Registry clean or defrag?

[DeaconFrost]

They give you the illusion that your doing something to speed up you computer, but at best they may shave off a few microseconds, and at worst can crash your system.

Ken

That was my assumption, that it was just more of the "fake optimization" placebo effect that so many seem to be chasing. Thanks!

 

[unifex]

If it doesn't do anything, then what does a registry defragger do?

That's the point of my question above, and why I asked for links. For years I've seen these programs listed, but not once I have seen a review or a test to show any purpose or reasoning behind them.

They give you the illusion that your doing something to speed up you computer, but at best they may shave off a few microseconds, and at worst can crash your system.

Ken

Indeed. That's why I don't use them, as I don't use numerous tune-up or optimization utilities. In the past I would manually modify a few registry keys if I find credible information leading me to believe that it would improve my computing experience, but in Windows 7 this is not necessary. Sure, I disabled a few services, but that's mostly due to my paranoia than anything else. I doubt that disabling remote access stuff leads to any performance gain.

As far as registry cleaning, I guess I am one of those people who never had the need to do this. I am running Windows 7 without any issues and I have not done anything automated with the registry. There is not a single problem with it that I am aware of.

 

[shortmantuff]

Well, because of you guys I have removed my registry defragger. Now I have less to do on the computer...thanks A LOT! Now what am I going to do? Physical Activity?!?

 

[gregrocker]

I have used free Auslogics Registry as well as Disk defraggers following CCleaner Disk and Registry cleanup for over ten years on hundreds of installs which represent thousands of uses and never had a single issue.

When I reinstall for someone they often ask to make sure I'm going to put these tools back on their rigs because it becomes clear they are state-of-the-art and flawless based on years of personal experience.

 

[Ponmayilal]

^I fully endorse gregrocker on this. I have also been using Registry Cleaners and optimisers - since the time I started using my first computer - and starting with Norton Systemworks.

Even Microsoft had a Registry Cleaner to remove unwanted entries. I had used that also. Then on to Registry Mechanic by PC Tools with yearly subscription. Because of the unfair automatic renewal of the subscription by them using my credit card details, I jettisoned it.

After reading a good review about Eusing free registry cleaner in PC World (May 2008), that became my favorite cleaner. Eusing Free Registry Cleaner: Safely scan and repair registry problems - Spyware FREE. When I tried Glary Utilities with Windows 7, I was surprised to find that its registry cleaner had the same interface of Eusing - mostly it is the same engine.

Of course regular backups is a must and I had been living with Acronis, Shadowprotect Desktop, and Paragon but not even once had I to restore the system due to a wayward Registry Cleaner mucking it up.

I feel happy that my registry is clean and optimized. Whether it speeds up the PC by pico-seconds or nano-seconds is immaterial. My own happiness is more important to me than my PC. And as I said if something happens, I can always restore my PC in minutes. Not a big deal and I will stick with Glary Utilities, its registry cleaner and optimiser.

 

[delmoon01]

i use one intel software partner reginout for cleaning and defraging registry, working really well in my win 7 home premium..

 

[unifex]

Greg, do you have any experience of problems on a number of Windows 7 machines on which you did not install third-party registry tools? I mean, I only have one desktop running Windows 7 so far, and my experience is nearly perfect, and I am not using any such tools. I do install and uninstall programs rather often, although not daily, other than that, what is there to make problems with the registry? What are the symptoms of such problems?

Come to think of it, I have not even performed a hard drive defrag, since any defragger I use, native or Auslogics, tells me that my drives are 1% fragmented, not much sense of doing anything so far, and it's been more than a year.

 

[gregrocker]

I do not endorse optimization or other tweaking program as Win7 does not require it. As those of us who were beta users learned (The hard way, in my case) Win7 gradually came to need no tweaking whatsoever for performance as it ended up a perfectly balanced, feather-light, instantaneous OS unless there are hardware deficiencies.

I use CCleaner and Auslogics defraggers because they are superior to Win7's own tools in this case. But rarely do my HD's show more than 1% fragmentation, so it may indeed not be necessary but habit. However CCleaner regularly finds 500mb+ to clean up and sometimes after an install 1gb+ with 15% fragmentation. Uninstalling Office trial and factory AV bloatware for example can give both a huge and long job.

Good question.

 

[MelyBoon]

Yes. If the people offer more information about their problem, we will help them better. So I agree with team pc health advisor.

 

[RanCorX2]

I use CCleaner & the registry cleaner from windows 7 manager as it usually finds the leftovers that ccleaner didn't on it's scan. The registry can get pretty large if you don't keep track of all the junk uninstallers etc leave behind.

oh and after a reg clean I run NTREGOPT, and finally ultimate defrag with settings optimized for windows files, theres a video on youtube with a tutorial.

 

[Mercurial]

tuneup 2011 is all you need =)!

 

[CarlTR6]

Tuneup utilities are pure snake oil. At best they do nothing except use resources. At worst, they can screw up your system. Threre is not a tuneup utility out there anywhere that can improve Win 7's performance, at least not at this time. Don't use them. If you do, sooner or later, you will be posting in Crashes and Debugging section.

 

[fonduekid]

Tuneup utilities are pure snake oil. At best they do nothing except use resources. At worst, they can screw up your system. Threre is not a tuneup utility out there anywhere that can improve Win 7's performance, at least not at this time. Don't use them. If you do, sooner or later, you will be posting in Crashes and Debugging section.

lol

I agree and second this...

 

[richc46]

Carl and I are BSOD teammates and have seen what Reg Cleaners and tune up software can do. I agree totally.
http://www.sevenforums.com/performa...uggestions-proper-maintenance.html#post764471

Just perform the easy maintenance, yourself

 

[Bugsy]

well personally i disagree about not having to clean windows 7 registry as i have always and many milions have/are using all kinds of reg cleaners, I use ccleaner and have never once had any problems and does what it is meant to do, however i found this article that the famous Ed Bott posted Why I don’t use registry cleaners « Ed Bott's Windows Expertise but i have to say there are a lot of things Ed Bot has posted that i disagree with also.

myself personally, i think it is necessary to clean your registry.

but thats my opinion.

 

[CarlTR6]

Bugsy, that is a hold over from Win 9x and XP days. Win 7 handles the registry entirely differently than did XP. Will the Win 7 registry collect unused keys? Yes it will; however these will not have one nanoseconds effect on performance. Win 7 simply ignores them. Will it hurt to delete obsolete keys? Absolutely not - caveat: as long as you know exactly what you are doing and delete only those keys you are 100% sure are associated with software and hardware that you have uninstalled.

Registry cleaners will find all sorts of unused keys, particularly unused file association keys. These keys are placed in the registry by design for future use and smooth installation of software. Some of these keys tie in with others that are in use. Some folks have let registry cleaners delete all of those unused keys and have been unable to install software later. Unless your are an expert with the Win 7 registry, only delte keys that you know are associate with programs or hardware you have uninstalled. If you screw up your registry, the fix is a clean install from scratch or a imagining of your system. Always back up your registry before making any registry changes.

I do agree with Ed Bott. Win 7 is not XP. Forget the XP wisdom; it does not apply to Win 7. Here are a couple of more links for your reading pleasure.

Are registry cleaners necessary?

Back up the registry

 

[richc46]

Carl, I could not have said it better. I hope they hear us.

 

[Bugsy]

I think you are more experienced than me when it comes to this, so i am going to test this theory and leave the old trusted cleaners to one side

thanks for your info.

 

[richc46]

Also, see my above post on proper maintenance.

 

[Bugsy]

so the best thing to do is just to leave well alone and let win 7 do its thing?