Do I need a Registry Cleaner?

[Tafkam]

I just read another post regarding registry cleaners. I don't think I use one. Can anyone tell me if I should be using one & if so, which one? Thanks

[kallikru]

If you do a lot of installing and uninstalling your registry will with time get pretty clogged up with illegal links and references. Most programs can't seem to remove the all registry entries/references when being uninstalled. With time this can add up pretty much and your registry may even get quite fragmented also. This will slow down boot-up and start of programs. That's when you'll want to clean up your registry.

If you don't install/uninstall much - don't bother.

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Karl, Denmark
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"..and may The Force be with you too..."

[Tafkam]

Well, actually I'm installing & uninstalling quite a lot. Demos etc...
Which registry cleaner is recommended?

[johnwedge]

Tafkam,try EasyCleaner from http://www.saunalahti.fi/tonihele/ecleane.htm

[Steve R Jones]

Allways backup your registry before using a cleaner. Cleaners "can" destroy the registry...

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Ever wonder if a fish goes home and exaggerates the size of the bait it stole?

[Trish-A]

Even most Reg cleaners leave something behind. So I use three in this order...
CleanSweep's Reg cleaner.
Jouni Vuorio's RegCleaner.
OleClean.
As Steve R Jones stated always back things up first. All three of the above can back up what's been deleted, but you want a complete backup before you start.

BTW: I've been using the above combo for some time with on problems so far.

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Si Hoc Legere Scis Nimium Eruditionis Habes.
(translation: If you can read this you're
overeducated)

[Tafkam]

pardon my ignorance *blush*.... but how do I back up?

[Trish-A]

I am currently using the following method (Haven't had to put it into action yet).

If you are going to install new software, change critical settings, or even play around with the registry, you can save yourself a lot of trouble just following these simple steps:

1) Create a new folder on your C: drive, and name it backup.

2) With Notepad, create a file named save.bat, with the following lines:

@echo off
copy c:\autoexec.bat c:\backup /v
copy c:\config.sys c:\backup /v
copy c:\windows\win.ini c:\backup /v
copy c:\windows\system.ini c:\backup /v
attrib -s -h -r c:\windows\user.dat
copy c:\windows\user.dat c:\backup /v
attrib +s +h +r c:\windows\user.dat
attrib -s -h -r c:\windows\system.dat
copy c:\windows\system.dat c:\backup /v
attrib +s +h +r c:\windows\system.dat

Save it in \windows. Right click it, click Properties, Program, and uncheck
the Close on exit box.
Create a shortcut for it on your desktop and name it Sysfiles Backup, or give it any other suggestive name.

3) With Notepad, create a file named restore.bat, with the following lines:

@echo off
copy c:\backup\autoexec.bat c:\ /v
copy c:\backup\config.sys c:\ /v
copy c:\backup\win.ini c:\windows /v
copy c:\backup\system.ini c:\windows /v
attrib -s -h -r c:\windows\user.dat
copy c:\backup\user.dat c:\windows /v
attrib +s +h +r c:\windows\user.dat
attrib -s -h -r c:\windows\system.dat
copy c:\backup\system.dat c:\windows /v
attrib +s +h +r c:\windows\system.dat

Save it in \windows.

Before installing new software, change settings, etc., just doubleclick the Sysfiles Backup shortcut on your desktop. You will have a backup copy (located in the backup folder on your C: drive) of your registry, and the other most critical system files.
I usually do this every day or so, to always keep a fresh copy of my system files.

If anything goes wrong, and you need to recover your system files, insert the windows start-up disk, restart your computer, and by the
A:> prompt, type:

c:\windows\restore

Take out the start-up disk, and restart your system again.


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Si Hoc Legere Scis Nimium Eruditionis Habes.
(translation: If you can read this you're
overeducated)

[rustygates]

As Trish mentioned, you want to get a good uninstall program like clean sweep. That will keep most of the junk out of the registry when you uninstall the program. Microsoft's RegCleaner gets rid of a wee bit, but doesn't do all that much. Norton Win Doctor, will repair broken links, and remove obsolete ones.



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R.G.