Random BSOD STOP: The bugcheck was: 0x0000000a

[jester15x]

jv16Powertools is not just a cleaner but also a very useful informational tool that I have been using for years and not once has it caused me problems. If I use Windows uninstaller to uninstall my programs jv16powertools will often find leftover registry entries that are related to that software and are safe to remove.

Thanks for the additional information on CCleaner, I'll make adjustments. What I mean about conflicting information is that I've read many threads on certain options like in advanced shouldn't be checked, some say it's not recommended others say it's ok. I've discovered that my HTC Vive has used my Windows Temp Folder as a library for it's files creating 16k of files, so anytime I deleted them it would just repopulate again. I marked them for not selection in CCleaner and unusually CCleaner became progressively slow each time I ran it. So therefore, most times I have it unchecked. Other options in advanced like the Old Prefetch Data I used to have that selected for cleaning but I read on the forums that's not recommended for cleaning. I personally know what it is but the argument was understandable and we all know how finicky Windows can get. I will once again check it as I'm taking your advice on this matter.

Thanks bud,
Christian

 

[axe0]

Exactly as I say, an all-in-one tool.
The clean features are just the most important features, it may have many other features but the cleaner features are the features with which they advertise mostly because it is the main reason why many download it.

Prefetch data is data with which Windows keeps track of how your computer starts + keeping track of what programs are most often used, this all to improve the start times. Windows does maintain the folder in which this data is kept, it limits the max amount of files to 120-130 I believe and automatically deletes files. By deleting the data it may only take a little bit longer for Windows to startup programs, but since I have an SSD where Windows is installed on I don't notice any difference.

 

[jester15x]

Hey axe0,
In using jv16powertools, I've learned to be very cautious and examine each entry carefully, and it indicates anything safe to remove in green but even then I'm looking carefully before I clean or remove anything it's actually always set to run on the lowest scan setting. Usually when it find something it may find 3 or 4 entries leftover but all with the particular information of the software I removed. I'm familiar with more than a few hidden programs within Windows (whether it's checkers or cleaners) but I'm curious is there a registry scanner that after all this time I've been aware of? I think you can even admit that after many years of use of installing and uninstalling programs, Windows Uninstaller isn't always the most accurate at removing everything and you should know that things in the registry can get discombobulated. What program do you use?

Thanks,
Christian

 

[axe0]

I leave the registry alone unless I need to edit something specific.
I find it not worthy to perform 'maintenance' on the registry, it doesn't gain anything except for risks that something may go wrong.

I think you can even admit that after many years of use of installing and uninstalling programs, Windows Uninstaller isn't always the most accurate at removing everything and you should know that things in the registry can get discombobulated.

It isn't Windows that uninstalls programs, Windows only instructs the uninstaller that comes with the program to remove the program.

 

[jester15x]

Granted but isn't true that if said uninstaller isn't removing everything it should, this should be part of cleanup/maintenance especially since Windows doesn't know any better. Personally, I prefer for my system to last years and be in top shape, and over the years if the registry gets fraught with too much leftover information, crashes and other issues can arise.

 

[axe0]

Uninstallers usually leave log files behind or files that aren't worth anything to them.
Once in a while someone maybe goes through it since they accidentally notices it, but again I don't think its worth it since the space they take is minimum. If I ever notice some left behinds I of course delete them, but I don't go thorough with all program folders.

Crashes or issues won't occur because of left behind registry entries, such entries won't get used so they cannot cause problems.

I just read something from Mark Russinovich whilst I was searching for something I read about registry fraught some years ago.
"Uninstallers typically delete their application’s system-wide settings from the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE part of the Registry and any per-user settings of the user running the uninstaller from HKEY_CURRENT_USER. But what happens to the per-user settings of the other users that used the application? You guessed it, Registry junk gets created - and possibly file system junk in the application's Application Data folder in the \Documents and Settings directories of other users. An uninstall is only thorough if the user performing it is the only one that used the software."

 

[jester15x]

Hey axe0,
Sorry for the delay in my response, been focused on getting my games reinstalled and configured and after a 2 week vacation it was my first day back to work. I don't quite understand the quote from Mark Russinovich and I've read it several times. Once I have a moment I'll do a search on him and see what he has to say. I've been somewhat distracted in getting the last few games before my last backup. My IT friend does agree that the majority of the utility software are malware and of no good use, but that there are a few that are "decent" I mentioned the one I installed and he had heard some good things. I can tell you now though I haven't had an issue for 3 days, if it was malware of some kind Trend Micro is good enough to pick up things before I even install them avoiding a problem or my system would be having serious problems to which I haven't so for now I will give my stamp of approval. I'll keep it monitored though.

Christian

 

[axe0]

Mark Russinovich is a Windows Expert, (co)author of several Windows Internals books and expert in BSOD debugging.

To attempt to explain what the quote says, the registry exists of a key part called Hives. Hives are files located at a few places in the Windows folder and user folder.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE is a container of ~7 hives for settings that is meant for every user, think about the hardware configuration, program settings, file extension registration, the boot configuratio and so forth. Some of the hives are not visible in the registry editor.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER is a temporary hive, it is created at startup from a profile in HKEY_USER hive when one selects with what account one want to login with. This way Windows knows what personal configuration needs to be loaded.

So, uninstallers delete settings that are meant for everyone on the system in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and the settings that are meant for the logged in user in HKEY_CURRENT_USER. By doing so uninstallers miss settings for other users that are not logged in at that moment, that is where registry junk gets created.

 

[jester15x]

We had some bad storms come through my area and I've been without power since 9:30pm last night, it is currently 12:41pm and I don't feel like we will get our back soon...

Thanks for the more in depth explanation on uninstallers. Maybe that's where registry cleaners come in find those exposed registry entries left behind. Its rare that I ever uninstall things because I only put things on I have no.intention of removing. Software like my Acronis, or Steam for my games, but if I do remove something I take extreme caution when I clean leftover entries.

Thanks,
Christain

 

[axe0]

I do not want to go any further with registry cleaners, so this is my final opinion for this thread.

Registry cleaners are IMHO useless. Registry junk may be present, but it affects nothing nor will it cause anything. It isn't like a hard drive fraught which can affect performance. Cleaning it isn't worth it and as many will say, registry cleaners are very powerful, some are too powerful.

If you want to use registry cleaners, go ahead but just be careful and make backups beforehand