I've always avoided registry cleaners and still do. In fact, I have the registry cleaning aspect of Ccleaner disabled. But I'm wondering how power users feel about registry cleaners in the Windows 7 & 8 era. I know people still use them (but in my experience, those are the same people who download Driver Finders and other unsavory 'free' software). Is it a viable maintenance procedure these days, or does win 7 & 8 render them obsolete?
Salt
I normally use CCleaner at the end of each day because I'm all over the web and IE cache files can get huge. (All scripts, buttons and images are stored for each page visited.) I like it because I can clear IE cache and cookies but save some of my sign-on cookies--It's selective. And, I'm selective with the boxes that are checked. I don't just arbitrarily "clean" everything. I run the Registry scan maybe once a week just to check it but nothing ever shows up.
Ccleaner is the old registry cleaning program I use. And I only do it once every few years. I also only remove keys I know for certain are not needed.
Basic rule.
"If thou does not know what the reg key is for, thou shall leave it alone."
I don't use any of that software. The closest I get is maybe an occasional Revo Uninstall, but even that I use rarely. Windows 7 manages itself well and the Disk Cleanup utility is pretty good. You can even clean up old updates that have been replaced which is not something (as far as I know) that you can do in CCleaner. I like to keep my Windows installations unmodified for the most part.
I use CCleaner for both the file system and the registry at least twice a day. Before I shutdown, I clean both the file system and the registry and after each reboot. It's especially good to run it after removing programs and after updates. I've never had a problem with CCleaner since I started using it at least five years ago. If you use it regularly, your system doesn't have a chance to get cluttered with crap.
It's free and it works well. Be careful with the free download and install though, because it will attempt to install free toolbar crap. I always have to disable my virus protection and firewall to download, because they block anything with toolbar crap hitching along for the ride. During the install, be careful to uncheck any free toolbar options.
Regards
I use CCleaner and sometime the Registry part.
If I find something that I don't know what it is I don't remove it. When I get in the mode I will Google the unknown items to see if I can find out what they are.
I NEVER turn off my security programs to download anything.
If my security programs don't like something I don't want it.
I only turn off the security for a download from the Piriform website. CCleaner is well established as a reliable utility, but you get toolbars with the free version. My security is so tight, it won't allow anything to download if it has a Google toolbar included. I ensure the toolbar option is not checked during the install.
The registry cleanup concept looks to be pretty much as it's always been...mixed opinions.
Thanks for the opinions. I guess my current (and long held) philosophy can stand...don't really use them.
I use the portable version...no installer and no toolbars. It comes in a zip file on the builds page. Not sure what the difference is between the portable and the installed function-wise, but I don't think I'm missing anything.
Again, thanks for all of your comments.
Salt
On my last session with MS Support to resolve a genuine Win 7 issue, the MS Support tech took control of my desktop to check my system. He downloaded a few third party malicious software tools, but also used my CCleaner that I had installed. He used the CCleaner registry cleaner and recommended that I do so regularly. I viewed that incident as a validation for the CCleaner registry cleaner. If you Google registry cleaners, you find an enormous number of sites offering free registry cleaner that are your typical scam crap loading software. CCleaner is very different from this crowd. Most of the registry cleaners you find on the web are the equivalent of the driver update software, which is another load of crap.
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