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How do I clean my windows XP registry
Arnie
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Arnie, I use Easy Cleaner. Make a backup before you clean. Just in case.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download414.html
"Arnie" <Arnie[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:70FBA902-5D03-4D3C-95D0-B6E6418B88CB[ at ]microsoft.com...
[Quoted Text] > How do I clean my windows XP registry
>
>
> Arnie
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On Wed, 4 Jul 2007 10:54:02 -0700, Arnie
<Arnie[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
[Quoted Text] > How do I clean my windows XP registry
Don't!
I strongly recommend *against* the use of registry cleaners. Cleaning
of the registry isn't needed and is dangerous. Leave the registry
alone and don't use any registry cleaner. Despite what many people
think, and what vendors of registry cleaning software try to
convince you of, having unused registry entries doesn't really hurt
you.
The risk of a serious problem caused by a registry cleaner erroneously
removing an entry you need is far greater than any potential benefit
it may have.
--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup
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Arnie wrote:
[Quoted Text] > How do I clean my windows XP registry
>
>
> Arnie
Why do you think you 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 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 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.
The only thing needed to safely clean your registry is knowledge
and Regedit.exe. 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.
Further, and most 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.
I always use Regedit.exe. I trust my own experience and judgment
far more than I would any automated registry cleaner. I strongly
encourage others to acquire the knowledge, as well.
--
Bruce Chambers
Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin
Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
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Wed, 4 Jul 2007 10:54:02 -0700 from Arnie
<Arnie[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com>:
[Quoted Text] > How do I clean my windows XP registry
Do that right after you use Comet to clean your eyeglasses.
Seriously -- if you had read this group before posting, you would see
that the experts recommend very strongly against any so-called
registry cleaner. If you know what you're doing, you don't need it,
and if you don't know what you're doing, you're likely to muck things
up pretty badly.
--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA
http://OakRoadSystems.com/
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Arnie
I cannot echo more strongly than it was posted by others. Do NOT use a Registry Cleaner tool. Even with back up if it happens to remove a string that is needed by Windows to boot what are you going to do with the backup if you cannot boot to Windows to get to your backup.
Using a Registry Cleaner is similar to Russian Roulette. Also it does nothing and does not save much space as most believe
--
Peter
Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.
"Arnie" <Arnie[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:70FBA902-5D03-4D3C-95D0-B6E6418B88CB[ at ]microsoft.com...
[Quoted Text] > How do I clean my windows XP registry
>
>
> Arnie
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I ordered SpeedUpMyPC3, also Registry Booster2 because I was told that it
would help speed up my computer. Paid a lot of money for something I don`t
need? What do I do now, I can`t get a refund for being stupid.
"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:
[Quoted Text] > On Wed, 4 Jul 2007 10:54:02 -0700, Arnie > <Arnie[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote: > > > How do I clean my windows XP registry > > > Don't! > > I strongly recommend *against* the use of registry cleaners. Cleaning > of the registry isn't needed and is dangerous. Leave the registry > alone and don't use any registry cleaner. Despite what many people > think, and what vendors of registry cleaning software try to > convince you of, having unused registry entries doesn't really hurt > you. > > The risk of a serious problem caused by a registry cleaner erroneously > removing an entry you need is far greater than any potential benefit > it may have. > > > -- > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User > Please Reply to the Newsgroup > |
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Arnie, though I agree in principle with the opinions echoed here, the
hysterics make me laugh. I have used Easy Cleaner on
my Win2k and WinXP registries for a few years now and never had a
problem. Russian Roulette, LOL.
"Arnie" <Arnie[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:70FBA902-5D03-4D3C-95D0-B6E6418B88CB[ at ]microsoft.com...
[Quoted Text] > How do I clean my windows XP registry
>
>
> Arnie
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missnewbie wrote:
[Quoted Text] > I ordered SpeedUpMyPC3, also Registry Booster2 because I was told that it
> would help speed up my computer. Paid a lot of money for something I don`t
> need? What do I do now, I can`t get a refund for being stupid.
>
All you can do now is chalk it up as an unnecessarily expensive lesson.
--
Bruce Chambers
Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin
Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
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Wed, 4 Jul 2007 16:10:01 -0700 from missnewbie
<missnewbie[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com>:
[Quoted Text] > I ordered SpeedUpMyPC3, also Registry Booster2 because I was told that it
> would help speed up my computer. Paid a lot of money for something I don`t
> need? What do I do now, I can`t get a refund for being stupid.
Take this as a lesson: next time, read reviews before you buy.
