 Ccleaner "vs" Window Washer |
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  Oct 22 2009, 08:09 PM
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#1
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 Distinguished Member  Group: Members Posts: 667 Joined: 15-April 08 From: Long Island New York Member No.: 203,246  |
-------------------- Owner of to many computers some new, some gathering dust!
Main home built ASRock ConRoe 1333-D667 3.4 dual, core 2g ram, XP home SP3 working through a WRT160Nv2 733 Dell backup Acer Aspire One SSD w/Flash Point for travel. Dell GX60 XP home 2g ram |
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Oct 23 2009, 07:54 AM
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#2
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 I know the drill! Group: Malware Response Team Posts: 9,421 Joined: 24-July 08 From: London Member No.: 224,929 |
Bleeping Computer DOES NOT recommend the use of registry cleaners/optimizers for several reasons:
Registry cleaners are extremely powerful applications that can damage the registry by using aggressive cleaning routines and cause your computer to become unbootable. The Windows registry is a central repository (database) for storing configuration data, user settings and machine-dependent settings, and options for the operating system. It contains information and settings for all hardware, software, users, and preferences. Whenever a user makes changes to settings, file associations, system policies, or installed software, the changes are reflected and stored in this repository. The registry is a crucial component because it is where Windows "remembers" all this information, how it works together, how Windows boots the system and what files it uses when it does. The registry is also a vulnerable subsystem, in that relatively small changes done incorrectly can render the system inoperable. For a more detailed explanation, read Understanding The Registry. Not all registry cleaners are created equal. There are a number of them available but they do not all work entirely the same way. Each vendor uses different criteria as to what constitutes a "bad entry". One cleaner may find entries on your system that will not cause problems when removed, another may not find the same entries, and still another may want to remove entries required for a program to work. Not all registry cleaners create a backup of the registry before making changes. If the changes prevent the system from booting up, then there is no backup available to restore it in order to regain functionality. A backup of the registry is essential BEFORE making any changes to the registry. Improperly removing registry entries can hamper malware disinfection and make the removal process more difficult if your computer becomes infected. For example, removing malware related registry entries before the infection is properly identified can contribute to system instability and even make the malware undetectable to removal tools. The usefulness of cleaning the registry is highly overrated and can be dangerous. In most cases, using a cleaner to remove obsolete, invalid, and erroneous entries does not affect system performance but it can result in "unpredictable results". Unless you have a particular problem that requires a registry edit to correct it, I would suggest you leave the registry alone. Using registry cleaning tools unnecessarily or incorrectly could lead to disastrous effects on your operating system such as preventing it from ever starting again. For routine use, the benefits to your computer are negligible while the potential risks are great. Having said that Ccleaner does a fine job of temp/cache/cookie cleaning if you avoid the registry option. 
--------------------  m0le is a proud member of UNITE (Unified Network of Instructors and Trusted Eliminators) m0le can be found at Bleeping Computer Geeks To Go, and SpywareHammer If I have helped you fix your PC then please donate to the anti-malware cause. Thanks |
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Oct 23 2009, 08:28 AM
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#3
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Distinguished Member Group: Members Posts: 667 Joined: 15-April 08 From: Long Island New York Member No.: 203,246 |
Thanks for your reply, Ok turning off the registry feature does Ccleaner do as good a job as Window Washer? Am I wasting $$ on WW?
Phil -------------------- Owner of to many computers some new, some gathering dust!
Main home built ASRock ConRoe 1333-D667 3.4 dual, core 2g ram, XP home SP3 working through a WRT160Nv2 733 Dell backup Acer Aspire One SSD w/Flash Point for travel. Dell GX60 XP home 2g ram |
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Oct 23 2009, 08:37 AM
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#4
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I know the drill! Group: Malware Response Team Posts: 9,421 Joined: 24-July 08 From: London Member No.: 224,929 |
IMHO, yes.
Window Washer does have more features but Ccleaner doesn't really miss them and is free. The Ccleaner ease of use and set out is exactly what you would expect for no money but once you acquaint yourself with them you should be fine (and thirty bucks up). -------------------- m0le is a proud member of UNITE (Unified Network of Instructors and Trusted Eliminators) m0le can be found at Bleeping Computer Geeks To Go, and SpywareHammer If I have helped you fix your PC then please donate to the anti-malware cause. Thanks |
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