value, from MRU lists to applications which fill

> the

> | > registry with open files which no longer exist, to applications

> supposedly

> | > removed but actually leave, at times, countless worthless entries; to

> any

> | > number of other things which aren't need, or may have somehow been

> changed

> | > at sometime.

> | > We also know or should know that the registry will FAIL or be prone to

> | > failure after exceeding a certain size [parsing issues].... which then

> | > becomes an issue which may affect recoverability in a time of crisis.

> | >

> | > All the MVP that I have observed here, have, at some time, posted

> methods

> | > to clean errant registry entries, compact the registry, and otherwise

> work

> | > upon the registry... They also have repeatedly advised, when

> confronted

> | > with

> | > ghost entries, bad drivers or applications or otherwise,, advised HOW

> to

> | > *manually* search the registry to *clean it*.

> | >

> | > I personally have used [and still use] several tools to clean the

> | > registry,

> | > which IF PROPERLY USED can be relied upon to make a system lean and

> | > mean,,,

> | > but the key is PROPERLY USED... ANY use of a cleaner should be taken

> with

> | > *a

> | > grain of salt*. AUTOMATIC cleaning is not a good idea. IF the user is

> | > unfamiliar with the registry, then damage will likely occur. IF, on

> the

> | > other hand, the user familiarizes theirselves with the registry, makes

> an

> | > effort to first increase their knowledge of the entries by searching

> first

> | > to see if they ARE un-needed PRIOR to removal, then the desired

> results

> | > can

> | > be achieved.

> | >

> | > Never overlook the KEY, that personal knowledge and understanding is

> YOUR

> | > responsibility. OR stay away from these cleaners as they MIGHT cause

> more

> | > harm than good.

> | >

> | > These things ARE after all, relied upon quite heavily during cleanup

> | > activities from SpyWare, Virus, and other such activities...

> | >

> | > --

> | > MEB http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com

> | > --

> | > _________

> | >

> | >

> | > "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message

> | > news:O18TzSurIHA.5060@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> | > | letterman@invalid.com wrote:

> | > | > On Mon, 5 May 2008 08:54:57 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote:

> | > | >

> | > | >> ALL registry cleaners are VERY dangerous to your system, and will

> | > | >> actually

> | > | >> FIX a problem, even just "slowness", approximately NEVER.

> | > | >

> | > | > I run Regseeker regularly and never had a problem. I have never

> seen

> | > | > it fix any problems, but it does remove a lot of useless junk.

> | > | > Without such programs, it seems to me that the registry would get

> so

> | > | > huge that it would be crash prone. For example, lets say I

> created

> a

> | > | > folder called "JUNK". I used that folder to temporarily place a

> bunch

> | > | > of things I find on my hard drive, which are everything from text,

> or

> | > | > Wordpad notes, to downloaded pictures, file downloads, etc. Then

> I

> | > | > begin sorting out the junk, and use winzip to open many of the

> | > | > downloads, and some photo viewer to look at the pictures, and

> Wordpad

> | > | > to look at many of the notes. ALL of these things are documented

> in

> | > | > the registry. Wordpad, Winzip, Photo Viewers all store "recently

> | > | > opened files".

> | > | >

> | > | > Eventually I get everything put on a CD or other media and I

> delete

> | > | > the "Junk" folder. Then I remove several of the demo downloads I

> | > tried.

> | > | >

> | > | > Running Regseeker finds multiple references to that JUNK folder,

> | > | > references to Winzip, Wordpad, etc opening files, and many things

> | > | > relating to the demos I tried and removed. All of that is removed

> | > | > from the registry, thus keeping it small and clean. Of course I

> | > | > always read what is being cleaned (removed). 99.9% of the time

> it's

> | > | > just this old stuff that is not needed or wanted.

> | > | >

> | > | > So how can you say that Reg cleaners are dangerous and should not

> be

> | > | > used.

> | > |

> | > | Because he (and a few others here) know what they're talking about.

> | > |

> | > | > I do agree to be careful what is being removed, but without

> | > | > them the registry will become a pile of useless garbage.

> | > |

> | > | Nonsense.

> | > |

> | > |

> | >

> | >

> |

>

>

[Guest MM]

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

On Mon, 5 May 2008 14:15:26 -0500, "philo" <philo@privacy.net> wrote:

>

><letterman@invalid.com> wrote in message

>news:1uku145tld6kusvbhp5hj9r48d4o7tolej@4ax.com...

>> On Mon, 5 May 2008 08:54:57 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote:

>>

>> >ALL registry cleaners are VERY dangerous to your system, and will

>actually

>> >FIX a problem, even just "slowness", approximately NEVER.

>>

>> I run Regseeker regularly and never had a problem. I have never seen

>> it fix any problems, but it does remove a lot of useless junk.

>> Without such programs, it seems to me that the registry would get so

>> huge that it would be crash prone. For example, lets say I created a

>> folder called "JUNK". I used that folder to temporarily place a bunch

>> of things I find on my hard drive, which are everything from text, or

>> Wordpad notes, to downloaded pictures, file downloads, etc. Then I

>> begin sorting out the junk, and use winzip to open many of the

>> downloads, and some photo viewer to look at the pictures, and Wordpad

>> to look at many of the notes. ALL of these things are documented in

>> the registry. Wordpad, Winzip, Photo Viewers all store "recently

>> opened files".

>>

>

>

><snip>

>

>I agree with Gary Terhune 100% .

 

What about Microsoft's own RegClean.exe? For Windows 98 SE? I use that

occasionally.

