Registry Cleaners

[Sphynx]

I know what you're thinking and I completely agree with you. No one should ever use these types of programs. They cause more problems then they solve. However...On occasion I get re-curious as to the state of this type of software and every couple of years i'll re-visit them to test their abilities. Perhaps out of curiosity then anything else. But as par for the course, I like to get others input before spending time on them.

My aims this time round is to determine which reg cleaners are 64bit capable (as opposed to those that just claim to be) and which aren't and which are actually just plain old malware. There is also the requirement that they be completely free.

The contenders this time are:
- Ace Utilities
- TweakNow RegCleaner 2011

So far a scan of their installers doesn't reveal any malware and an attempt install shows that they all try to install to \\program files (x86)\. This leads me to believe that they are only 32bit aware cleaners and as such, would be insufficient/ineffective on a 64bit installation.

Anyone else know about any 64bit reg cleaning software?

 

[gregrocker]

Just say no.

If not, keep this handy: Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Posting Instructions - Windows 7 Forums

 

[stormy13]

Actually Greg wouldn't this be a better link?

Installation & Setup - Windows 7 Forums

 

[Sphynx]

As it would be on a test box, a re-installation is not an issue. However, there are legitimate uses for such software. Namely the odd quirks that can arise during the life of a windows install.

My most recent example was an alert from windows security centre telling me that a program that i had un-installed a while back is no longer 'protecting' me lol. Obviously the program in question has not un-installed properly and the usual culprit are left over reg keys. This is where a reg cleaner comes in.

Now i'm not foolish enough to just let a reg cleaner clean anything and everything it wants. I have enough technical experience to know what i'm looking at. I.e. Going line by line through the reg cleaners report until I track down the offending entry. Of course I could do this manually but 1. it's more time consuming and 2. There may be some branches that contain the problematic reg key I would not expect it in.

Cleaning up after sloppy programming is...annoying.

 

[Mike Connor]

If you want to play with them and destroy Windows 7 installations, then there is no reason at all why you shouldn't do so.

If you want to edit something in the registry use regedit, coupled for instance with this;

RegScanner: Alternative to RegEdit find/search/scan of Windows

This is better;

http://www.resplendence.com/registrar

There are no sensible uses for registry "cleaners".

QUOTE
"Sorry for the wall-o-text but it appears this forums editing capabilities are either limited or malfunctioning".
UNQUOTE

You probably have "Noscript" running. It disables various editing functions.

Regards....Mike Connor

 

[Sphynx]

If you want to play with them and destroy Windows 7 installations, then there is no reason at all why you shouldn't do so.

If you want to edit something in the registry use regedit, coupled for instance with this;

RegScanner: Alternative to RegEdit find/search/scan of Windows

This is better;

Resplendence Software - Registrar Registry Manager

There are no sensible uses for registry "cleaners".

QUOTE
"Sorry for the wall-o-text but it appears this forums editing capabilities are either limited or malfunctioning".
UNQUOTE

You probably have "Noscript" running. It disables various editing functions.

Regards....Mike Connor

Thanks for that. I'll look into using a scanner instead. Which is essentially what I use reg cleaning software for anyway - their algorithms. Also, you were right about noscript Sometimes I forget it's running - although it is strange that it did not hinder my first post.

 

[Mike Connor]

If you want to play with them and destroy Windows 7 installations, then there is no reason at all why you shouldn't do so.

If you want to edit something in the registry use regedit, coupled for instance with this;

RegScanner: Alternative to RegEdit find/search/scan of Windows

This is better;

Resplendence Software - Registrar Registry Manager

There are no sensible uses for registry "cleaners".

QUOTE
"Sorry for the wall-o-text but it appears this forums editing capabilities are either limited or malfunctioning".
UNQUOTE

You probably have "Noscript" running. It disables various editing functions.

Regards....Mike Connor

Thanks for that. I'll look into using a scanner instead. Which is essentially what I use reg cleaning software for anyway - their algorithms. Also, you were right about noscript Sometimes I forget it's running - although it is strange that it did not hinder my first post.

My pleasure.

Regards....Mike Connor

 

[gregrocker]

Use the Reg tab on CCleaner, a genius app which is perhaps the most highly respected tool in the tech world.

 

[Vertex]

Use the Reg tab on CCleaner, a genius app which is perhaps the most highly respected tool in the tech world.

CCleaner has a less aggressive Registry cleaner but that does not make it completely safe, especially that the Registry cleaner on CCleaner has been made slightly more aggressive in the last two versions.

Registry cleaners are not completely useless and in fact useful in removing rogue keys that make these unwanted things happen or degrade performance in time that is if you really know how to use properly and wisely. I still use Registry cleaners at this point but in a more controlled manner.

 

[Mike Connor]

Use the Reg tab on CCleaner, a genius app which is perhaps the most highly respected tool in the tech world.