"Reviews" is maybe not the right word -- read experts' comments
before you buy. Do some research (e.g. Google) before you post a
query on the newsgroup.
Three years ago I bought an HP All-in-One that was nothing but
trouble. The driver was over a hundred megabytes, it slowed my
computer way down, and the scanner wouldn't scan -- to name just a
few of the problems. Then I googled for that model and found the many
warnings against it, naming exactly the problems I had been having. I
took it as a lesson and since then I do my research before making a
purchase.
If you haven't opened the software, you can probably return it for a
full refund. At least it won't hurt to ask.
If you have opened it, according to Cem Kaner in /Bad Software/ the
Uniform Commercial Code still gives you the right to return it as
unsatisfactory. But it might be more trouble than it's worth to argue
that point.
--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA
http://OakRoadSystems.com/
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On Wed, 4 Jul 2007 16:10:01 -0700, missnewbie
<missnewbie[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
[Quoted Text] > I ordered SpeedUpMyPC3, also Registry Booster2 because I was told that it
> would help speed up my computer. Paid a lot of money for something I don`t
> need? What do I do now, I can`t get a refund for being stupid.
Sorry to hear that, but not only do I not believe in Registry
Cleaners, but I also don't believe in snake oil products like "Speed
Up My PC."
>
> "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:
>
> > On Wed, 4 Jul 2007 10:54:02 -0700, Arnie
> > <Arnie[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> >
> > > How do I clean my windows XP registry
> >
> >
> > Don't!
> >
> > I strongly recommend *against* the use of registry cleaners. Cleaning
> > of the registry isn't needed and is dangerous. Leave the registry
> > alone and don't use any registry cleaner. Despite what many people
> > think, and what vendors of registry cleaning software try to
> > convince you of, having unused registry entries doesn't really hurt
> > you.
> >
> > The risk of a serious problem caused by a registry cleaner erroneously
> > removing an entry you need is far greater than any potential benefit
> > it may have.
> >
> >
> > --
> > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
> > Please Reply to the Newsgroup
> >
--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup
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On Wed, 4 Jul 2007 17:07:52 -0700, "Rich Barry" <rbarry[ at ]socal.rr.com>
wrote:
[Quoted Text] > Arnie, though I agree in principle with the opinions echoed here, the
> hysterics make me laugh. I have used Easy Cleaner on
> my Win2k and WinXP registries for a few years now and never had a
> problem. Russian Roulette, LOL.
Peter's point, when he says "Russian Roulette," is that when you play
Russian Roulette, most of the time, you *don't* get killed.
But if you play it often enough, you will get killed. Registry
Cleaners, although they don't burn you every time you use them, are a
bad risk.
> "Arnie" <Arnie[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:70FBA902-5D03-4D3C-95D0-B6E6418B88CB[ at ]microsoft.com...
> > How do I clean my windows XP registry
> >
> >
> > Arnie
>
--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup
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Arnie, along with Easy Cleaner which is free, I have used System
Mechanic 7 many times for a 30 day free trial.
Never had a problem with that either.
"Arnie" <Arnie[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:70FBA902-5D03-4D3C-95D0-B6E6418B88CB[ at ]microsoft.com...
[Quoted Text] > How do I clean my windows XP registry
>
>
> Arnie
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Thanks for the good advise, will do research next time. This was bought
online so probably won`t be able to get refund. Oh well, lesson learned.
Thanks again.
"Stan Brown" wrote:
[Quoted Text] > Wed, 4 Jul 2007 16:10:01 -0700 from missnewbie > <missnewbie[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com>: > > I ordered SpeedUpMyPC3, also Registry Booster2 because I was told that it > > would help speed up my computer. Paid a lot of money for something I don`t > > need? What do I do now, I can`t get a refund for being stupid. > > Take this as a lesson: next time, read reviews before you buy. > "Reviews" is maybe not the right word -- read experts' comments > before you buy. Do some research (e.g. Google) before you post a > query on the newsgroup. > > Three years ago I bought an HP All-in-One that was nothing but > trouble. The driver was over a hundred megabytes, it slowed my > computer way down, and the scanner wouldn't scan -- to name just a > few of the problems. Then I googled for that model and found the many > warnings against it, naming exactly the problems I had been having. I > took it as a lesson and since then I do my research before making a > purchase. > > If you haven't opened the software, you can probably return it for a > full refund. At least it won't hurt to ask. > > If you have opened it, according to Cem Kaner in /Bad Software/ the > Uniform Commercial Code still gives you the right to return it as > unsatisfactory. But it might be more trouble than it's worth to argue > that point. > > -- > Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA > http://OakRoadSystems.com/> |
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"Arnie" <Arnie[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:70FBA902-5D03-4D3C-95D0-B6E6418B88CB[ at ]microsoft.com...