 

MM

[Guest MM]

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

On Mon, 5 May 2008 16:45:57 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote:

>Please provide documentation of Registry bloat causing any significant

>failures". Only such thing I've heard of is SCANREG /FIX failing to run on a

>large Registry. BFD.

 

This is the problem I have had. But IS there a way to compact the

registry after deinstalling unwanted programs? Or is the ONLY solution

to reinstall Windows and reinstall only the apps one needs? My

SYSTEM.DAT on one PC (98SE) is 10MB and SCANREG /FIX barfs at about

87% completed.

 

MM

[Guest Gary S. Terhune]

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

On a scale, I'd say it's medium dangerous. That's why you can't find it on

Microsoft's site to download, and haven't been able to for ~ 10 years or

more.

 

From http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727154.aspx, "Distributing

Registry Changes" dated 2001-- "However, Regclean works only with the

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT subtree, which is almost never the source of major

registry problems, and the program has been known to cause as many problems

as it fixes."

 

Unfortunately, that paragraph also says you can't delete anything from the

Registry using REG files, which is patently false. See

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310516

 

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.grystmill.com

 

"MM" <kylix_is@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message

news:jpq0249ccv43mqvcpk8ejo7gn6pk0j8huc@4ax.com...

> On Mon, 5 May 2008 14:15:26 -0500, "philo" <philo@privacy.net> wrote:

>

>>

>><letterman@invalid.com> wrote in message

>>news:1uku145tld6kusvbhp5hj9r48d4o7tolej@4ax.com...

>>> On Mon, 5 May 2008 08:54:57 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote:

>>>

>>> >ALL registry cleaners are VERY dangerous to your system, and will

>>actually

>>> >FIX a problem, even just "slowness", approximately NEVER.

>>>

>>> I run Regseeker regularly and never had a problem. I have never seen

>>> it fix any problems, but it does remove a lot of useless junk.

>>> Without such programs, it seems to me that the registry would get so

>>> huge that it would be crash prone. For example, lets say I created a

>>> folder called "JUNK". I used that folder to temporarily place a bunch

>>> of things I find on my hard drive, which are everything from text, or

>>> Wordpad notes, to downloaded pictures, file downloads, etc. Then I

>>> begin sorting out the junk, and use winzip to open many of the

>>> downloads, and some photo viewer to look at the pictures, and Wordpad

>>> to look at many of the notes. ALL of these things are documented in

>>> the registry. Wordpad, Winzip, Photo Viewers all store "recently

>>> opened files".

>>>

>>

>>

>><snip>

>>

>>I agree with Gary Terhune 100% .

>

> What about Microsoft's own RegClean.exe? For Windows 98 SE? I use that

> occasionally.

>

> MM

[Guest Gary S. Terhune]

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

First, you can still run SCANREG /OPT, which IIRC, removes empty space. I

believe you can also compact (in the sense of rearranging) the Registry

using the old Export/Import method, but when it's that big, it will take a

while. Personally, I think compacting the Registry is highly overrated.

Registries that big get that way due to massive apps suites like Office. If

you have a large Registry that you think should be significantly smaller,

then it would have to be due to doing something stupid like manual removal

of the Office programs folder without properly uninstalling. The solution

for that is to reinstall the Suite/Apps, then uninstall them properly. If

you want to go looking for remains afterwards, fine, but you won't find

much, miniscule crumbs compared to the size of the Registry in whole, and

Registry Cleaning tools are only going to find some of the garbage

(relatively small portion in most cases.)

 

In short, yes. If you've so royally messed up your Registry as to require

"cleaning", or even compacting, then wipe/reinstall of Windows IS the best

recourse.

 

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.grystmill.com

 

"MM" <kylix_is@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message

news:9uq024522do4vrkjorsusns6prgi2848e2@4ax.com...

> On Mon, 5 May 2008 16:45:57 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote:

>

>>Please provide documentation of Registry bloat causing any significant

>>failures". Only such thing I've heard of is SCANREG /FIX failing to run on

>>a

>>large Registry. BFD.

>

> This is the problem I have had. But IS there a way to compact the

> registry after deinstalling unwanted programs? Or is the ONLY solution

> to reinstall Windows and reinstall only the apps one needs? My

> SYSTEM.DAT on one PC (98SE) is 10MB and SCANREG /FIX barfs at about

> 87% completed.

>

> MM

[Guest MEB]

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

 

"Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message

news:OIlgiP4rIHA.3632@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

| I don't use any such add-on and never have. Yes, I suppose they might have

| come in handy once or twice, but by the time I thought of grabbing one for

| the momentary purpose, I was done.

|

| I don't get involved in detailed spyware and virus removal. With minor

| exceptions, when I encounter a seriously infested machine, I recommend a

| full rebuild. Once a machine is infested, I consider it permanently

suspect.

| Besides, it would seem to me that in the case of viruses and spyware

| removal, the experts should already know EXACTLY what spyware and

virus(es)

| they are dealing with and which Registry entries to remove, and even have

| REG files for the purpose.

 

In part you're right, many do have these reg files; however, as these things

are constantly being modified [variants] the "cleaning tools* are used to

locate potential entries and or files which *may be* that variant. Without

the output of these programs, diagnostics becomes just guesses. One could

even, under the cleaner aspect, rate hijackthis as in the same class, yet

without this tool many would be at the mercy of any BHO or other, and

experts would be without the tools necessary to help.

 

They can be far more effective than running tweakUI for other styles of

cleanup as well.

