Registry Mainternance?

(I just posted the question about reinstalling Windows 7 on my sluggish pc)

I'm wondering about "registry errors" progreams. On a previous computer I
trusted "RegCure" to repair registry errors and it was the beginning of all
my problems on that previous (XP) machine!

I'm wondering tho, are these registry programs just a take, or did I just
have a bad experience? Is there a reliable one that is likely to fix my
Windows 7 pc? There doesn't seem to be anything in Windows 7 itself to do
that. Needless to say I'm skeptical.

Hi.

I have used Registry Mechanic myself for years and never had any
problems.
Just keep in mind that sometimes these kinds of programs can cause more
harm than good.

For example, You install software A which in turn adds registry values,
that's normal...
However when you try to use Software B you get a registry error.
So you think there is something wrong with your registry and run a
registry repair software when in fact it's just that the value of that
particular registry has been changed by Software A and Software B needs
another value.

This registry repair software interprets several errors in your
registry and all turn out to be of the same nature as the software A and
B problem... It's not really a problem, just an intrepretation of the
program.

Registry Mechanic has a way of seeing these "problems" and usually
avoid them which is why I have used it for so long.

/ Ani

From what I gather in forums more related to computer operations than this
office forum registry cleaners and other registry programs all cause more
problems than they cure. I have had this computer over 6 years and NEVER had
a registry problem.Do not try to fix something that's not broken. I do
routinely use spyware and other computer security programs as well as a
Avast.
SG
"Kevryl" wrote in message
...
(I just posted the question about reinstalling Windows 7 on my sluggish
pc)

I'm wondering about "registry errors" progreams. On a previous computer I
trusted "RegCure" to repair registry errors and it was the beginning of
all
my problems on that previous (XP) machine!

I'm wondering tho, are these registry programs just a take, or did I just
have a bad experience? Is there a reliable one that is likely to fix my
Windows 7 pc? There doesn't seem to be anything in Windows 7 itself to do
that. Needless to say I'm skeptical.

Why would you even think you'd ever need to clean your registry?
What specific *problems* are you actually experiencing (not some
program's bogus listing of imaginary problems) that you think can be
fixed by using a registry "cleaner?"

If you do have a problem that is rooted in the registry, it would
be far better to simply edit (after backing up, of course) only the
specific key(s) and/or value(s) that are causing the problem. After
all, why use a chainsaw when a scalpel will do the job? Additionally,
the manually changing of one or two registry entries is far less likely
to have the dire consequences of allowing an automated product to make
multiple changes simultaneously. The only thing needed to safely clean
your registry is knowledge and Regedit.exe.

The registry contains all of the operating system's "knowledge" of
the computer's hardware devices, installed software, the location of the
device drivers, and the computer's configuration. A misstep in the
registry can have severe consequences. One should not even turning
loose a poorly understood automated "cleaner," unless he is fully
confident that he knows *exactly* what is going to happen as a result of
each and every change.

Having repeatedly seen the results of inexperienced people using
automated registry "cleaners," I can only advise all but the most
experienced computer technicians (and/or hobbyists) to avoid them all.
Experience has shown me that such tools simply are not safe in the hands
of the inexperienced user. If you lack the knowledge and experience to
maintain your registry by yourself, then you also lack the knowledge and
experience to safely configure and use any automated registry cleaner,
no matter how safe they claim to be.

More importantly, no one has ever demonstrated that the use of an
automated registry "cleaner," particularly by an untrained,
inexperienced computer user, does any real good, whatsoever. There's
certainly been no empirical evidence offered to demonstrate that the use
of such products to "clean" WinXP's registry improves a computer's
performance or stability. Given the potential for harm, it's just not
worth the risk.

Granted, most registry "cleaners" won't cause problems each and
every time they're used, but the potential for harm is always there.
And, since no registry "cleaner" has ever been demonstrated to do any
good (think of them like treating the flu with chicken soup - there's no
real medicinal value, but it sometimes provides a warming placebo
effect), I always tell people that the risks far out-weigh the
non-existent benefits.