CCleaner has a less aggressive Registry cleaner but that does not make it completely safe, especially that the Registry cleaner on CCleaner has been made slightly more aggressive in the last two versions.

Registry cleaners are not completely useless and in fact useful in removing rogue keys that make these unwanted things happen or degrade performance in time that is if you really know how to use properly and wisely. I still use Registry cleaners at this point but in a more controlled manner.

It appears that quite a few people use them. The trouble is that beginners and others who don't know any better read various things about "registry cleaners" and believe them.

For somebody who does not know what they are doing, and even for some who think they do, registry cleaners are not only completely useless they are DANGEROUS.

If you use ANY PROGRAM AT ALL which deletes or changes registry keys and is not entirely under your control, then you are simply asking for trouble, and it is only a matter of time before you will get it.

This is not a "maybe", or a "perhaps", it is a CERTAINTY !

When otherwise sensible people start saying "well, there are some uses for them", and other qualifying statements, then you actually encourage people to damage their systems.

There is no sensible use for "registry cleaners", period.

The registry scanner in CCleaner is NOT an indiscriminate registry "Cleaner". It scans for what it thinks might be problems and gives you the option to delete them.

The vast majority of "Registry cleaners" are either complete scams designed to worry people and trick them out of money for useless and dangerous crap, which is often infected with spyware, trojans and other malware, or at the very least they are dangerous because they INDISCRIMINATELY remove registry entries. None of them work, because they are completely useless anyway. Removing various supposedly "Invalid" or "Leftover"registry entries wont make a blind bit of difference to your machine. Unless such entries are actively affecting the system they are completely irrelevant.

As anybody with a little knowledge of Windows 7, and an ounce of sense, will tell you.

----DON'T USE REGISTRY CLEANERS-----

Unless you don't care about damaging your system.

Regards....Mike Connor

 

[gregrocker]

If you have used a Registry cleaner and it damaged your system, here are tips to get a perfect clean reinstall so you can start fresh: Reinstalling Windows 7

 

[Sphynx]

Well after doing some testing I have concluded that the 2 programs I mentioned are indeed aware of a 64bit reg hive. I'm guessing it's just the programs themselves that are compiled in a 32bit architecture type. However I have decided to use RegScanner instead as it does exactly what I want and is very light weight - I loath bloatware.

Strangely enough I do vaguely recall Microsoft offering an online reg scanner once upon a time (during Vista's effective life cycle) but I have so far been unable to find it again.

EDIT: @gregrocker/Stormy What's with the massive white space use?

 

[marsmimar]

Strangely enough I do vaguely recall Microsoft offering an online reg scanner once upon a time (during Vista's effective life cycle) but I have so far been unable to find it again.

I believe you're thinking of Windows Live OneCare. Microsoft discontinued all support as of April 11, 2011.

Windows Live OneCare - Home

It included several different scans including Microsoft's registry cleaner under the Tune up section.

File:Windows Live OneCare Safety Center.png - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Vertex]

Forgive me but I disagree that registry cleaners are completely useless because that is an opinion and not a general fact. Well they maybe indiscriminate but they offer the option to choose which to remove. One basic knowledge is to remove the specific things that are the exact entries of programs (they often have the program's name or company name in them) that you know are removed from the system that no other program that is still installed is associated with in any manner. Even leftover traces of malware can be fixed with a proper use of registry cleaners. Its just NOT for beginners and yes the claims that many of their authors present are bogus and exaggerated.

However testing Registry cleaners are in deed very dangerous. Might as well test them on a used Virtual Machine. If you want the nullify changes in the Registry at some point, you might as well backup the Registry with a program called ERUNT (designed for XP or Vista but still works on Windows 7) or use a program that makes an isolated environment like Sandboxie or virtualization apps like Returnil.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

I too do not believe they should be indiscriminately suggested for use to the casual users that frequent these forums, even CCleaner needs supervision that most don't comprehend.




There's always this tutorial at the link below, if anyone's interested.

How to Backup and Restore the Windows 7 Registry

 

[Mike Connor]

Forgive me but I disagree that registry cleaners are completely useless because that is an opinion and not a general fact.

OK. You are forgiven, but don't do it again!

Registry cleaners are completely useless on Windows 7 , that is a fact, not an opinion.

There is no reason at all to use them. There are many reasons not to use them!

Regards....Mike Connor

 

[Ciara]

The only sensible thing to do with a reg cleaner is don't install it.

 

[Vertex]

OK. You are forgiven, but don't do it again!

Registry cleaners are completely useless on Windows 7 , that is a fact, not an opinion.

There is no reason at all to use them. There are many reasons not to use them!

Forgive me again but that is again an opinion and that missed my point and from my above post, I have stated MY opinion, though not totally pro or against Registry cleaners but a more fair verdict on them and their use.