 

| If they are GUESSING to the point that they need

| tools to seek out (intelligently, one presumes) just the signs of crap,

then

| we're back to a full wipe and reinstall AFAIC. Not to be too blunt about

it,

| but I consider such pastimes precisely that. Pastimes. Just like a lot of

| "fixing" that goes on here, say in the networking and DUN sphere, for

| instance, with the interminable and often unresolved threads, all your AT

| commands, blah, blah... The way to FIX a DUN problem is almost ALWAYS to

| remove all networking and related devices and services and let them

| reinstall themselves.

|

| --

| Gary S. Terhune

| MS-MVP Shell/User

| http://www.grystmill.com

 

The full wipe would be the safest, I agree; however, that's just not

possible for many users. Either they no longer have the installation disks

for their applications, or those applications may no longer be supported

[leaving them with only the installation disk{s}, but no updates]. Then you

run against many devices which once had drivers and/or updates posted upon

the manufacturer's site, which may no longer be offered. Granted, one can

search the NET for them, but that places one in the hands of whatever is

found.

Yes, users should understand that they should have obtained and saved these

during the course of their usage, sadly many don't.

 

I think we agreed on the Network issue in the networking forum, and we did

offer that as the best test solution, and the other factors were to work

through the potentials associated.

 

--

MEB http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com

--

_________

 

 

|

| "MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com> wrote in message

| news:eQZZwCzrIHA.484@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

| > I'll put the response here, rather than go through all the postings for

| > individual responses...

| >

| > Locating the issue areas is the primary purpose for which I use the

| > programs for, though I have tested them extensively, which is why I

| > caution

| > not to use the auto cleanup.

| >

| > But for the rest, I suggest a perusal through the archives of this

group;

| > remind the parties of their postings; and direct to the SpyWare and

Virus

| > removal forums and sites.

| > These tools [ccleaner, regseeker, and others] are used regularly during

| > the

| > process. Granted, under the guidance of people familiar with them and

the

| > registry, but certainly are used far more often than suggesting manual

| > editing. Moreover, who in here, doesn't have their favorite regedit

addin

| > or

| > replacement that they use because of the limited capabilities of the

basic

| > regedit. Is there anyone still that far in the mud?

| >

| > So my statement stands, careful application of these cleaners can be of

| > use, but not to those who fail to take the time to understand them.

| >

| > --

| > MEB http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com

| > --

| > _________

| >

| > "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message

| > news:uJJ8wpwrIHA.4952@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

| > | Please provide documentation of Registry bloat causing any significant

| > | failures". Only such thing I've heard of is SCANREG /FIX failing to

run

| > on

| > a

| > | large Registry. BFD.

| > |

| > | Yes, sometimes the Registry needs work, usually after a wide-spread

| > disaster

| > | involving the user doing something that shouldn't have been done, but

| > only

| > | an expert is likely to know for sure, and while tools *might* locate a

| > few

| > | of those entries, you know better than most, I think, how much of any

| > real

| > | Registry *REPAIR*, as opposed to "cleaning", is a painstaking MANUAL

| > search

| > | and research procedure that few if any tools do well at all.

| > |

| > | I used them regularly for several years, to find "crap" and delete it,

| > | ALWAYS having to refuse the deletion of some things I had learned

| > weren't

| > a

| > | good idea to remove (or were unimportant MRUs, etc.), and after many

| > years

| > | of such experience, I arrived at the stance I take now. I've never

once

| > had

| > | any success helping anyone else by having them run any Registry tools,

| > | whereas I have several times dealt with people who were screwed by

their

| > | Registry tools, even the same ones I'd been using and thought were

| > | "idiot-proof".

| > |

| > | --

| > | Gary S. Terhune

| > | MS-MVP Shell/User

| > | http://www.grystmill.com

| > |

| > |

| > | "MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com> wrote in message

| > | news:OnaPSovrIHA.3616@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

| > | > Ah gosh I hate to do this, BUT,,,,

| > | >

| > | > As we all know, the registry can become quite bloated with entries

| > which

| > | > relate to nothing of value, from MRU lists to applications which

fill

| > the

| > | > registry with open files which no longer exist, to applications

| > supposedly

| > | > removed but actually leave, at times, countless worthless entries;

to

| > any

| > | > number of other things which aren't need, or may have somehow been

| > changed

| > | > at sometime.

| > | > We also know or should know that the registry will FAIL or be prone

to

| > | > failure after exceeding a certain size [parsing issues].... which

then

| > | > becomes an issue which may affect recoverability in a time of

crisis.

| > | >

| > | > All the MVP that I have observed here, have, at some time, posted

| > methods

| > | > to clean errant registry entries, compact the registry, and

otherwise

| > work

| > | > upon the registry... They also have repeatedly advised, when

| > confronted

| > | > with

| > | > ghost entries, bad drivers or applications or otherwise,, advised

HOW

| > to

| > | > *manually* search the registry to *clean it*.

| > | >

| > | > I personally have used [and still use] several tools to clean the

| > | > registry,

| > | > which IF PROPERLY USED can be relied upon to make a system lean and

| > | > mean,,,

| > | > but the key is PROPERLY USED... ANY use of a cleaner should be taken

| > with

| > | > *a

| > | > grain of salt*. AUTOMATIC cleaning is not a good idea. IF the user

is

| > | > unfamiliar with the registry, then damage will likely occur. IF, on

| > the

| > | > other hand, the user familiarizes theirselves with the registry,

makes

| > an

| > | > effort to first increase their knowledge of the entries by searching

| > first

| > | > to see if they ARE un-needed PRIOR to removal, then the desired

| > results

| > | > can

| > | > be achieved.

