BleepingComputer.com: Registry Cleaners...do They Work?

2 Pages
1
2
→

You cannot start a new topic
You cannot reply to this topic

Registry Cleaners...do They Work?

#1 Tony23

Member

Group: Members
Posts: 16
Joined: 24-April 07

Posted 30 April 2007 - 04:18 AM

G'day,

I was just wondering if it worth downloading or buying Registry cleaners for your computer?

Do they work?

If so, which is the best to get and what other ways are there to increase the speed of your computer?

Cheers,

Tony

#2 Mr Alpha

Forum Addict

Group: Members
Posts: 1,875
Joined: 25-November 04
Gender:Male
Location:Finland

Posted 30 April 2007 - 05:29 AM

Registry cleaners do not speed up the computer.

#3 Tony23

Member

Group: Members
Posts: 16
Joined: 24-April 07

Posted 30 April 2007 - 05:55 AM

Ah ok, we'll don't they do good stuff for it?

I'm just trying to make things run smoother.

#4 rowal5555

Just enough info to be armed & dangerous...

Group: Members
Posts: 2,644
Joined: 18-March 06
Gender:Male
Location:St Kilda, Dunedin. South Island. NZ

Posted 30 April 2007 - 06:12 AM

The registry is designed to operate just fine with lots of bits and pieces left over. An occasional clean with M$ Windows Live OneCare scan a couple of times a year should be fine but overcleaning can stuff your system. I certainly wouldn't pay for a so-called registry cleaner.

You use these at your own risk.

Cheers

rowal5555 (Rob )
Avid supporter of Bleeping Computer's
Team 38444
You can help find a cure

#5 Tony23

Member

Group: Members
Posts: 16
Joined: 24-April 07

Posted 30 April 2007 - 06:51 AM

Ok, no worries. Thanks alot for your help.

Cheers,

Tony

#6 acklan

Bleepin' cat's meow

Group: Members
Posts: 8,524
Joined: 11-January 05
Location:Baton Rouge, La.

Posted 30 April 2007 - 07:30 AM

One word of caution. You should make backups of your registry often. If your registry becomes corrupted you may end up reinstalling windows.
Cleaning the registry will not speed your computer up, and very well could damage your registry.I like and use a registry backup program weekly, ERUNT, or when ever I make a major change to my computer.
If you do not know how to work on your registry you should not be working on it.
Sorry if I sound harsh but this can destroy your operating system and all of your data could be lost.

This post has been edited by acklan: 30 April 2007 - 07:30 AM

"2007 & 2008 Windows Shell/User Award"

#7 rowal5555

Just enough info to be armed & dangerous...

Group: Members
Posts: 2,644
Joined: 18-March 06
Gender:Male
Location:St Kilda, Dunedin. South Island. NZ

Posted 30 April 2007 - 08:15 AM

Couldn't agree more. Have used ERUNT forever to backup at each reboot. Just have to remember every blue moon to go to ERDNT and remove a pile of the older ones.

rowal5555 (Rob )
Avid supporter of Bleeping Computer's
Team 38444
You can help find a cure

#8 jgweed

Forum Addict

Group: Global Moderator
Posts: 27,613
Joined: 11-April 04
Gender:Male
Location:Chicago, Il.

Posted 30 April 2007 - 09:19 AM

The problem with registry cleaners is, unless you are extremely careful and are fairly knowledgeable about your operating systems, they can do immense harm to how your computer functions. Compare this to any potential---and minor---improvement in performance, and you will avoid cleaners like the plague.
You will have much better, and safer, results performing routine maintenance on your computer. Some steps you can take are listed here:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic44690.html

Cheers,
John

Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one should be silent.

#9 acklan

Bleepin' cat's meow

Group: Members
Posts: 8,524
Joined: 11-January 05
Location:Baton Rouge, La.

Posted 30 April 2007 - 04:57 PM

rowal5555, on Apr 30 2007, 08:15 AM, said:

Couldn't agree more. Have used ERUNT forever to backup at each reboot. Just have to remember every blue moon to go to ERDNT and remove a pile of the older ones.

I burn my backup to a disk. If you use the multisession option you can make 99 burns per CD.

"2007 & 2008 Windows Shell/User Award"

#10 oldf@rt

Forum Addict

Group: Members
Posts: 2,609
Joined: 06-November 05
Gender:Male
Location:Avondale, Arizona USA

Posted 30 April 2007 - 05:07 PM

And if you dont believe in backups, this word of caution, BACKUP.

Murphys Laws of computing:

24. The likelihood of a hard disk crash is in direct proportion to the value of the material that hasn't been backed up.

got it from here: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/6271/murph008.html

The name says it all -- 59 and holding permanently

**WARNING** _{Links I provide might cause brain damage}

#11 rowal5555

Just enough info to be armed & dangerous...

Group: Members
Posts: 2,644
Joined: 18-March 06
Gender:Male
Location:St Kilda, Dunedin. South Island. NZ

Posted 30 April 2007 - 05:16 PM

Occasionally - not as often as I should - I poke a copy over to My GSpace so it is out of harm's way. Have got my Acronis TI and ext USB backup drive all organised now so am about as safe as can be (touch wood). :thumbsup:

rowal5555 (Rob )
Avid supporter of Bleeping Computer's
Team 38444
You can help find a cure

#12 Tony23

Member

Group: Members
Posts: 16
Joined: 24-April 07

Posted 01 May 2007 - 01:44 AM

Righty O, I'll try and navigate my way through ERUNT and backup up my registry.

I appreciate the advice.

Cheers,

Tony

#13 rowal5555

Just enough info to be armed & dangerous...

Group: Members
Posts: 2,644
Joined: 18-March 06
Gender:Male
Location:St Kilda, Dunedin. South Island. NZ

Posted 01 May 2007 - 01:47 AM

You don't have to do much Tony.

Just run the program and it will backup automatically each time you reboot.

It is a 'set & forget'

rowal5555 (Rob )
Avid supporter of Bleeping Computer's
Team 38444
You can help find a cure

#14 Tony23

Member

Group: Members
Posts: 16
Joined: 24-April 07

Posted 01 May 2007 - 01:54 AM

Ah ok, I should be able to handle that.

Also, what do you think of buying Spyware Doctor as a protector? Or do you think I should use AVG Anti-Spyware or perhaps something better?

#15 rowal5555

Just enough info to be armed & dangerous...

Group: Members
Posts: 2,644
Joined: 18-March 06
Gender:Male
Location:St Kilda, Dunedin. South Island. NZ

Posted 01 May 2007 - 03:54 AM

I haven't used those two but I imagine they would be fine.

What seems to work for me, is the paid version of SuperAntiSpyware, and the freebies SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard, and SpybotSD, with an occasional scan with Windows Live OneCare. I know its not the best one around but I am more comfortable using an M$ product if it is going near my Registry.

Have you had a look at all the freebies recommended by members HERE??

Good luck, Cheers