Registry Cleaners

[anaron]

There are three distinct thoughts on registry cleaners – the do’s, the do not’s, and the group that just spouts information they have read somewhere else with no actual experience whatsoever with registry cleaners. The do's have had excellent results with registry cleaners whereas the do not’s have not had good experiences. Confusing? Most definitely, to the unknowledgeable everyday user that read the “experts” comments. However, I have an issue accepting the many broad statements pertaining to Win7 & registry cleaners given but rarely substantiated with facts. This is not a discussion on what cleaners, procedures to follow or whether or not to use cleaners.

I would (and many others also) like for once to see facts and information that substantiate these three statements that experts on this site have stated numerous times:
1. Never use a registry cleaner on Win 7.
2. Registry cleaners do more harm than good.
3. There are no good registry cleaners.

Me, I am old school and have had excellent results with registry cleaners. Given that, Win 7 is a new beast and one that appears to be far more stable than any previous OS. I am always open to updating the way I do things but I need facts in order to do that.
Ron Burnes

 

[zigzag3143]

IMHO

1-Used with care in "knowledgeable" users the risk is acceptable.

2-They can, but again read the manual and minimize the risk

3-Good is relative, better than most Ccleaner.

Your post sounds reasonable and experienced. You need to decide if the risk is worth the benefit.

There is little "benefit" unless the case is extreme.

I would not recommend their use to standard users, more advanced users I say caveat emptor.

 

[seavixen32]

You mention that Windows 7 appears to be far more stable than any previous operating system and I wouldn't disagree with that.

I've been using Windows 7 for three years with nary a registry cleaner in sight.


In my view, if you:

1. Create a system image backup on a regular basis.
2. Use System Restore as and when necessary.
3. Use Previous Versions when needed.
4. Take advantage of Last Known Good Configuration.
5. Keep away from dodgy websites.
6. Be meticulous in what you download.
7. Use Microsoft Security Essentials.

you should have no need of a registry cleaner, although many people do put a high value on CCleaner.

Registry cleaner - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As ever, it's a personal choice, but an informed debate on the matter will do no harm at all.

Without a shadow of doubt though, a registry cleaner in inexperienced hands can mess up a computer very quickly.

 

[gregrocker]

I'd not use a Registry Cleaner except for CCleaner Disk and Registry tabs approx monthly, less often if it doesn't find a lot of crap to clean up.

Most Registry Cleaners are sales scams which cause problems with Win7. None have the genius invested that does CCleaner which is perhaps the most respected little app in the entire tech world.

 

[A Guy]

Using a registry cleaner when you are knowledgeable, and prepared with system backups is one thing. Recommending a registry cleaner to another, especially when thousands may see the post and take the recommendation, is quite another. I would feel safe universally recommending CCleaner, but no other programs, even if I have used them safely myself. A Guy

 

[DavidE]

I would (and many others also) like for once to see facts and information that substantiate these three statements...
...
Me, I am old school and have had excellent results with registry cleaners.
Ron Burnes

Can you provide facts and information that substantiate your "excellent results" improvements using registry cleaners?

 

[A Guy]

I think most would consider running a cleaner, which showed results, and didn't bork their system as excellent results Fixing problems, or making the system perform better, I would defy anyone to show proof of that. A Guy

 

[DavidE]

I agree, but just because someone doesn't have an immediate problem, doesn't mean a "registry clean" might not cause problems in the future.

I've never used one in Win 7 and my systems are installed for 2+ years.
No problems here and my hardware is ancient by today's standards...

 

[Joshatdot]

I've been using CCleaner for HD & Registry stuff for years, no problems with it. To me it's like taking out the leftover trash in the registry, say after uninstalling a program.

 

[A Guy]

I agree, but just because someone doesn't have an immediate problem, doesn't mean a "registry clean" might not cause problems in the future.

I've never used one in Win 7 and my systems are installed for 2+ years.
No problems here and my hardware is ancient by today's standards...

I would also agree that just because things generally seem to be working after using a cleaner, doesn't mean something will not crop up later. And one might not even make the connection if it is a certain amount of time after the cleaning.

Have a look at this thread, notice the statement in the 1st post:

I used to be able to open .xml files in IE9, before I believe I delete some stuff from the registry.(Windows Restore was turned off)

http://www.sevenforums.com/browsers-mail/228316-ie9-no-longer-able-open-xml.html

This could easily be an outcome of using a registry cleaner. Although I will again state that I have yet to see anyone having an issue with CCleaner

A Guy

 

[Victor S]

You mention that Windows 7 appears to be far more stable than any previous operating system and I wouldn't disagree with that.

I've been using Windows 7 for three years with nary a registry cleaner in sight.




In my view, if you:

1. Create a system image backup on a regular basis.
2. Use System Restore as and when necessary.
3. Use Previous Versions when needed.
4. Take advantage of Last Known Good Configuration.
5. Keep away from dodgy websites.
6. Be meticulous in what you download.
7. Use Microsoft Security Essentials.

you should have no need of a registry cleaner, although many people do put a high value on CCleaner.

Registry cleaner - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As ever, it's a personal choice, but an informed debate on the matter will do no harm at all.

Without a shadow of doubt though, a registry cleaner in inexperienced hands can mess up a computer very quickly.