| > | >

| > | > Never overlook the KEY, that personal knowledge and understanding is

| > YOUR

| > | > responsibility. OR stay away from these cleaners as they MIGHT cause

| > more

| > | > harm than good.

| > | >

| > | > These things ARE after all, relied upon quite heavily during cleanup

| > | > activities from SpyWare, Virus, and other such activities...

| > | >

| > | > --

| > | > MEB http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com

| > | > --

| > | > _________

| > | >

| > | >

| > | > "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message

| > | > news:O18TzSurIHA.5060@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

| > | > | letterman@invalid.com wrote:

| > | > | > On Mon, 5 May 2008 08:54:57 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune" <none>

wrote:

| > | > | >

| > | > | >> ALL registry cleaners are VERY dangerous to your system, and

will

| > | > | >> actually

| > | > | >> FIX a problem, even just "slowness", approximately NEVER.

| > | > | >

| > | > | > I run Regseeker regularly and never had a problem. I have never

| > seen

| > | > | > it fix any problems, but it does remove a lot of useless junk.

| > | > | > Without such programs, it seems to me that the registry would

get

| > so

| > | > | > huge that it would be crash prone. For example, lets say I

| > created

| > a

| > | > | > folder called "JUNK". I used that folder to temporarily place a

| > bunch

| > | > | > of things I find on my hard drive, which are everything from

text,

| > or

| > | > | > Wordpad notes, to downloaded pictures, file downloads, etc.

Then

| > I

| > | > | > begin sorting out the junk, and use winzip to open many of the

| > | > | > downloads, and some photo viewer to look at the pictures, and

| > Wordpad

| > | > | > to look at many of the notes. ALL of these things are

documented

| > in

| > | > | > the registry. Wordpad, Winzip, Photo Viewers all store

"recently

| > | > | > opened files".

| > | > | >

| > | > | > Eventually I get everything put on a CD or other media and I

| > delete

| > | > | > the "Junk" folder. Then I remove several of the demo downloads

I

| > | > tried.

| > | > | >

| > | > | > Running Regseeker finds multiple references to that JUNK folder,

| > | > | > references to Winzip, Wordpad, etc opening files, and many

things

| > | > | > relating to the demos I tried and removed. All of that is

removed

| > | > | > from the registry, thus keeping it small and clean. Of course I

| > | > | > always read what is being cleaned (removed). 99.9% of the time

| > it's

| > | > | > just this old stuff that is not needed or wanted.

| > | > | >

| > | > | > So how can you say that Reg cleaners are dangerous and should

not

| > be

| > | > | > used.

| > | > |

| > | > | Because he (and a few others here) know what they're talking

about.

| > | > |

| > | > | > I do agree to be careful what is being removed, but without

| > | > | > them the registry will become a pile of useless garbage.

| > | > |

| > | > | Nonsense.

| > | > |

| > | > |

| > | >

| > | >

| > |

| >

| >

|

[Guest Gary S. Terhune]

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

 

"MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:%23thP3H6rIHA.4228@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>

> "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message

> news:OIlgiP4rIHA.3632@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> | I don't use any such add-on and never have. Yes, I suppose they might

> have

> | come in handy once or twice, but by the time I thought of grabbing one

> for

> | the momentary purpose, I was done.

> |

> | I don't get involved in detailed spyware and virus removal. With minor

> | exceptions, when I encounter a seriously infested machine, I recommend a

> | full rebuild. Once a machine is infested, I consider it permanently

> suspect.

> | Besides, it would seem to me that in the case of viruses and spyware

> | removal, the experts should already know EXACTLY what spyware and

> virus(es)

> | they are dealing with and which Registry entries to remove, and even

> have

> | REG files for the purpose.

>

> In part you're right, many do have these reg files; however, as these

> things

> are constantly being modified [variants] the "cleaning tools* are used to

> locate potential entries and or files which *may be* that variant. Without

> the output of these programs, diagnostics becomes just guesses. One could

> even, under the cleaner aspect, rate hijackthis as in the same class, yet

> without this tool many would be at the mercy of any BHO or other, and

> experts would be without the tools necessary to help.

 

Can you provide a list of the most popular of these tools? I'm having a hard

time associating any of the usually suggested and widely advertised Registry

Cleaners with discovery of virus variants.

> They can be far more effective than running tweakUI for other styles of

> cleanup as well.

 

I never use TUI, either. What kind of cleanup does TUI do? Are we back to

"cleaning" MRUs, etc.?

> | If they are GUESSING to the point that they need

> | tools to seek out (intelligently, one presumes) just the signs of crap,

> then

> | we're back to a full wipe and reinstall AFAIC. Not to be too blunt about

> it,

> | but I consider such pastimes precisely that. Pastimes. Just like a lot

> of

> | "fixing" that goes on here, say in the networking and DUN sphere, for

> | instance, with the interminable and often unresolved threads, all your

> AT

> | commands, blah, blah... The way to FIX a DUN problem is almost ALWAYS to

> | remove all networking and related devices and services and let them

> | reinstall themselves.

