How much do you trust registry cleaners?

gregrocker · 06 Mar 2012

wanchoo said:

That is great. And I suppose that you agree with me that Registry Cleaners are not all that bad as they are being made out to be. They are a good example of "More sinned against than sinning".

I do not agree with that.

The only Registry cleaner I would use is CCleaner using its default settings which have been tuned for years to perfection.

Almost all other Registry Cleaners are either unproven to be as safe as CCleaner, or outright sales scams promoted in pop-up ads designed to entice users with faster-speed claims. These can cause more problems than they solve.

When you have a free cleaner tool which is perhaps the most respected single app in the tech world for years, why would you want another anyway?

When I put CCleaner on an install I always show how to back up Registry items found, although in hundreds of installs no one has ever had to use it for rescue.

And while I respect those who have differing opinions, I'm still waiting to see a confirmed case of CCleaner Registry cleaner messing up someone's computer. None in 15 years.

sreedhav · 07 Mar 2012

Microsoft does not recommend Reg.cleaners. Since i have never used the Reg. Option in Ccleaner, i have no independent opinion to offer.

I totally agree with Greg,when he talks about the "Hype" built around commercial Reg.cleaners.

Here is a simple test. On a brand new (with just the factory settings of MS OS), run a commercial Reg.Cleaner and see the results for yourself.

regards,
seedhav

wanchoo · 07 Mar 2012

My request to everyone, both Pros and Cons, would be to read this article (Langa Letter: Testing 10 Windows 'Registry Cleaning' Software Packs - - - Informationweek) if they find a little time. It was written long ago but I think it is still relevant.

As for Microsoft recommendation, many years back they used to sponsor a Registry Cleaner themselves. If memory serves me right it was called "RegClean".

seavixen32 · 07 Mar 2012

With all due respect, Windows 7 is far removed from the days and problems associated with earlier operating systems.

It is a stable system that, in my view, has no need of a registry cleaner.

If you want a clean registry, only install software that you really need, keep away from dodgy sites and be meticulous in what you download.

In the two years or so I've been using Windows 7, it has caused me no problems and I've never used a registry cleaner. Why should I when my system is running well? :)

DeaconFrost · 07 Mar 2012

If I may throw some kindling on the fire....I don't think anyone can really make the claim that CCleaner speeds up their system (in terms of the reg cleaner). I am a religious CCleaner user, and I wouldn't make that claim. I don't use it for performance. I actually don't even run it on a schedule or at a set frequency. I run it when the time calls for it...such as when I remove a graphics card driver, and I want to ensure ALL traces of it are gone before installing the new version. I use it on test systems and VMs all the time when I install and remove a lot of software.

The only "performance" aspect I can claim is when I use the built-in tool to shut down start-up apps, but then again, that only affects my boot to desktop time...not actual performance.

wanchoo · 07 Mar 2012

Except that no matter how good the Garbage and Registry Cleaners are, a large number of orphans are always left behind.

If you remove a hardware driver to install a new one and want that all traces of the old installation are gone then I think the best way is to start from scratch. For removing every vestige of a program that I have installed I restore the latest image without that program but this technique shall not work with hardware drivers because they are almost always installed with Windows.

DeaconFrost · 08 Mar 2012

wanchoo said:

If you remove a hardware driver to install a new one and want that all traces of the old installation are gone then I think the best way is to start from scratch.

You describe one of the very reasons I recommend CCleaner. Back when I used an ATI video card, a 4850 to be exact, I always had toruble removing the older drivers before installing new ones. After searching and asking online, it was recommended that I try CCleaner. Sure enough, it found plenty of ATI mentions in the registry, and after removing them, I was able to install the newer drivers. Now I run CCleaner after every uninstall or driver removal.

wanchoo · 09 Mar 2012

What is the answer to when can the OP treat this thread as solved?

Should his answer be "Never".

A Guy · 11 Mar 2012

I'm going to weigh in as someone who will recommend CCleaner universally. Including it's registry cleaner. I have yet to see anyone who had it cause them problems. There are others that may be safe, and might definitely be safe on my system, but I will never recommend them to others, as the same may not be true for them. CCleaner however is the one exception.

I'm not saying it's necessary to use, but if I recommend a program, and there is the possibility the registry cleaner will be used, then I would want to be assured it will cause no problems. You could have the greatest program in the world, and it included a registry cleaner I could not vouch for. I would not recommend that program.

A Guy

Versatile2820 · 13 Apr 2012

I agree on that one person that says '' that he haven't saw one legitimate cause of ccleaner messing up someone computer'' I have also did alot of research on this topic and came to the same conclusion ccleaner would considered to be the best and most trusted in cleaning needs