[Quoted Text] > How do I clean my windows XP registry
>
>
> Arnie
If you're smart you don't. Registry cleaners do more harm than good and
they do not speed up the machine.
--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM
Do not send mail.
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Wed, 4 Jul 2007 18:37:27 -0700 from Rich Barry <rbarry[ at ]socal.rr.com>:
[Quoted Text] > Arnie, along with Easy Cleaner which is free, I have used System
> Mechanic 7 many times for a 30 day free trial.
You were doubly lucky -- once that your registry wasn't screwed up
(as far as you know), and once that you weren't caught stealing
software. "Many times for a 30-day free trial"??
--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA
http://OakRoadSystems.com/
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Have you tried contacting the venders and see if they do honour a Money Back
satisfaction guarantee? Some venders will refund your money however I don't
know if these particular programs have that option.
--
Harry Ohrn MS MVP [Shell\User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp
"missnewbie" <missnewbie[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0AA308A9-C477-4A52-91DF-9E38115A835C[ at ]microsoft.com...
[Quoted Text] >I ordered SpeedUpMyPC3, also Registry Booster2 because I was told that it > would help speed up my computer. Paid a lot of money for something I don`t > need? What do I do now, I can`t get a refund for being stupid. > > "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote: > >> On Wed, 4 Jul 2007 10:54:02 -0700, Arnie >> <Arnie[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote: >> >> > How do I clean my windows XP registry >> >> >> Don't! >> >> I strongly recommend *against* the use of registry cleaners. Cleaning >> of the registry isn't needed and is dangerous. Leave the registry >> alone and don't use any registry cleaner. Despite what many people >> think, and what vendors of registry cleaning software try to >> convince you of, having unused registry entries doesn't really hurt >> you. >> >> The risk of a serious problem caused by a registry cleaner erroneously >> removing an entry you need is far greater than any potential benefit >> it may have. >> >> >> -- >> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User >> Please Reply to the Newsgroup >>
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I've tried a significant number of different registry cleaners over time.
Only a small number of them were truly dangerous. But as a whole none of
them made a noticeable positive change in performance. I've found that the
basic built in cleaners that come with XP do an adequate job.
--
Harry Ohrn MS MVP [Shell\User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp
"Arnie" <Arnie[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:70FBA902-5D03-4D3C-95D0-B6E6418B88CB[ at ]microsoft.com...
[Quoted Text] > How do I clean my windows XP registry
>
>
> Arnie
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I support a lot of customers with everything from Win95 to WinXP.No Vista
yet but it is coming.
In most cases I have little or no control over what software they install so
problems happen.
My first try at fixing either performance or stability problems is to run a
cleaner.
I prefer "Registry Mechanic".from pctools.com
More times than I can count it finds a lot of problems. When corrected the
system is faster and more stable.
I have never needed it but the fact that it automatically creates a restore
point before cleaning make me feel safe in using it.
Bill
FYI
Most of my customers have 24X7 DSL.
I will not use Norton or MacAfee Virus or Firewall.
I use a hardware firewall and eset Nod32 anti virus.
None of my customers who use this setup have had any virus, adware, or
spyware problems since I settled on this setup.
"Arnie" <Arnie[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:70FBA902-5D03-4D3C-95D0-B6E6418B88CB[ at ]microsoft.com...
[Quoted Text] > How do I clean my windows XP registry
>
>
> Arnie
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So Arnie, did you try Easy Cleaner or were you scared away by all the
comments here?
"Arnie" <Arnie[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:70FBA902-5D03-4D3C-95D0-B6E6418B88CB[ at ]microsoft.com...
[Quoted Text] > How do I clean my windows XP registry
>
>
> Arnie
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Hopefully he was scared away. If you are not competent enough to manually
edit the registry the leave well alone. Registry cleaners can do more harm
than good.
--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User
Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..
"Rich Barry" <rbarry[ at ]socal.rr.com> wrote in message
news:468eac47$0$4709$4c368faf[ at ]roadrunner.com...
[Quoted Text] > So Arnie, did you try Easy Cleaner or were you scared away by all the > comments here? > "Arnie" <Arnie[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:70FBA902-5D03-4D3C-95D0-B6E6418B88CB[ at ]microsoft.com... >> How do I clean my windows XP registry >> >> >> Arnie > >
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That's only your opinion. Back it up with facts.