> |

> | --

> | Gary S. Terhune

> | MS-MVP Shell/User

> | http://www.grystmill.com

>

> The full wipe would be the safest, I agree; however, that's just not

> possible for many users. Either they no longer have the installation disks

> for their applications, or those applications may no longer be supported

> [leaving them with only the installation disk{s}, but no updates]. Then

> you

> run against many devices which once had drivers and/or updates posted upon

> the manufacturer's site, which may no longer be offered. Granted, one can

> search the NET for them, but that places one in the hands of whatever is

> found.

> Yes, users should understand that they should have obtained and saved

> these

> during the course of their usage, sadly many don't

 

You're starting to get pretty rarified, there. One in ten million?

 

OK, I'll allow that for particular purposes and in the hands of truly

experienced techs, one or more of these tools might come in handy, but that

small exception doesn't come close to convincing me to desist in my blanket

condemnation of such tools in this forum. Read PA's cite for the real

skinny.

> I think we agreed on the Network issue in the networking forum, and we did

> offer that as the best test solution, and the other factors were to work

> through the potentials associated.

 

HUH!?!

 

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.grystmill.com

>

> --

> MEB http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com

> --

> _________

>

>

> |

> | "MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com> wrote in message

> | news:eQZZwCzrIHA.484@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> | > I'll put the response here, rather than go through all the postings

> for

> | > individual responses...

> | >

> | > Locating the issue areas is the primary purpose for which I use the

> | > programs for, though I have tested them extensively, which is why I

> | > caution

> | > not to use the auto cleanup.

> | >

> | > But for the rest, I suggest a perusal through the archives of this

> group;

> | > remind the parties of their postings; and direct to the SpyWare and

> Virus

> | > removal forums and sites.

> | > These tools [ccleaner, regseeker, and others] are used regularly

> during

> | > the

> | > process. Granted, under the guidance of people familiar with them and

> the

> | > registry, but certainly are used far more often than suggesting manual

> | > editing. Moreover, who in here, doesn't have their favorite regedit

> addin

> | > or

> | > replacement that they use because of the limited capabilities of the

> basic

> | > regedit. Is there anyone still that far in the mud?

> | >

> | > So my statement stands, careful application of these cleaners can be

> of

> | > use, but not to those who fail to take the time to understand them.

> | >

> | > --

> | > MEB http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com

> | > --

> | > _________

> | >

> | > "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message

> | > news:uJJ8wpwrIHA.4952@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> | > | Please provide documentation of Registry bloat causing any

> significant

> | > | failures". Only such thing I've heard of is SCANREG /FIX failing to

> run

> | > on

> | > a

> | > | large Registry. BFD.

> | > |

> | > | Yes, sometimes the Registry needs work, usually after a wide-spread

> | > disaster

> | > | involving the user doing something that shouldn't have been done,

> but

> | > only

> | > | an expert is likely to know for sure, and while tools *might* locate

> a

> | > few

> | > | of those entries, you know better than most, I think, how much of

> any

> | > real

> | > | Registry *REPAIR*, as opposed to "cleaning", is a painstaking MANUAL

> | > search

> | > | and research procedure that few if any tools do well at all.

> | > |

> | > | I used them regularly for several years, to find "crap" and delete

> it,

> | > | ALWAYS having to refuse the deletion of some things I had learned

> | > weren't

> | > a

> | > | good idea to remove (or were unimportant MRUs, etc.), and after many

> | > years

> | > | of such experience, I arrived at the stance I take now. I've never

> once

> | > had

> | > | any success helping anyone else by having them run any Registry

> tools,

> | > | whereas I have several times dealt with people who were screwed by

> their

> | > | Registry tools, even the same ones I'd been using and thought were

> | > | "idiot-proof".

> | > |

> | > | --

> | > | Gary S. Terhune

> | > | MS-MVP Shell/User

> | > | http://www.grystmill.com

> | > |

> | > |

> | > | "MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com> wrote in message

> | > | news:OnaPSovrIHA.3616@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> | > | > Ah gosh I hate to do this, BUT,,,,

> | > | >

> | > | > As we all know, the registry can become quite bloated with entries

> | > which

> | > | > relate to nothing of value, from MRU lists to applications which

> fill

> | > the

> | > | > registry with open files which no longer exist, to applications

> | > supposedly

> | > | > removed but actually leave, at times, countless worthless entries;

> to

> | > any

> | > | > number of other things which aren't need, or may have somehow been

> | > changed

> | > | > at sometime.

> | > | > We also know or should know that the registry will FAIL or be

> prone

> to

> | > | > failure after exceeding a certain size [parsing issues].... which

> then

> | > | > becomes an issue which may affect recoverability in a time of

> crisis.

> | > | >

> | > | > All the MVP that I have observed here, have, at some time, posted

> | > methods

> | > | > to clean errant registry entries, compact the registry, and

> otherwise

> | > work

> | > | > upon the registry... They also have repeatedly advised, when

> | > confronted

> | > | > with

> | > | > ghost entries, bad drivers or applications or otherwise,, advised

> HOW

> | > to

> | > | > *manually* search the registry to *clean it*.

> | > | >

> | > | > I personally have used [and still use] several tools to clean the

> | > | > registry,

> | > | > which IF PROPERLY USED can be relied upon to make a system lean

> and

> | > | > mean,,,

> | > | > but the key is PROPERLY USED... ANY use of a cleaner should be

> taken

> | > with

> | > | > *a

> | > | > grain of salt*. AUTOMATIC cleaning is not a good idea. IF the

> user

> is

> | > | > unfamiliar with the registry, then damage will likely occur. IF,

> on

> | > the

> | > | > other hand, the user familiarizes theirselves with the registry,

> makes

> | > an

> | > | > effort to first increase their knowledge of the entries by

> searching

> | > first

> | > | > to see if they ARE un-needed PRIOR to removal, then the desired

> | > results

> | > | > can

> | > | > be achieved.

