Solved Do not use registry cleaners!

Hyphen · Feb 22, 2009

This is just a heads-up for everyone out there not to make this mistake that I made. This does not apply for those programs with specific Vista x64 versions.Recently I purchased a brand new Gateway computer. This computer had lots of pre-installed crapware on it and I did not want that. One of the programs in particular gave a really troublesome uninstall, and it left things messy. Knowing that, and wanting a clean system, I installed and ran RegCure, which found an insane amount of registry errors. I "fixed" them.What basically happened was, just hours after hooking up a brand new computer, RegCure completely destroyed my computer. It could find no networks, Windows Explorer would hardly run, it wouldn't connect to virtual disk management, all system restore dates were unavailable. It ruined my computer and I had to send it in to Gateway repairs with the filler excuse that I was given a faulty hard drive for them to fix my situation.IF YOU USE VISTA x64, IT IS IN MY HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION NOT TO USE ANY TYPE OF REGISTRY CLEANER!

rive0108 · Feb 22, 2009

Hyphen said:
This is just a heads-up for everyone out there not to make this mistake that I made. This does not apply for those programs with specific Vista x64 versions.Recently I purchased a brand new Gateway computer. This computer had lots of pre-installed crapware on it and I did not want that. One of the programs in particular gave a really troublesome uninstall, and it left things messy. Knowing that, and wanting a clean system, I installed and ran RegCure, which found an insane amount of registry errors. I "fixed" them.What basically happened was, just hours after hooking up a brand new computer, RegCure completely destroyed my computer. It could find no networks, Windows Explorer would hardly run, it wouldn't connect to virtual disk management, all system restore dates were unavailable. It ruined my computer and I had to send it in to Gateway repairs with the filler excuse that I was given a faulty hard drive for them to fix my situation.IF YOU USE VISTA x64, IT IS IN MY HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION NOT TO USE ANY TYPE OF REGISTRY CLEANER!

posted from:http://www.vistax64.com/software/86472-latest-ccleaner-version-released.html

rive0108 said:
Is it just me or is there an unusually high number of inexperienced users using this registry cleaner (and other ones like it), and ending up with corrupted Windows files?

The programs often do not discriminate between legitimate and unwanted items, and I think users are too trusting that the things they "clean" are unnecessary or superfluous. Perhaps a warning is warranted?

Actually using Registry Cleaners is not the problem.
Almost every registry cleaner is not able to distinguish between unwanted and legitimate entries, letting it "clean" without oversight is the real issue. If you know the function of the entries it wants to "clean" and clean them it works fine. If you do not know the function then you do not let it "clean" them- rule of thumb.

robertpri · Feb 23, 2009

It is my opinion that reg cleaners are usually worthless, and often dangerous. I just backed my reg and it's 350mb! Cutting a few data lines, or even thousands, is similar to snipping one word from the Sunday edition of the NY Times.

I have yet to see diagnostic, verifiable evidence that they speed up a computer to any degree worthy of the potential downside.

My opinon, of course.

dinesh · Feb 23, 2009

What about ccleaner and auslogics registry defrag?
Are they bad too?

rive0108 · Feb 23, 2009

robertpri said:
It is my opinion that reg cleaners are usually worthless, and often dangerous. I just backed my reg and it's 350mb! Cutting a few data lines, or even thousands, is similar to snipping one word from the Sunday edition of the NY Times.

I have yet to see diagnostic, verifiable evidence that they speed up a computer to any degree worthy of the potential downside.

My opinon, of course.

I dont advocate registry cleaners as I think most users who do use them do so with impunity without really understanding what they are doing, and as a result "clean" or delete critical Windows .dll entries (amongst other things), and end up with a corrupted Windows Installation, and/or program(s).
Honestly, I do not use them myself as there are other ways to improve performance, and If a situation arises where I need to edit the registry I do it through regedit. Easy, and simple.

ps- the best way to obtain a "clean system" on a new purchase is to reformat/re-install Vista and install the necessary programs that you want yourself. Then use a free imaging program to backup the entire drive for quick recovery if ever needed, and always use Vista's file backup utility to back up all your data on a weekly basis.

nate42nd · Feb 23, 2009

These programs are for people who want to have their computers in a more perfect state. I use them, but only for stuff I understand. If I see a registry entry I don't understand, I just skip it. Newer computers are not going to see improved performance (from what i've read) These programs (CCleaner) are not for everyone. They have their place. I have used CCleaner on my XP pro and never had a problem. I'm very careful with my Vista x64.

sygnus21 · Feb 23, 2009

rive0108 said:
Is it just me or is there an unusually high number of inexperienced users using this registry cleaner (and other ones like it), and ending up with corrupted Windows files?

The programs often do not discriminate between legitimate and unwanted items, and I think users are too trusting that the things they "clean" are unnecessary or superfluous. Perhaps a warning is warranted?

The other problem is users who advocate their use as a "fix all" without explanation or understanding. I've read quite a few post where it was recommended to "use a reg cleaner to get rid of "crapware" or use a reg cleaner to “remove anything ATI/Nvidia" - problem...some of those files are base files, or some of that "crapware" is essential to the proper operation of the OS/system.