"John Barnett MVP" <freelanceit[ at ]mvps.org.NOSPAM> wrote in message
news:eatVUCBwHHA.3588[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
[Quoted Text] > Hopefully he was scared away. If you are not competent enough to manually > edit the registry the leave well alone. Registry cleaners can do more harm > than good. > > -- > John Barnett MVP > Associate Expert > Windows - Shell/User > > Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org> Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org> > The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any > kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy, > reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable > for any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out > of the use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in > this mail/post.. > > "Rich Barry" <rbarry[ at ]socal.rr.com> wrote in message > news:468eac47$0$4709$4c368faf[ at ]roadrunner.com... >> So Arnie, did you try Easy Cleaner or were you scared away by all the >> comments here? >> "Arnie" <Arnie[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> news:70FBA902-5D03-4D3C-95D0-B6E6418B88CB[ at ]microsoft.com... >>> How do I clean my windows XP registry >>> >>> >>> Arnie >> >> >
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Mine and a host of other peoples! There is no need to clean the registry
because it doesn't become cluttered as it did in previous versions of
Windows.
--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User
Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..
"Unknown" <unknown[ at ]unknown.kom> wrote in message
news:t8Pji.1651$eY.951[ at ]newssvr13.news.prodigy.net...
[Quoted Text] > That's only your opinion. Back it up with facts. > "John Barnett MVP" <freelanceit[ at ]mvps.org.NOSPAM> wrote in message > news:eatVUCBwHHA.3588[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... >> Hopefully he was scared away. If you are not competent enough to manually >> edit the registry the leave well alone. Registry cleaners can do more >> harm than good. >> >> -- >> John Barnett MVP >> Associate Expert >> Windows - Shell/User >> >> Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org>> Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org>> >> The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any >> kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy, >> reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable >> for any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out >> of the use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in >> this mail/post.. >> >> "Rich Barry" <rbarry[ at ]socal.rr.com> wrote in message >> news:468eac47$0$4709$4c368faf[ at ]roadrunner.com... >>> So Arnie, did you try Easy Cleaner or were you scared away by all the >>> comments here? >>> "Arnie" <Arnie[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >>> news:70FBA902-5D03-4D3C-95D0-B6E6418B88CB[ at ]microsoft.com... >>>> How do I clean my windows XP registry >>>> >>>> >>>> Arnie >>> >>> >> > >
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What are the built in cleaners in XP and how do I access them?
"Harry Ohrn" wrote:
[Quoted Text] > I've tried a significant number of different registry cleaners over time. > Only a small number of them were truly dangerous. But as a whole none of > them made a noticeable positive change in performance. I've found that the > basic built in cleaners that come with XP do an adequate job. > > -- > > > Harry Ohrn MS MVP [Shell\User] > www.webtree.ca/windowsxp > > > "Arnie" <Arnie[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:70FBA902-5D03-4D3C-95D0-B6E6418B88CB[ at ]microsoft.com... > > How do I clean my windows XP registry > > > > > > Arnie > > > |
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There are none and you don't need any. These cleaners are next to
utterly useless and they cause more harm than good.
John
santashelper wrote:
[Quoted Text] > What are the built in cleaners in XP and how do I access them? > > "Harry Ohrn" wrote: > > >>I've tried a significant number of different registry cleaners over time. >>Only a small number of them were truly dangerous. But as a whole none of >>them made a noticeable positive change in performance. I've found that the >>basic built in cleaners that come with XP do an adequate job. >> >>-- >> >> >>Harry Ohrn MS MVP [Shell\User] >>www.webtree.ca/windowsxp >> >> >>"Arnie" <Arnie[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >>news:70FBA902-5D03-4D3C-95D0-B6E6418B88CB[ at ]microsoft.com... >> >>>How do I clean my windows XP registry >>> >>> >>>Arnie >> >> >> |
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"santashelper" <santashelper[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:3AEFA69E-CF01-49E5-91A4-52369A2D0D91[ at ]microsoft.com...
[Quoted Text] > What are the built in cleaners in XP and how do I access them? > > "Harry Ohrn" wrote: > >> I've tried a significant number of different registry cleaners over time. >> Only a small number of them were truly dangerous. But as a whole none of >> them made a noticeable positive change in performance. I've found that >> the >> basic built in cleaners that come with XP do an adequate job. >> >> -- >> >> >> Harry Ohrn MS MVP [Shell\User] >> www.webtree.ca/windowsxp >> >> >> "Arnie" <Arnie[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> news:70FBA902-5D03-4D3C-95D0-B6E6418B88CB[ at ]microsoft.com... >> > How do I clean my windows XP registry >> > >> > >> > Arnie >> >> >>
From the description of how the registry works, it can best be explained as
a type of ISAM file (that is Indexed Sequential Access Method). Such a file
has a built in directory.