> | > | >

> | > | > Never overlook the KEY, that personal knowledge and understanding

> is

> | > YOUR

> | > | > responsibility. OR stay away from these cleaners as they MIGHT

> cause

> | > more

> | > | > harm than good.

> | > | >

> | > | > These things ARE after all, relied upon quite heavily during

> cleanup

> | > | > activities from SpyWare, Virus, and other such activities...

> | > | >

> | > | > --

> | > | > MEB http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com

> | > | > --

> | > | > _________

> | > | >

> | > | >

> | > | > "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message

> | > | > news:O18TzSurIHA.5060@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> | > | > | letterman@invalid.com wrote:

> | > | > | > On Mon, 5 May 2008 08:54:57 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune" <none>

> wrote:

> | > | > | >

> | > | > | >> ALL registry cleaners are VERY dangerous to your system, and

> will

> | > | > | >> actually

> | > | > | >> FIX a problem, even just "slowness", approximately NEVER.

> | > | > | >

> | > | > | > I run Regseeker regularly and never had a problem. I have

> never

> | > seen

> | > | > | > it fix any problems, but it does remove a lot of useless junk.

> | > | > | > Without such programs, it seems to me that the registry would

> get

> | > so

> | > | > | > huge that it would be crash prone. For example, lets say I

> | > created

> | > a

> | > | > | > folder called "JUNK". I used that folder to temporarily place

> a

> | > bunch

> | > | > | > of things I find on my hard drive, which are everything from

> text,

> | > or

> | > | > | > Wordpad notes, to downloaded pictures, file downloads, etc.

> Then

> | > I

> | > | > | > begin sorting out the junk, and use winzip to open many of the

> | > | > | > downloads, and some photo viewer to look at the pictures, and

> | > Wordpad

> | > | > | > to look at many of the notes. ALL of these things are

> documented

> | > in

> | > | > | > the registry. Wordpad, Winzip, Photo Viewers all store

> "recently

> | > | > | > opened files".

> | > | > | >

> | > | > | > Eventually I get everything put on a CD or other media and I

> | > delete

> | > | > | > the "Junk" folder. Then I remove several of the demo

> downloads

> I

> | > | > tried.

> | > | > | >

> | > | > | > Running Regseeker finds multiple references to that JUNK

> folder,

> | > | > | > references to Winzip, Wordpad, etc opening files, and many

> things

> | > | > | > relating to the demos I tried and removed. All of that is

> removed

> | > | > | > from the registry, thus keeping it small and clean. Of course

> I

> | > | > | > always read what is being cleaned (removed). 99.9% of the

> time

> | > it's

> | > | > | > just this old stuff that is not needed or wanted.

> | > | > | >

> | > | > | > So how can you say that Reg cleaners are dangerous and should

> not

> | > be

> | > | > | > used.

> | > | > |

> | > | > | Because he (and a few others here) know what they're talking

> about.

> | > | > |

> | > | > | > I do agree to be careful what is being removed, but without

> | > | > | > them the registry will become a pile of useless garbage.

> | > | > |

> | > | > | Nonsense.

> | > | > |

> | > | > |

> | > | >

> | > | >

> | > |

> | >

> | >

> |

>

>

[Guest Gary S. Terhune]

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

Re: DANGER! D ANGER!Re: Free Registry Cleaner Download Review

 

I'm going to modify my answer below... Such cases as you cite should be

generally be scrapped and replaced. If nothing else, as soon as that system

connects to any other system, in any manner, it is a *probable* danger to

others. If it is so obsolete and unsupported and the user was so

irresponsible that it is really impossible to rebuild, I say thumbs down.

 

And I've decided that I like your mention of HJT. From what I see, those few

Registry Cleaners that aren't pure scam are JUST as dangerous as HJT. Do you

recommend the unassisted use of HJT? Would you not scream DANGER!!! if you

saw it advertised as a user-friendly, idiot-proof tool?

 

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.grystmill.com

 

 

"Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message

news:OfeA8t6rIHA.4376@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

>

> "MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com> wrote in message

> news:%23thP3H6rIHA.4228@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>>

>> "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message

>> news:OIlgiP4rIHA.3632@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>> | I don't use any such add-on and never have. Yes, I suppose they might

>> have

>> | come in handy once or twice, but by the time I thought of grabbing one

>> for

>> | the momentary purpose, I was done.

>> |

>> | I don't get involved in detailed spyware and virus removal. With minor

>> | exceptions, when I encounter a seriously infested machine, I recommend

>> a

>> | full rebuild. Once a machine is infested, I consider it permanently

>> suspect.

>> | Besides, it would seem to me that in the case of viruses and spyware

>> | removal, the experts should already know EXACTLY what spyware and

>> virus(es)

>> | they are dealing with and which Registry entries to remove, and even

>> have

>> | REG files for the purpose.

>>

>> In part you're right, many do have these reg files; however, as these

>> things

>> are constantly being modified [variants] the "cleaning tools* are used to

>> locate potential entries and or files which *may be* that variant.

>> Without

>> the output of these programs, diagnostics becomes just guesses. One could

>> even, under the cleaner aspect, rate hijackthis as in the same class, yet

>> without this tool many would be at the mercy of any BHO or other, and

>> experts would be without the tools necessary to help.

