Everywhere on the Net you will come across ads for Registry Cleaners which claim vast benefits and speed up by cleaning your Registry. These are all BULL and you would be well advised to ignore them completely. Your Registry will toddle along quite happily with thousands of stray entries.

If the CPU can be considered the Heart of your computer, then the Registry is the Brain and you tamper with it at your own risk.

The following is from a timely article by PC World. Your computer, your choice, but it is strongly recommended that you take notice of this.

[[How Best Do I Clean My Registry?

Lincoln Spector, PC World

Nov 4, 2008 6:23 am

(edited) wants some advice on the safest way to use a Registry cleaner.

Has a surgeon ever told you that, although they're an expert and will do the best they can, the operation still has some inherent risks? Imagine replacing the surgeon with some cheap or free software.

There's no truly safe way to clean your Registry, only safer ways. And since this is an inherently dangerous job, the safest option of all is to not do it. I know some experts say you should clean your Registry regularly to improve performance. I disagree. Clean your Registry only if Windows has a serious problem and nothing else works.]]

There is a shareware program out there called RegistryFix, My stepdad (the PC paranoid of all paranoids) even uses it so I think that might have some chance of trustworthy....

Unless you have a specific problem you're trying to correct, it's best to stay out of the Registry.
Registry cleaners mark entries as bad, depending on what the software creator thinks, is bad.
That's why no 2 cleaners will find all of the, same "problems".
Registry "problems" actually have very little effect, on the overall performance of the operating system.

Please see this article:
XP Fixes Myth #1: Registry Cleaners

If you're not experienced with working in the registry, DO NOT ATTEMPT IT.
Improper changes to the registry could render your computer inoperable.

Because of the potential problems, Bleeping Computer does not recommend the use, of registry cleaners.

10/10

Registry cleaners only save you space not speed up your machine.

Space? Not quite. The registry isn't exactly like a folder with files in it. It doesn't "take up space" in the sense people think it does. In reality, all the registry is, is a classification/master list of settings and such. Yes it takes up some space, but to be honest, the benefits of removing the junk entries from the registry, as was said previously, don't overcome the potential problems caused by messing with it.

The bottom line is If it ain't broke, don't fix it! or in this case, don't mess with it!

I have been using CCeaner and it seems to work well when flightsim gets buggy, just use the CC and it clears up the problems and it works.

What does a registry cleaner do?

Here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Registry_cleaner

From the article:



Hope this helps...

"specific problem" is what matters. Some times necessary, partly why Norton makes a removal tool after all ;) Have nothing to do with optimizing or maintaince though. Famous CCleaner is not aggressive as in trying to guess what can be deleted = you dont mess up = you feel better = oh, computers runs just a little better, hehe. Also called placebo.

btw, if anyone is interested in getting numbers! like 3dmark for registry and probably just as questionable when translated to real life http://www.bitsum.com/regbench.php

So are you saying that programs like CCleaner and McAfee (maintance version) and others are not safe to use?
thanks

I personally don't think it's a question of "is it safe, or not"? We at Bleeping Computer feel it is a matter of knowing what the 'tool' or for that matter any tool is doing to your registry. I think tg1911's post #3 including the link to XP fixes myth. As well as Galadriel's post #5, in this thread, capture the essence of Bleeping Computer's position with regards, to the frequent and unnecessary use of 'registry cleaners'.

Wow, I had no idea that 'cleaning' the registry could be so fraught with potential problems. I had been using CCleaner's registry cleaner on a regular basis and never encountered a problem (thus far, anyway). I always thought that cleaning the registry was just clearing out lines of junk that are no longer on my computer, thereby speeding up performance, even if just a bit. It definitely cut down on boot-up times noticeably, though.

Did Microsoft themselves have any kind of official position/statement regarding registry maintenance?

I have been using Jv16PowerTools for years without a problem. jv16Powertools2008 even works in Windows 7.

I do a lot of flight simming and CC works great when things slow down, I just run the cleaner and everything works again.

There are a few good reason why I don't want to use a Registry Cleaner....

1. Just from the fact of what everyone here says about Registry Cleaners (which I've never used one before and never knew they existed until I came here).

2. Because I have a TON of important stuff that's meant for portfolio work (which I should back up soon just in case worst case scenario happens......again.....)

3. Because I don't want to know how it'll react to some of my programs (like Torque) and end up screwing them up beyond repair.

So yeah....in short....when I came here and discovered that there's something called Registry Cleaners as well as hearing the things about them...my mentality went from "Registry Cleaners = ???? They exist?" to "Registry Cleaners = asking for a deathwish to your computer"

.....shutting up.

I whole heartily agree.....I recently incurred a problem that I "thought" was associated with my use of AnyDVD and/or Cyberlink PowerDVD. After using windows tools clean disc and Defragging, the problem still existed .... I did a complete scan with McAfee (which comes with my Broadband subscription) and it indicated two exec files called "Pup.exe". I authorized McAfee to remove them....it then showed some registry items and although I was queasy about o.k.ing it I authorized it to do its thing. Alas! The problem was solved but I do believe it was the Pup.exe causing the problem and not the registry. One more thing..........the builder of my computer told me at the outset ....."never fool around with the registry" yet via my subscription to SmartComputing they cautiously recommended a Registry Cleaner provided by PC World.
Again, caution prevails and I will not use a Registry Cleaner........YOU MUST KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING and there are very few "Brain Surgeons" out there.

Every time you install something it places stuff in the registry. When you uninstall it, it does not remove said stuff. I even use Total Uninstall and I can still find pieces of junk in my registry. I install a great deal of demos and trialware. For this reason I use a registry cleaner and I have never had a problem. The cleaner I use as posted earlier makes a backup of everything it removes just in case. Over time a registry can be messed up with all kinds of useless keys and such.