In addition, the registry is composed of several files (known as "hives").
The separation into separate files is done for convenience.
The first part of a registry key defines which one of the files contains the
key. Regedit accesses that file and that file only.
The built in directory determines the location in that hive where the key
lies. Regedit goes directly to the specified location, bypassing
intervening records.
Thus, it makes no difference how far into the file the search much go nor
what the intervening locations contain.
Consequently, "cleaning" which should only remove keys which belong to
uninstalled programs, and at best merely reduces the size of the hive. In
this case, a smaller hive may result in a slight improvement in performance.
At worst, the "cleaning" program mistakenly removes keys that merely appear
to belong to an uninstalled program. An incorrect removal of a key
generally has disasterous results because restoring the registry can be
quite difficult.
I wonder if the registry is memory mapped. This procedure allows access to
the hives through the paging mechanism rather than through file system
mechanism. The paging mechanism has less overhead and is faster.
Jim
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Harry Ohrn wrote:
[Quoted Text] > I've tried a significant number of different registry cleaners
> over time. Only a small number of them were truly dangerous. But
> as a whole none of them made a noticeable positive change in
> performance. I've found that the basic built in cleaners that come
> with XP do an adequate job.
santashelper wrote:
> What are the built in cleaners in XP and how do I access them?
You mean how to Add/Remove programs in XP?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307895
You mean CHKDSK?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265
You mean Disk Cleanup?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312
You mean Defragmentation?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314848
Those are nice cleanups and checkers built into Windows XP. If used to
their full potential - they will help keep your system running smoothly and
help warn you of any problems they cannot handle (hardware issues - like a
dying hard disk drive.)
Now - as this conversation was about cleaning the registry - you might have
been referring to that (the conversation is a bit old - so I cannot be
sure.)
There are *no* built-in registry cleaners. Usually - there is no reason to
clean your registry - at least not in a sweeping and uncontrolled manner.
Even if done properly - where you go thruough and confirm each entry being
removed is obsolete/unused - you are unlikely to notice anything.
I like to equate it to a filing cabinet that you have a lot of single sheets
of paper in. Let's say you still have plenty of easily accessible room left
in the cabinet and you do not plan on moving the filing cabinet anywhere and
you don't personally really ever go into that filing cabinet anyway -
someone else does that for you (a proxy). There is important stuff about
you and your family and your finances and legal documents and such stored in
there - organized by whom ever is doing all this 'by proxy' for you. Other
than a feeling of 'that's less messy' - you gain little to nothing by taking
the time to go in and 'straighten things up' and since you weren't the one
putting things there in the first place - you might end up getting rid of
something you end up needing in the future. You don't gain any room in the
area where the filing cabinet is, you didn't need the extra room _in_ the
filing cabinet, you weren't moving the filing cabinet around - so you did
not need to lessen the weight and you are not even sure of what documents
are in there because you usually have a proxy putting stuff in there for you
and you may have never even seen the stuff. It would really be bad if you
did clean it up and then you get a call about being sent to prison unless
you come up with the documents concerning ______, except you have no idea
what they are talking about - so you ask the proxy who does all your filing.
They tell you, "Oh yes! We have those documents in that filing cabinet!" -
and then you realize, "Oops - I think I threw those away..."
The benefit of such cleansing is usually not worth the risk. Especially by
third-parties. In the case of third party registry cleaners (and using the
filing cabinet example) - it's not even you or your original filing proxy
that does the cleaning. So there is *more chance* that something you might
need gets removed permanently.
Not saying you shouldn't - just saying that if you do - think about it
wisely before you do. Make sure your backups are current, make sure you
understand what you are removing for each item you do remove, etc. Do it if
you like - see if you really gain much of anything. If you do see
performance improvement - chances are you had some specific issue from
installing something that was likely still trying to startup or run on
occassion... Something that would have been better fixed some other way -
some way less "burn down the forest because the one tree is sick"... ;-)
I have - in the past - used registry cleaning as part of my cleanup regime
on my machines and others machines. Based off those experiences - I can say
that other than knowing I cleaned up the registry of 'orphaned and obsolete
values' (by the fact that the values were gone) - I got nothing else out of
it - no noticable speed increase, etc. In one or two cases - the machines
no longer booted proprly or could not be logged into - which was worse than
where I started. So I have come to the conclusion that pretty much it is
something that gives no noticable improvement (even on machines with 6+
years of 'build-up' with hundreds of applications being installed and
uninstalled in the worst ways imaginable, spyware and malware infested, even
after repair installations and changes of hardware several times) and
carries a risk with it. Thus my example. So I personally do not clean the
registry unless doing a specific thing according to specific instructions
(and even then - the full image I take the time to make is my backup.)