>

> Can you provide a list of the most popular of these tools? I'm having a

> hard time associating any of the usually suggested and widely advertised

> Registry Cleaners with discovery of virus variants.

>

>> They can be far more effective than running tweakUI for other styles of

>> cleanup as well.

>

> I never use TUI, either. What kind of cleanup does TUI do? Are we back to

> "cleaning" MRUs, etc.?

>

>> | If they are GUESSING to the point that they need

>> | tools to seek out (intelligently, one presumes) just the signs of crap,

>> then

>> | we're back to a full wipe and reinstall AFAIC. Not to be too blunt

>> about

>> it,

>> | but I consider such pastimes precisely that. Pastimes. Just like a lot

>> of

>> | "fixing" that goes on here, say in the networking and DUN sphere, for

>> | instance, with the interminable and often unresolved threads, all your

>> AT

>> | commands, blah, blah... The way to FIX a DUN problem is almost ALWAYS

>> to

>> | remove all networking and related devices and services and let them

>> | reinstall themselves.

>> |

>> | --

>> | Gary S. Terhune

>> | MS-MVP Shell/User

>> | http://www.grystmill.com

>>

>> The full wipe would be the safest, I agree; however, that's just not

>> possible for many users. Either they no longer have the installation

>> disks

>> for their applications, or those applications may no longer be supported

>> [leaving them with only the installation disk{s}, but no updates]. Then

>> you

>> run against many devices which once had drivers and/or updates posted

>> upon

>> the manufacturer's site, which may no longer be offered. Granted, one can

>> search the NET for them, but that places one in the hands of whatever is

>> found.

>> Yes, users should understand that they should have obtained and saved

>> these

>> during the course of their usage, sadly many don't

>

> You're starting to get pretty rarified, there. One in ten million?

>

> OK, I'll allow that for particular purposes and in the hands of truly

> experienced techs, one or more of these tools might come in handy, but

> that small exception doesn't come close to convincing me to desist in my

> blanket condemnation of such tools in this forum. Read PA's cite for the

> real skinny.

>

>> I think we agreed on the Network issue in the networking forum, and we

>> did

>> offer that as the best test solution, and the other factors were to work

>> through the potentials associated.

>

> HUH!?!

>

> --

> Gary S. Terhune

> MS-MVP Shell/User

> http://www.grystmill.com

>

>>

>> --

>> MEB http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com

>> --

>> _________

>>

>>

>> |

>> | "MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com> wrote in message

>> | news:eQZZwCzrIHA.484@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>> | > I'll put the response here, rather than go through all the postings

>> for

>> | > individual responses...

>> | >

>> | > Locating the issue areas is the primary purpose for which I use the

>> | > programs for, though I have tested them extensively, which is why I

>> | > caution

>> | > not to use the auto cleanup.

>> | >

>> | > But for the rest, I suggest a perusal through the archives of this

>> group;

>> | > remind the parties of their postings; and direct to the SpyWare and

>> Virus

>> | > removal forums and sites.

>> | > These tools [ccleaner, regseeker, and others] are used regularly

>> during

>> | > the

>> | > process. Granted, under the guidance of people familiar with them and

>> the

>> | > registry, but certainly are used far more often than suggesting

>> manual

>> | > editing. Moreover, who in here, doesn't have their favorite regedit

>> addin

>> | > or

>> | > replacement that they use because of the limited capabilities of the

>> basic

>> | > regedit. Is there anyone still that far in the mud?

>> | >

>> | > So my statement stands, careful application of these cleaners can be

>> of

>> | > use, but not to those who fail to take the time to understand them.

>> | >

>> | > --

>> | > MEB http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com

>> | > --

>> | > _________

>> | >

>> | > "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message

>> | > news:uJJ8wpwrIHA.4952@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

>> | > | Please provide documentation of Registry bloat causing any

>> significant

>> | > | failures". Only such thing I've heard of is SCANREG /FIX failing to

>> run

>> | > on

>> | > a

>> | > | large Registry. BFD.

>> | > |

>> | > | Yes, sometimes the Registry needs work, usually after a wide-spread

>> | > disaster

>> | > | involving the user doing something that shouldn't have been done,

>> but

>> | > only

>> | > | an expert is likely to know for sure, and while tools *might*

>> locate a

>> | > few

>> | > | of those entries, you know better than most, I think, how much of

>> any

>> | > real

>> | > | Registry *REPAIR*, as opposed to "cleaning", is a painstaking

>> MANUAL

>> | > search

>> | > | and research procedure that few if any tools do well at all.

>> | > |

>> | > | I used them regularly for several years, to find "crap" and delete

>> it,

>> | > | ALWAYS having to refuse the deletion of some things I had learned

>> | > weren't

>> | > a

>> | > | good idea to remove (or were unimportant MRUs, etc.), and after

>> many

>> | > years

>> | > | of such experience, I arrived at the stance I take now. I've never

>> once

>> | > had

>> | > | any success helping anyone else by having them run any Registry

>> tools,

>> | > | whereas I have several times dealt with people who were screwed by

>> their

>> | > | Registry tools, even the same ones I'd been using and thought were

>> | > | "idiot-proof".

