CCleaner is respected because it contains many useful functions besides a registry cleaner.
Many use the registry function to look at what is apparently unused registry entries and to decide if they want to do anything with them.
Marks comment came before Vista and Windows 7 and OneCare went away since Vista and Windows 7.
Yes, I know the blog post is old.
Onecare was around with Vista - they only discontinued it because it was a commercial flop.
The Safety Scanner also has a MS Approved Registry Cleaner in it and you can still use it as a download that expires 10 days after downloading.
Microsoft Safety Scanner - Remove Spyware, Malware, Viruses Free
With that said, Even CCleaners Registry Tool should be used with Caution.
But, if you are going to use one, that is the only one I recommend besides the one in the Safety Scanner (if it is still in there, I am not sure), which is not configurable and gives no real information, so there is no telling what it really does.
No you don't need a registry cleaner with Win 7.
IMHO there is no reliable way for a third party program to know whether any particular key is invalid, redundant or neither.
Some registry cleaners may not know for sure whether a key is still being used by Windows or what detrimental effects removing it may have.
This has led to examples of registry cleaners causing loss of functionality and/or system instability.
Should you decide to go ahead -
Make sure you have
1.a current System Restore point created.
2.a recent "Back up" of your computer- preferably to an external HD.
What are the known negative consequences of an "unclean" registry on a modern PC?
I'm not referring to speculation and generalities, but to measurable effects supported by research and testing. Are there any studies of the consequences?
If registry cleaners were suddenly unavailable, what would be the real-world result?
Slower this or slower that? How much and in what circumstances?
Loss of functionality of some type? Can't boot? Can't run certain apps? Can't...........what??
I'd never recommend a registry cleaner to another person though I use the CCleaner one regularly. It's never let me down, though I've cocked up with it once-upon-a-time because I took a chance guess.
Lesson learned - don't edit your registry in any capacity unless you are 100% certain of what you are doing.
Windows 7 doesn't need any registry cleaning/tweaks :)
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