Now - this is likely to cause some people who are heavy on the "use registry
cleaners - they are good" to come back and respond how this is
"misinformation" - even though I am just teaching caution and sharing
experience gained over years of actually using the cleaners and such.
That's their opinion - and even if they do nothing else - I would ask them
to provide something to equate to (layman terms - like I did) of how
cleaning the windows registry would be useful/good.
Beyond that - those with the opinion that text such as mine above are
misinformation and bad advice often like to challenge others with directly
opposite views of theirs (mine is not directly opposite - but if you go far
enough to one side on a subject - you sometimes think *anyone* not thinking
exactly like you is completely wrong) to give proof - yet have provided none
of their own. When this is pointed out, they often come back with "still
waiting on you to provide proof" or some derivative comment without
providing anything - but still offering the challenge up. So - what it has
become is more of a religious (what do you believe in? well I believe in
this so you must be wrong...) battle than anything else. Neither side
offering up much of anything other than opinions.
I sit in the middle. I personally do not see a benefit - and I have used
quite a few on test machines and such. I tell you that *I* don't
_recommend_ you use them and I tell you why. In then end - let's be
honest - what you do is none of my concern and definitely not my problem. I
have nothing to gain and nothing to lose by telling you my honest opinion on
the matter and giving you my experiences that back up why I have that
opinion. You, on the other hand, might maintain a functioning machine
(through not using a registry cleaner or by proper backups before you do.)
I suggest you read up on the matter - make your own decision. You may even
want to watch this conversation. Usually - anything that causes a battle
for no real reason with neither side of the battle doing anything but
talking loudly about the other side and how they will not 'stand up to the
challenge' or 'how wrong they are' or resorting to personal insults - is
something worthy of avoiding all together. I know I stepped in it this
time - but I am just trying to give you some advice and then - I will bow
out (this is it - I gave you my opinion and am about to give you a starting
place to learn more on your own...)
Good luck!
What is the Windows Registry?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Registry
What are Registry Cleaners?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Registry_cleaner
Other links of interest:
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-Us/article/registry_cleaner_why.htm
(Yes - that *is* from Microsoft. Given your whole computer is not likely
only Microsoft - it's *still* "third party" when it comes to the Windows
Registry contents after use by you and stuff you install, although they know
about their stuff pretty well. *grin*)
Please - base your decision off *your* research and whatever you do - you
should learn proper backup techniques - because bad things can happen to
computer data without warning, rhyme or reason. ;-)
--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
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Shenan wrote:
....
lol, wow, that's a lot of "verbosity: Shenan. Pretty sure I'm the
"misinformation" culprit you mention and I still stand by my claims,
which are very similar to yours if read with comprehension. The
"misinformation" I object to so strongly is the one who preaches "all"
registry are "snake oil", can "never" be trusted, will "always" ... and
on and on.
Although I disagree mildly with some of your points, other than being
"triggered" by this post, I have nothing to say about anything you've
said and with one exception I don't think anyone else does either.
You've identified your experience, described some background, and given
an opinion; that's fine, and logical. In the end you would find that we
aren't very far apart in our opinions, although they are different.
Nothing wrong there. You've made no statements of fact being perceived
as misinformation. In fact, your post is all informative, even though I
feel a certain guilt that you felt the need to shield yourself as you've
done.
It's misinformation like the following that draws my attention. The
rest of this missive contains nothing but quotes from my archives
written by the person I consider to have provided the most
misinformation of anyone on any of the MS groups, including newbies who
think they know something but haven't the experience yet to realize they
don't, and everyone else.
This particular set of quotes covers basically comments about registry
cleaners et al made by our resident misinformationist and inuendo artist
who thinks he can rationalize his way out of any box he paints himself
into. Due to his pompous attitude and touch-typing abilities most have
given up on him but he's been referred to as "one of those" and several
other not so nice descriptions on other groups.
At one time this person was really pretty good. Better than the
average MVP I'd even go so far as to say. But something, somehow, has
clearly in his craw and even without experience with most of the
products he libles, he still does so with a single-colored paint brush.
