BleepingComputer.com: registry errors

i use avg antivirus free edition and i analized the pc using avg and it says i have 157 registry errors, 1507 errors in my junk files, and 1 error in my broken shortcut. it also says that it is 48% fregmented. what do all these errors mean? can they harm my computer? how do i fix them? and how do i prevent these in the future? i also looked at the details of my errors and it seems everything i have downloaded has a error. i used ccleaner once to fix my registry errors but ive heard those cause nothing but problems. (im very computer illiterate)

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.

• Ed Bott's Webog: Why I don’t use registry cleaners
  
• Do I need a Registry Cleaner?

so will these "errors" harm my computer if left untreated than? so it sounds like i need a computer tech to fix them? my comp. is running really slow and i thought it could be bcuz of all these errors

Please perform the following, so that we can get the exact specs of your computer. This will better assist us in helping you more.

Publish a Snapshot using Speccy

The below is for those who cannot get online

Please take caution when attaching a text file to your post if you cannot copy/paste the link to your post, you will need to edit it to make sure that your Windows Key is not present.

cant i get the specs of my computer without downloading speccy. its just quite a big file for something i may only use once

It provides more stuff then what you can tell us.

http://speccy.piriform.com/results/tCfpkEbzh7L5fZ4ZLag4XYP if i did this wrong pls let me know...thank you

I see that you are running Windows XP SP2, any reason why you are not using SP3?

there isnt a reason why i dont use sp3 i just dont know much about computers. what is the difference between sp2 and sp3? im sorry if i ask to alot of questions i just like to know what im doing to my computer before i do it. thank you you have been great help so far:)

Windows support for XP ended at SP2 but if you have SP3 you still get support.

westsyde, on 29 March 2011 - 07:58 PM, said:

The free version of AVG wont report this information as it is just basic protection.
I wonder if we are dealing with an AVG rogue?

Are they asking for payment to fix all these errors it purports to find?

so ur saying i got a bad avg program?. it says it analyzes your pc but than it does say u can fix all problems for free once then u have to buy the program...

It is quite possible.

Lets see what comes up:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

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SUPERAntiSpyware:

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Now GMER

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wow thats alot of programs to download. but im putting my trust in you and getting rite on it. i did find this in one of your links just to let you know.... The AVG PC Analyzer component serves to scan your PC for the errors that affect its performance. Below you can find what errors are being searched for by the component:

Registry errors - errors in sytem registry that can affect system stability
Junk Files - unneeded files that take up disk space
Fragmentation - fragmented data that reduce disk access speed
Broken Shortcuts - non-functional shortcuts that reduce explorer browsing speed
Please note that the AVG PC Analyzer can find the errors but it does not fix them. To fix the detected issues, there is a standalone AVG Program - AVG PC TuneUp which is available free for 24-hour trial. For more information about AVG PC TuneUp please visit
...but i will continue to download these programs and hopefully it works:)

This post has been edited by westsyde: 30 March 2011 - 02:52 PM

westsyde, on 30 March 2011 - 02:31 PM, said:

AVG Free will never report that.
Im with Cryptodan on this one. I think youre infected.
Is this what it looks like?
The AVG Rogue even uses the AVG logo and looks quite real but it isnt. It is in fact a virus.

One thing about it though is that it does not report registry errors that you are saying are being reported. So you may be infected with something else.

Run the programs Cryptoday suggests.
Make sure to do the full scans with Malwarebytes and SuperAntiSpyware.
It could take a while so check on it every once in a while & let us know the result.

This post has been edited by Eyesee: 30 March 2011 - 03:16 PM