Yeah, "your" custom built system may not have that "Dell" bloated "crapware" on your system...but on a "Dell" built system, that "crapware" could turn out to be a critical file!!!

No one explains this as they freely advocate the use of "reg cleaners"

That's the problem.

Though I've tried reg cleaners in the past, I don't use them now, nor do I advocate them. I personally think they do more harm than good.

However, If you still desire to use a reg cleaner then I would follow rive0108's advice...

rive0108 said:
Actually using Registry Cleaners is not the problem.
Almost every registry cleaner is not able to distinguish between unwanted and legitimate entries, letting it "clean" without oversight is the real issue. If you know the function of the entries it wants to "clean" and clean them it works fine. If you do not know the function then you do not let it "clean" them- rule of thumb.

Just my two cents

Great post rive

rive0108 · Feb 23, 2009

Why thank you sygnus.:D

sygnus21 · Feb 23, 2009

Thanks. I thougt it was a good post.

robertpri · Feb 23, 2009

I have told others who insist on using reg cleaners to first make a full copy of the registry. Not an image or ghost, but a real exported copy. Create a folder called _00 or something beginning with the underscore that places at the top of the Explore list.

Create a desktop shortcut to a handy place on the screen.

Now use the reg cleaner with EXTREME caution, and not the scorched earth method to fix all.

If all goes well, wonderful. After a safe period, say a few weeks, delete the reg file if you need the space.

But if things go south and the cleaner mess things up, you can boot up, even in safemode, double click that shortcut and import the full file back to the reg.

Reboot, and you are back to original with little effort or risk.

rive0108 · Feb 23, 2009

robertpri said:
I have told others who insist on using reg cleaners to first make a full copy of the registry. Not an image or ghost, but a real exported copy. Create a folder called _00 or something beginning with the underscore that places at the top of the Explore list.

Create a desktop shortcut to a handy place on the screen.

Now use the reg cleaner with EXTREME caution, and not the scorched earth method to fix all.

If all goes well, wonderful. After a safe period, say a few weeks, delete the reg file if you need the space.

But if things go south and the cleaner mess things up, you can boot up, even in safemode, double click that shortcut and import the full file back to the reg.

Reboot, and you are back to original with little effort or risk.

or you could create a system restore point...

robertpri · Feb 23, 2009

or you could create a system restore point...

That might work just fine, and probably would, but I'm not certain I would trust RP's because they some times fail to work. I've seen too many posts [not necessarily here] from users who could not get the RP to restore.

More: my preference for having a full copy of the reg is the same reason I prefer full copies of drives, and not images or ghosts. Those techniques are wonderful, but IMHO, outdated today. When drives were outrageously expensive, such methods were wonderful. But with 1TB drives running for less than $100, to me it makes no sense to risk losing months of work with imaging.

There is nothing quite like full and complete copies

My personal opinion, of course.

robertpri · Feb 23, 2009

rive0108 said:
robertpri said:

or you could create a system restore point...

Click to expand...

That might work just fine, and probably would, but I'm not certain I would trust RP's because they some times fail to work. I've seen too many posts [not necessarily here] from users who could not get the RP to restore.

More: my preference for having a full copy of the reg is the same reason I prefer full copies of drives, and not images or ghosts. Those techniques are wonderful, but IMHO, outdated today. When drives were outrageously expensive, such methods were wonderful. But with 1TB drives running for less than $100, to me it makes no sense to risk losing months of work with imaging.

There is nothing quite like full and complete copies

My personal opinion, of course.

Click to expand...

When you say "full and complete copies" are you refering to file/folder data backup, mirroring, or a complete copy, (aka, image of hdd and partitions)?

Not an image. A fully functional copy, a duplicate of everything, including the OS files. I use apps with Shadow Copy, so they "stop" the OS file for a micro second, copy it, then release it. You normally cannot copy a live OS file, but shadow copies work.

By copying to a second drive, I can boot to either hard drive and they are identical. [it's my backup]

robertpri · Feb 23, 2009

rive0108 said:
Thats called a "Mirror image" and is commonly refered to as RAID 1 when there are two HDD involved. The only differenence is RAID 1 is a "perfect" mirroring, while your appears to be a software snapshot mirror image.

I don't know if it's an image or not. Perhaps so.

But the two drives are identical in size and function. I can disconnect either drive and the remaining one works boots and works perfectly.

I did not know imaged drives could boot by themselves.

robertpri · Feb 23, 2009

I didn't paste the quotes, but that is good info, rive0108, thanks.

I have three USB ext drives: one has a full copy of the original Vista installation. Two has a copy of C and D drives that I update monthly. And three has a C and D copy that I update about weekly or so.

But I never make an update without virus scanning first, also a disk cleanup, and I check the DM for errors.

I am really not so paranoid as to have three such ext disks, but Circuit City went into foreclosure and I could not pass up those discounted prices. It was a two for one price, and I already had a duplicate HD to match the laptop 2.5" drive.

Since i have them, might as well use 'em.

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