There's a serious power struggle going on in his mind and for some
reason the groups are one of the places it comes out. At least so far,
other than a poor attitude a lot of times, he has managed to keep it to
only two subjects as far as I know, with newbiews creeping up as a
likely third.
Cheers; here's the list I pulled from archives FYI: I suspect it's not
news to many people here:
-------------
CCleaner is worthless as a registry cleaner. I tried the latest
version on a brand-new OS installation with no additional applications
-------------
(Not that any registry
cleaner can ever be anything but worthless, as they don't serve any
useful purpose, to start with.)
------------
[Quoted Text] > Secondly, Can anyone recommend good registry cleaner and system
> cleaner
> software to tune up my xp machine?
>
There are no such things. All such products are pure snake oil. If
you actually believe such things are useful, you need to find someone
else, with a modicum of technical knowledge, experience, and ability, to
support your users; your lack of knowledge may well be part of the
users' problems.
-----------
> Regcure works GREAT.
>
How can it possibly work "great" when it (like all other so-called
registry cleaners) does absolutely nothing useful?
-----------
> Youre system settings are configured wrong,according to "microsoft"
> &
> "Paul Mcfedries",virtual memory should only be 1 1/2 X youre ram
> memory.
That's a lie. There is no such advice.
------------
> I am looking for a software to optimize windows xp. Such as software
> that
> can clean up the registry and fix windows errors amongst other things.
All such products are pure, unadulterated snake oil. None of them do
any good, and most can easily cause great harm when used by any both the
most experienced. Registry "cleaners" are the worst of the lot.
----------
You mean you didn't "know" what they were, didn't know how to find out,
and, had you been tghe average user, would have just let CCleaner delete
them. Proving for one and all to see just how dangerous registry
cleaners can be. Thank you.
-----------
Because it clearly demonstrates that the registry "cleaner" is listing
nothing but bogus false alarms, as the "problems" it points out are not
problems, at all.
-----------
> Is there any Microsoft approved Registry Cleaning program available.
Yes, sadly, there is. Microsoft saw how many gullible people there
are, and decided to offer their own snake oil product. I provide this
info only to answer your question; in absolutely no way is this to be
construed as any sort of recommendation or endorsement:
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-US/article/registry_cleaner_why.htm
BE WARNED: I DO NOT recommend the use of this or any other registry
cleaner.
---------------
One should not turn 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.
-----------
RegCure. No registry "cleaner" does anything useful, and they all
carry...
--------
Thanks for the update, Gary. I guess I'll have to stop recommending
its use, even for its original, intended purpose. The makers have just
lost all credibility by including a registry "cleaner.".
----------
A registry cleaner - even a safe one, should such ever be developed
- is an exercise in, at best, futility. There is no real need for
registry cleaners, other than to provide a profit to their
manufacturers. On rare occasions, registry cleaners can be, in the
hands of a skilled technician, useful, time-saving diagnostic tools.
Otherwise, they're nothing but snake oil.
-----------
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.
-----------
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.
------------
Huh? Did you even stop to think before asking that question? If my
chosen antivirus application is effective, then I clearly don't get
viruses, even though being occasionally exposed to them by others
sending me infected email attachments, on disks, etc.
-----------
O...n...c...e m...o...r...e, v...e...r...y...
s...l...o...w...l...y, f...o...r... y...o...u...r...
r...e...a...d...i...n...g... p...r...o...b...l...e...m....
A...s I... s...a...i...d..., I... k... n... o... w... i...t...
w...o...r...k...s b...e...c...a...u...s...e i...t...
p...r...e...v...e...n...t...s i...n...f...e...c...t...i...o...n...s
t...o... w...h...i...c...h... I... k...n...o...w I...'v...e...
b...e...e...n... e...x...p...o...s...e...d.....
I... c...a...n'...t... e...x...p...l...a...i...n... i...t...
a...n...y... m...o...r...e s...i...m...p...l...y...
t...h...a...n... t...h...a...t....
--------------
> They are
> just a tool one may use to help.
>
Assuming there's a specific problem which they're designed to address,
yes. But without an existing problem, a registry cleaner, much like a
wrench without a loose nut in site, is completely useless. They serve
no preventative value; never have, never will.
------------
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.
-----------------
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.
-------------------
Left in tact below, simply for historical purposes.