I will concede that a good registry *scanning* tool, in the hands
of an experienced and knowledgeable technician or hobbyist can be a
useful time-saving diagnostic tool, as long as it's not allowed to make
any changes automatically. But I really don't think that there are any
registry "cleaners" that are truly safe for the general public to use.
Experience has proven just the opposite: such tools simply are not safe
in the hands of the inexperienced user.

A little further reading on the subject:

Why I don't use registry cleaners
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=643

AumHa Forums • View topic - AUMHA Discussion: Should I Use a Registry
Cleaner?
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=28099



--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

"Kevryl" wrote in message
...
(I just posted the question about reinstalling Windows 7 on my sluggish pc)

I'm wondering about "registry errors" progreams. On a previous computer I
trusted "RegCure" to repair registry errors and it was the beginning of all
my problems on that previous (XP) machine!

I'm wondering tho, are these registry programs just a take, or did I just
have a bad experience? Is there a reliable one that is likely to fix my
Windows 7 pc? There doesn't seem to be anything in Windows 7 itself to do
that. Needless to say I'm skeptical.

Thanks Animenia. I'll note "Registry Mechanic".

"Animenia" wrote:


Hi.

I have used Registry Mechanic myself for years and never had any
problems.
Just keep in mind that sometimes these kinds of programs can cause more
harm than good.

For example, You install software A which in turn adds registry values,
that's normal...
However when you try to use Software B you get a registry error.
So you think there is something wrong with your registry and run a
registry repair software when in fact it's just that the value of that
particular registry has been changed by Software A and Software B needs
another value.

This registry repair software interprets several errors in your
registry and all turn out to be of the same nature as the software A and
B problem... It's not really a problem, just an intrepretation of the
program.

Registry Mechanic has a way of seeing these "problems" and usually
avoid them which is why I have used it for so long.

/ Ani


.

Yes, I'd only use one as a last resort now, before a clean install.

"shakey" wrote:

From what I gather in forums more related to computer operations than this
office forum registry cleaners and other registry programs all cause more
problems than they cure. I have had this computer over 6 years and NEVER had
a registry problem.Do not try to fix something that's not broken. I do
routinely use spyware and other computer security programs as well as a
Avast.
SG
"Kevryl" wrote in message
...
(I just posted the question about reinstalling Windows 7 on my sluggish
pc)

I'm wondering about "registry errors" progreams. On a previous computer I
trusted "RegCure" to repair registry errors and it was the beginning of
all
my problems on that previous (XP) machine!

I'm wondering tho, are these registry programs just a take, or did I just
have a bad experience? Is there a reliable one that is likely to fix my
Windows 7 pc? There doesn't seem to be anything in Windows 7 itself to do
that. Needless to say I'm skeptical.


.

Because it seems to be general opinion that removing programs doesn't
completely clear the registry, and I have reached desparation point.

However, I've taken your points on board and I won't use one until the next
step is a totally clean install on a formatted drive.
Thanks

"Peter Foldes" wrote:


Why would you even think you'd ever need to clean your registry?
What specific *problems* are you actually experiencing (not some
program's bogus listing of imaginary problems) that you think can be
fixed by using a registry "cleaner?"

If you do have a problem that is rooted in the registry, it would
be far better to simply edit (after backing up, of course) only the
specific key(s) and/or value(s) that are causing the problem. After
all, why use a chainsaw when a scalpel will do the job? Additionally,
the manually changing of one or two registry entries is far less likely
to have the dire consequences of allowing an automated product to make
multiple changes simultaneously. The only thing needed to safely clean
your registry is knowledge and Regedit.exe.