>> | > |

>> | > | --

>> | > | Gary S. Terhune

>> | > | MS-MVP Shell/User

>> | > | http://www.grystmill.com

>> | > |

>> | > |

>> | > | "MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com> wrote in message

>> | > | news:OnaPSovrIHA.3616@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

>> | > | > Ah gosh I hate to do this, BUT,,,,

>> | > | >

>> | > | > As we all know, the registry can become quite bloated with

>> entries

>> | > which

>> | > | > relate to nothing of value, from MRU lists to applications which

>> fill

>> | > the

>> | > | > registry with open files which no longer exist, to applications

>> | > supposedly

>> | > | > removed but actually leave, at times, countless worthless

>> entries;

>> to

>> | > any

>> | > | > number of other things which aren't need, or may have somehow

>> been

>> | > changed

>> | > | > at sometime.

>> | > | > We also know or should know that the registry will FAIL or be

>> prone

>> to

>> | > | > failure after exceeding a certain size [parsing issues].... which

>> then

>> | > | > becomes an issue which may affect recoverability in a time of

>> crisis.

>> | > | >

>> | > | > All the MVP that I have observed here, have, at some time, posted

>> | > methods

>> | > | > to clean errant registry entries, compact the registry, and

>> otherwise

>> | > work

>> | > | > upon the registry... They also have repeatedly advised, when

>> | > confronted

>> | > | > with

>> | > | > ghost entries, bad drivers or applications or otherwise,, advised

>> HOW

>> | > to

>> | > | > *manually* search the registry to *clean it*.

>> | > | >

>> | > | > I personally have used [and still use] several tools to clean the

>> | > | > registry,

>> | > | > which IF PROPERLY USED can be relied upon to make a system lean

>> and

>> | > | > mean,,,

>> | > | > but the key is PROPERLY USED... ANY use of a cleaner should be

>> taken

>> | > with

>> | > | > *a

>> | > | > grain of salt*. AUTOMATIC cleaning is not a good idea. IF the

>> user

>> is

>> | > | > unfamiliar with the registry, then damage will likely occur. IF,

>> on

>> | > the

>> | > | > other hand, the user familiarizes theirselves with the registry,

>> makes

>> | > an

>> | > | > effort to first increase their knowledge of the entries by

>> searching

>> | > first

>> | > | > to see if they ARE un-needed PRIOR to removal, then the desired

>> | > results

>> | > | > can

>> | > | > be achieved.

>> | > | >

>> | > | > Never overlook the KEY, that personal knowledge and understanding

>> is

>> | > YOUR

>> | > | > responsibility. OR stay away from these cleaners as they MIGHT

>> cause

>> | > more

>> | > | > harm than good.

>> | > | >

>> | > | > These things ARE after all, relied upon quite heavily during

>> cleanup

>> | > | > activities from SpyWare, Virus, and other such activities...

>> | > | >

>> | > | > --

>> | > | > MEB http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com

>> | > | > --

>> | > | > _________

>> | > | >

>> | > | >

>> | > | > "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message

>> | > | > news:O18TzSurIHA.5060@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>> | > | > | letterman@invalid.com wrote:

>> | > | > | > On Mon, 5 May 2008 08:54:57 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune" <none>

>> wrote:

>> | > | > | >

>> | > | > | >> ALL registry cleaners are VERY dangerous to your system, and

>> will

>> | > | > | >> actually

>> | > | > | >> FIX a problem, even just "slowness", approximately NEVER.

>> | > | > | >

>> | > | > | > I run Regseeker regularly and never had a problem. I have

>> never

>> | > seen

>> | > | > | > it fix any problems, but it does remove a lot of useless

>> junk.

>> | > | > | > Without such programs, it seems to me that the registry would

>> get

>> | > so

>> | > | > | > huge that it would be crash prone. For example, lets say I

>> | > created

>> | > a

>> | > | > | > folder called "JUNK". I used that folder to temporarily

>> place a

>> | > bunch

>> | > | > | > of things I find on my hard drive, which are everything from

>> text,

>> | > or

>> | > | > | > Wordpad notes, to downloaded pictures, file downloads, etc.

>> Then

>> | > I

>> | > | > | > begin sorting out the junk, and use winzip to open many of

>> the

>> | > | > | > downloads, and some photo viewer to look at the pictures, and

>> | > Wordpad

>> | > | > | > to look at many of the notes. ALL of these things are

>> documented

>> | > in

>> | > | > | > the registry. Wordpad, Winzip, Photo Viewers all store

>> "recently

>> | > | > | > opened files".

>> | > | > | >

>> | > | > | > Eventually I get everything put on a CD or other media and I

>> | > delete

>> | > | > | > the "Junk" folder. Then I remove several of the demo

>> downloads

>> I

>> | > | > tried.

>> | > | > | >

>> | > | > | > Running Regseeker finds multiple references to that JUNK

>> folder,

>> | > | > | > references to Winzip, Wordpad, etc opening files, and many

>> things

>> | > | > | > relating to the demos I tried and removed. All of that is

>> removed

>> | > | > | > from the registry, thus keeping it small and clean. Of

>> course I

>> | > | > | > always read what is being cleaned (removed). 99.9% of the

>> time

>> | > it's

>> | > | > | > just this old stuff that is not needed or wanted.

>> | > | > | >

>> | > | > | > So how can you say that Reg cleaners are dangerous and should

>> not

>> | > be

>> | > | > | > used.

>> | > | > |

>> | > | > | Because he (and a few others here) know what they're talking

>> about.

>> | > | > |

>> | > | > | > I do agree to be careful what is being removed, but without

>> | > | > | > them the registry will become a pile of useless garbage.

>> | > | > |

>> | > | > | Nonsense.

>> | > | > |

>> | > | > |

>> | > | >

>> | > | >

>> | > |

>> | >

>> | >

>> |

>>

>>

>