Well you also use one of the oldest tools of this kind - does a lot more. I take it well suported and updated. This cleaning industry, often associated with the equally shady boosting industry, is filled with terrible products which you probably would not even install. Should be a niche market for "specialists/power users" not advertised as a 1 button solution increasing performance for each run, avoiding crashes, making old computer new again or similar one-liners. What you talk about is more Registry Management. Nothing wrong with that.

Yes I have been using Jv16PowerTools since it was freeware. It is the only one I will use.

I use Ccleaners registry cleaner and also use easycleaners registry clean, the benefits aren't great and you don't notice a huge change but it does help clear out a lot of dead links in the registry such as old program registry entries..

Jamie

I built and loaded this computer with XP pro 3 years ago, I have had 2 serious malware infections and tested lots of various beta software. I have only gone into the registry a handfull of times to surgically remove a key or two and probably just wasted my time. Windows has gotten a lot bigger, mostly from installing SP3. My system partition can still be defragged in a few minutes at most and I can still reboot to a functional desktop in less than 45 seconds, even after initalizng a promise raid controller and a wireless usb adapter.

I have never used a registry cleaner on this computer.

Hello.

Just to give you some information on the "registry" if you know what exactly it is. One of our Malware Expert's have written an article on Registry Cleaning and system tweaking over here and it is worth while reading.

Also Bleeping Computer's staff do not recommend the usage of registry cleaners/tools due to the following facts:

• Registry tools can cause irreparable damage to your Operating System. This could include making your computer inoperatable.
• These programs generally only delete "orphaned" or "dead" entries. This merely removes entries that point to files that no longer exist on your computer. Registry entries do not take up a significant amount of hardrive space. The program itself (and its own registry entries) likely occupy relatively more space.
• The amount of improvement in performance you gain is minimal.

This is done, assuming that the major audience here at this board may be inexperienced users and thus a suggested safeguard from our side.
If you feel that your have sufficient knowledge to use such tools safely, then you are welcome to keep them.

With Regards,
Extremeboy

I also use ccleaner, usually after I uninstall a program or when doing maintenance on a pc. I especially like the fact that it makes a backup of the changes in case something goes wrong. The system cleanup feature (i.e temp files. Cookies, prefetch, etc) is nice also.

I've scanned tons of systems and never had an issue. After reading this though, I may stop using it altogether.

OMG!

I've been using these registry cleaner for quite some times now.
Good that it didn't create any obvious error.

but then I should stop using it.
thanks

A cleaner might work hundreds of times without any problems, but all it takes is that one time, for serious problems to occur.
For me, it's just not worth the risk.

Thats right, and ive learnt the hard way on 1 occasion. Thats exactly how they work.Throw of those chains of reason and your prison will dissapear.

I appreciate that, I was not aware that BC had to approve the software I install on mt PC.

I agree with you rowal5555

Same with me!

Didn't know that could happen.. Might stop using the registry part of CCleaner.

The registry optimizer on CCleaner is rather confusing, which is why registry cleaners and optimizers, in general, are not a good idea!

Doesn't BC advise not to use and discourage Registry Cleaners? For all you know, your next clean out will gut your CPU.. Inside, AND OUT.

BC does advise to NOT use them. Look around the site, you will find out real quick!

Word is mess up once and your done. Your computer will be virtually irreparable, and theres like an idiom for it;

If your processor is the heart of your computer, doesn't that make your registry the brain? Using a Registry Cleaner is like doing open brain surgery- with a ballpoint pen.

What was so funny?

The part where you said that using a registry cleaner is like doing open brain surgery with a ballpoint pen, I believe.

.....but then again, that's almost like what it is.

It is.. Unless you are a professional or know you are doing, you are taking risks of never letting you boot up your computer (or keep the human alive in the open brain surgery)

I thought it was a good analogy, but funny at the same time.

Of course the humor would be lost on someone who had to reload their computer after using a registry cleaner.

Agreed with what DaChew said.

And, of course, the analogy fits just fine. I'm just saying almost to exclude professionals who know what they're doing (and they wouldn't use a ballpoint pen)

And I'm shutting up.

If they used Ballpoint pens, and the patient didn't die, i'd praise them.
Anyways, in all conclusions- Registry Cleaners are to be used under your own risk, and unless you know what your doing, it is STRONGLY advised NOT to touch em'.

Let alone that even if you do know what you're doing, it could still render something useless with one little slip up.

Probably. Thats why your supposed to take precautions while doing something potentially blowing up your computer ^^

I do not know about you, but I found cleaning up my registry is really helpful. Let alone, if you install WINAP (music application) and reinstall it immediately, you will be left with 500+ meaningless entries in your registry. Do it with 100 programs and you end up with 50 thousand meaningless entries in your registry. I do sometimes install 20 programs a day, to check it out... and registry cleaning helps.

Try 1000s for a package like the old Norton System Works. But that is cleaning with a specific purpose, not part of a general way of "optimizing" just because you can. Nortons own Norton Removal Tool does much the same thing.

But when you "clean" out these registry keys, you might have just locked up your computer. Some of them are meaningful, they may just seem meaningless to you.

Get training for editing the registry. Training is as simple as learning online.

It is as simple as that. However, it is not recommended to edit the registry, I will not stop you, obviously from learning.

Great link! I got Glary Utility to clean up my registry. Usually a decent job. Advanced system care is a good one too.

Still, through and through, Registry Cleaners are not recommended in the fact that they can mess up your computer. If I had a dummy rig that I can test one on with some of my programs on here, I'd like to know which ones get blasted into oblivion.

But seriously. I did not see many people coming to bleepingcomputer forum complaining that GLARY or ADVANCED SYSTEM CARE or CCCLEANER messed up their system.