The registry contains all of the operating system's "knowledge" of
the computer's hardware devices, installed software, the location of the
device drivers, and the computer's configuration. A misstep in the
registry can have severe consequences. One should not even turning
loose a poorly understood automated "cleaner," unless he is fully
confident that he knows *exactly* what is going to happen as a result of
each and every change.

Having repeatedly seen the results of inexperienced people using
automated registry "cleaners," I can only advise all but the most
experienced computer technicians (and/or hobbyists) to avoid them all.
Experience has shown me that such tools simply are not safe in the hands
of the inexperienced user. If you lack the knowledge and experience to
maintain your registry by yourself, then you also lack the knowledge and
experience to safely configure and use any automated registry cleaner,
no matter how safe they claim to be.

More importantly, no one has ever demonstrated that the use of an
automated registry "cleaner," particularly by an untrained,
inexperienced computer user, does any real good, whatsoever. There's
certainly been no empirical evidence offered to demonstrate that the use
of such products to "clean" WinXP's registry improves a computer's
performance or stability. Given the potential for harm, it's just not
worth the risk.

Granted, most registry "cleaners" won't cause problems each and
every time they're used, but the potential for harm is always there.
And, since no registry "cleaner" has ever been demonstrated to do any
good (think of them like treating the flu with chicken soup - there's no
real medicinal value, but it sometimes provides a warming placebo
effect), I always tell people that the risks far out-weigh the
non-existent benefits.

I will concede that a good registry *scanning* tool, in the hands
of an experienced and knowledgeable technician or hobbyist can be a
useful time-saving diagnostic tool, as long as it's not allowed to make
any changes automatically. But I really don't think that there are any
registry "cleaners" that are truly safe for the general public to use.
Experience has proven just the opposite: such tools simply are not safe
in the hands of the inexperienced user.

A little further reading on the subject:

Why I don't use registry cleaners
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=643

AumHa Forums • View topic - AUMHA Discussion: Should I Use a Registry
Cleaner?
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=28099



--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

"Kevryl" wrote in message
...
(I just posted the question about reinstalling Windows 7 on my sluggish pc)

I'm wondering about "registry errors" progreams. On a previous computer I
trusted "RegCure" to repair registry errors and it was the beginning of all
my problems on that previous (XP) machine!

I'm wondering tho, are these registry programs just a take, or did I just
have a bad experience? Is there a reliable one that is likely to fix my
Windows 7 pc? There doesn't seem to be anything in Windows 7 itself to do
that. Needless to say I'm skeptical.

.

"Kevryl" wrote in message
...
Because it seems to be general opinion that removing programs doesn't
completely clear the registry,

Which has an almost completely negligible affect on computer
performance.....

Which has an almost completely negligible affect on computer
performance.....

Thanks, Gordon. Animenia commented that one program can change the value of
an entry that another program relied on. I guess if removing that later
program doesn't restore the original value then the program that relies on it
is likely to malfunction. But then, probably no auto cleaner could handle
that one anyway.

I recall when I ran RegCure a cuppla years back, it told me I had some
enormous number of broken shortcuts. I was suspicious then, and I never
really understood how a bit of ..."rubbish DNA" in the registry could cause a
slow-down if it wasn't called upon and was just a bit of useless text.

Oh the mysteries of life... I remember when it was sooo much simpler and
uninstalling a program consisted of nothing more than deleting the whole
director it was in. Oh, and "640k should be enough for anyone" LOL. Yep. I'm
not a spring chook any more!

Cheers

The reason Microsoft don't provide a built-in Registry Checker is
because they consider them unsafe and capable of doing more harm than
good. After several years of using various Registry Checkers myself I'm
now on the side of "leave well alone".

This change of opinion has been brought about by having had a few
registry-related errors and crashes which I've never had since I stopped
use such utilities, and I've tried many of them, both free and
commercial ones.

I now prefer to check the Registry manually after uninstalling a
program, just to delete the program key in the 'Software' sections - and
that's all (unless I'm fixing a particular problem and the instructions
involve editing or adding a Registry entry).