How to cleanup registry

What is the best software to keep XP running at full speed?
Should the registry be cleaned?

I have had several problems that I have had to fix. (reinstalls)

Is there one tool that does it all?

I am a very heavy user.

Thanks,
Scott

Scott NOFX wrote:
> What is the best software to keep XP running at full speed?


It's built-in maintenance tools, Chkdsk, Disk Cleanup, and the Disk
Defragmenter.


> Should the registry be cleaned?
>


Not unless there's a specific problem that a straight-forward edit can
fix. Why would you think you need to clean your registry?

What specific problem are you experiencing that you *know* beyond
all reasonable doubt will 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. Why use a shotgun 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, no one has ever demonstrated, to my satisfaction, that the
use of an automated registry cleaner, particularly by an untrained,
inexperienced computer user, does any real good. 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.


> I have had several problems that I have had to fix. (reinstalls)
>


"Reinstalls" of what, precisely?


> Is there one tool that does it all?
>


The most accurate answer, even if it seems facetious, is *you*. There
is certainly no automated software product that can even come close to
taking the place of a knowledgeable and pro-active user.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
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both at once. - RAH

Scott NOFX wrote:
>
> What is the best software to keep XP running at full speed?
> Should the registry be cleaned?
>
> Is there one tool that does it all?

No such animal. Dont be suckered into buying one.




--
http://www.bootdisk.com/

Plato wrote:

> Scott NOFX wrote:
>>
>> What is the best software to keep XP running at full speed?
>> Should the registry be cleaned?
>>
>> Is there one tool that does it all?
>
> No such animal. Dont be suckered into buying one.


I couldn't agree more. Panaceas like the one Scott is looking for are all
marketing hype.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

x-no-archive: yes
On Fri, 30 Dec 2005 02:38:44 GMT, "Scott NOFX" <scott@saebuilders.com>
wrote:

>What is the best software to keep XP running at full speed?
>Should the registry be cleaned?
>
>I have had several problems that I have had to fix. (reinstalls)
>
>Is there one tool that does it all?
>
>I am a very heavy user.
>
>Thanks,
>Scott
>
I'd recommend a hand full.

Not one.

And you are not a heavier user than I am. I am retired, disabled, and
I probably sit at my computer 12 hours a day MINIMUM, 7 days a week.


First, I have Norton SystemWorks 2003. I have also installed GoBack
(same disk).

Don't let anyone tell you that there are 10,000 other programs that
are "better", that Norton is crap. I've been at this for some 25 years
now, and I have not found anything better.

But it won't do it all. Load Norton 2003 System Works. Disable the
Anti-virus. It's crap.

Load GoBack.

Go to www.download.com and get Registry Cleaner, and Registry Washer.

Registry Washer is free. You pay for Registry Washer.

Look elsewhere in here and get Cleaner (Crap Cleaner).

I probably run Norton 5 times a day. It's amazing the CRAP Windows XP
dumps into your system daily.

If you can get Windows Defrag to run, it's the best. I find it
intermittent.


Good luck!

And keep that puppy clean! As the Beatles used to say, "It's a clean
machine!" (that works best)


Tallahassee

On Thu, 29 Dec 2005 19:55:20 -0700, Bruce Chambers
<bchambers@cable0ne.n3t> wrote:


> 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.

Standard Microsoft response.

Sean Cousins wrote:

> On Thu, 29 Dec 2005 19:55:20 -0700, Bruce Chambers
> <bchambers@cable0ne.n3t> wrote:
>
>
>> 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.
>
> Standard Microsoft response.

Since none of us who responded works for Microsoft, that's an inaccurate
comment. However, all of us have fixed many, many systems - in Real
Life(tm) and in the newsgroups - of people who ran a registry cleaner
with sad results. The OP should do a Google Groups Advanced Search in
this newsgroup (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general) for "registry
cleaners" and he'll get a ton of posts.

Sure, go ahead and use a registry cleaner. I'm sure some local computer
repair shop will enjoy the benefit, but the OP won't.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

On Thursday 29 December 2005 06:38 pm, Scott NOFX had this to say in
microsoft.public.windowsxp.general:

> What is the best software to keep XP running at full speed?

There is none.

> Should the registry be cleaned?
>
The registry should be done away with. It was stupid from its inception.

> I have had several problems that I have had to fix. (reinstalls)
>
> Is there one tool that does it all?
>
Yes, it's called Linux.

> I am a very heavy user.
>
Not heavy enough if you insist on using the toy operating system you're
using.


> Thanks,
> Scott

You're welcome. Enjoy!


--
A Microsoft Certified System Engineer is to information technology
as a McDonalds Certified Food Specialist is to the culinary arts.

Scott NOFX wrote:

> What is the best software to keep XP running at full speed?
> Should the registry be cleaned?
>
> I have had several problems that I have had to fix. (reinstalls)
>
> Is there one tool that does it all?
>
> I am a very heavy user.
>
> Thanks,
> Scott
>
>

I use SystemSuite. You can buy it at www.v-com.com. It has a registry
fixer (not cleaner) which I have never had a problem with, although I
don't recommend the auto registry fixer in the program, just the manual one.

--
Alias

Use the Reply to Sender feature of your news reader program to email me.
Utiliza Responder al Remitente para mandarme un mail.

Bruce Chambers wrote:

> Scott NOFX wrote:
>
>> What is the best software to keep XP running at full speed?
>
>
>
> It's built-in maintenance tools, Chkdsk, Disk Cleanup, and the Disk
> Defragmenter.
>
>
>> Should the registry be cleaned?
>>
>
>
> Not unless there's a specific problem that a straight-forward edit
> can fix. Why would you think you need to clean your registry?

To clean out all the crap, of course. I have literally removed thousands
of entries using SystemSuite from hundreds of computer and all of them,
without exception, ran smoother and faster than before the clean up. I
also do SystemSuite's registry defrag once I'm doing cleaning out all
the crap from the registry.

--
Alias

Use the Reply to Sender feature of your news reader program to email me.
Utiliza Responder al Remitente para mandarme un mail.