And, a few more comments inline if you're still reading, Shenan:
>
> Now - this is likely to cause some people who are heavy on the "use
> registry cleaners - they are good" to come back and respond how this
> is "misinformation" - even though I am just teaching caution and
> sharing experience gained over years of actually using the cleaners
> and such. That's their opinion - and even if they do nothing else - I
> would ask them to provide something to equate to (layman terms - like
> I did) of how cleaning the windows registry would be useful/good.
If you've read some of my posts, then you've noted that I agree with
you; the vast majority of the time "cleaning" the registry doesn't
result in any fixes or even improvements in anything, especially speeds
of operation.
If you'd like to discuss views and opinions/experiences on the
subject off-group, I'll be happy to; maybe I'll learn something I didn't
know, who knows? I will not post them because many of them are items
I've posted here in the past that Bruce claims I've never done. A lot
of my data is empirical and based on experiences and tests made over the
years, some research, and the experience comes from client's PCs and
their perceived, sometimes validated problems and what it took to get
fixes or at least temporary work-arounds going for them, which I
wouldn't charge if I didn't "fix" the problem literally. Actually, most
of the work in the area of computer maintenance is in the form of
teaching how to keep problems like they had from returning. Safe Hex
and all that.
>
> Beyond that - those with the opinion that text such as mine above are
> misinformation and bad advice often like to challenge others with
> directly opposite views of theirs (mine is not directly opposite -
> but if you go far enough to one side on a subject - you sometimes
> think *anyone* not thinking exactly like you is completely wrong) to
> give proof - yet have provided none of their own. When this is
> pointed out, they often come back with "still waiting on you to
> provide proof" or some derivative comment without providing anything
> - but still offering the challenge up. So - what it has become is
> more of a religious (what do you believe in? well I believe in this
> so you must be wrong...) battle than anything else. Neither side
> offering up much of anything other than opinions.
lol, ya got me! There's a reason for it, but ... you are right.
>
> I sit in the middle. I personally do not see a benefit - and I have
> used quite a few on test machines and such. I tell you that *I* don't
> _recommend_ you use them and I tell you why. In then end - let's be
> honest - what you do is none of my concern and definitely not my
> problem. I have nothing to gain and nothing to lose by telling you
> my honest opinion on the matter and giving you my experiences that
> back up why I have that opinion. You, on the other hand, might
> maintain a functioning machine (through not using a registry cleaner
> or by proper backups before you do.)
registry backups: Another area a LOT of people need help/education in.
It's surprising how many people still think you just export the registry
and then re-import the whole thing if you need to, to fix up your
mistakes. Restore Points and System States just aren't well enough
explained or pointed out my MS or anyone, actually, unless it's in a
specific question/response.
>
> I suggest you read up on the matter - make your own decision. You
> may even want to watch this conversation. Usually - anything that
> causes a battle for no real reason with neither side of the battle
> doing anything but talking loudly about the other side and how they
> will not 'stand up to the challenge' or 'how wrong they are' or
> resorting to personal insults - is something worthy of avoiding all
> together. I know I stepped in it this time - but I am just trying to
> give you some advice and then - I will bow out (this is it - I gave
> you my opinion and am about to give you a starting place to learn
> more on your own...)
And you did a good job of it, too. AFAIC you didn't step "in it". You
are quite reasonable and obviously a thinking person.
Cheers,
Twayne
>
> Good luck!
>
> What is the Windows Registry?
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Registry
>
> What are Registry Cleaners?
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Registry_cleaner
>
> Other links of interest:
> http://onecare.live.com/site/en-Us/article/registry_cleaner_why.htm
> (Yes - that *is* from Microsoft. Given your whole computer is not
> likely only Microsoft - it's *still* "third party" when it comes to
> the Windows Registry contents after use by you and stuff you install,
> although they know about their stuff pretty well. *grin*)
>
> Please - base your decision off *your* research and whatever you do -
> you should learn proper backup techniques - because bad things can
> happen to computer data without warning, rhyme or reason. ;-)
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
--
Not that there's anything
wrong with that
- Seinfeld Actors
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"Twayne" <nobody[ at ]devnull.spamcop.net> wrote in message
news:%234qD0jLLJHA.2164[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
[Quoted Text] > Shenan wrote:
>
> ...
>
> Due to his pompous attitude
Kettle black?
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What about so-called registry defragmentation?
Is this the same or somehow different from disk-defrag?
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[Quoted Text] > What about so-called registry defragmentation?
>
> Is this the same or somehow different from disk-defrag?
It's different. It appears that "registry defrag" only compacts the
database, meaning it removes blanks spots & empty slots in the file and
mostly makes it run faster that way. No changes are made to the actual
registry. Wikipedia has a decent write-up on it.
Twayne
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