All that needs saying was in 1. and 2. above.
If you can feel confident deleting registry keys, you should feel confident imaging and restoring.
My registry cleaner is a restore of an image.
My virus killer is a restore of an image.
My last known good configuration is a restore of an image.
Blah and blah.
The "trick" is always having a good image.
The key to that is always restoring the good image, updating as you see fit, then
immediately making a new image.
Always keep a couple of the prior images "just in case."
Maybe I read it on this forum, but you can get about 4GB by clearing the files SP1
leaves behind. But then you can't uninstall SP1 if it gives you "issues."
So you want the pre-SP1 image for a while.
Imaging is really the simplest and safest "clean system" and registry cleaner in town.
To make it easy and fast, keep your system partition size small.
Fast image/restore, and low disk space usage.
Once I could image the OS, I never used a reg cleaner again, not that I ever noticed any improvement from using a reg cleaner.
Just liked horsing around with them.
I like CCleaner for other cleanup, like temp files.
I use it as the last step before creating a new clean image.
Makes that "clean" image as clean as possible.
Sorry if I sound too "up" on imaging.
It's only because it's the best thing since sliced bread.

 

[gregrocker]

In the average week here for years we would have a half dozen problems I saw which were not traceable but where the OP mentions they used a Registry Cleaner or Optimizing Suite.

Unfortunately almost none of them had access to a Restore Point from before the changes were made. A reinstall was required since Repair Install can rarely set right what amounts to compound ruin.

Lately I haven't seen as many of these and wonder if the word is getting out. But it has been a long slog for at least two of the three years since 7 release trying to de-popularize Registry Cleaners and Optimizer suites.

Seems like another lifetime when many of us used Auslogics Boostspeed and Black Viper's service edits in XP and Vista. These are no longer needed in Win7 which has become the Black Viper.

 

[wanchoo]

Except that even in Widows 7 if ones knows well how to use a Registry Cleaner properly no harm ever comes and the OS does perk up. I am saying this from personal experience.

 

[seavixen32]

There is no way in the world I would advise using a registry cleaner to an inexperienced Windows user.

The potential to create havoc in unexperienced hands is undeniable.

To be brutally honest, the best 'registry cleaner' anyone can have is an up-to-date system image backup.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

the OS does perk up. I am saying this from personal experience.

How can you document this other than by simply alleging that it is so?

I'll freely admit that I have very selectively cleaned the registry perhaps 8 or 10 times in the last 3 years, using Ccleaner.

Not because I was having issues, but because I could not restrain myself. The mere knowledge that my registry was "unclean" was too much to bear. So I "cleaned" it.

I felt better and no longer "unclean", as I might have felt after washing my face.

I have no evidence at all that my PC was the better for it. But I personally felt better as my anxiety was reduced.

Perfectly silly. I can't recommend others do what I did, but I certainly understand why they might.

 

[wanchoo]

I wonder if you ever found the time to read Fred Langa's Letter (article) on Registry Cleaners (Langa Letter: Testing 10 Windows 'Registry Cleaning' Software Packs - - - Informationweek). It was written long back in the heyday of Windows XP but it is just as relevant to Windows 7.

After reading this article in October 2005, I have continuously used jv16 PowerTools, constantly upgrading it, and have never had a day's problem. I remember that when I first ran it in the Safe Mode in 2005 it identified over 600 errors in the Registry and I removed all of them with my fingers crossed, rebooted and everything was tickety-boo.

When I changed over to Windows 7 in December 2011, I installed and ran the application. It again identified over 750 errors in the Safe Mode. Deleted them again with nary a problem and everything was humming better than ever before. Of course after the first run the number of errors go down to less than 50 that I don't even bother to correct.

I am therefore with the OP and strongly recommend that he too read the said article published by Langa if he didn't read it way back in 2005. The only minus point is that the software has changed from free-ware to shareware over the years though it worth paying for.

But I am 100% in agreement with you that the best not only in Registry Cleaners but also in everything that has happened in PCs is the advent of imaging.

There is no way in the world I would advise using a registry cleaner to an inexperienced Windows user.

The potential to create havoc in unexperienced hands is undeniable.

To be brutally honest, the best 'registry cleaner' anyone can have is an up-to-date system image backup.

 

[seavixen32]

"I wonder if you ever found the time to read Fred Langa's Letter (article) on Registry Cleaners (Langa Letter: Testing 10 Windows 'Registry Cleaning' Software Packs - - - Informationweek). It was written long back in the heyday of Windows XP but it is just as relevant to Windows 7."

I did read the article when it was first released and thought then that its conclusions had some merit, but not now.

The bottom line is this: Windows 7 is far removed from Windows XP and does a far better job of taking care of business.

If I clean my car, it doesn't drive any faster. If I take a shower and dry clean my clothes I can't walk or run any faster.

Windows 7 just doesn't need a cleaner and that's borne out by the millions of Win 7 operating systems properly and legally installed that run flawlessly.

 

[anaron]

I'm gonna play the devil's advocate here!

If I clean my car, it doesn't drive any faster. (race car sector will argue that point)
Quite correct but tuneups, oil changes and good maintainence will.

If I take a shower and dry clean my clothes I can't walk or run any faster.
Again correct but it is the inner body tuning and maintainence that will make you run/walk faster not the dusting off of the exterior.

seavixen32, I'm not busting your chops as I could not agree more as to imaging, backups and restore points which I am totally OCD about. I readily admit that reg cleaners have been a mainstay of my past but also admit that I am seeing a much different OS than in the past but it is also sometimes hard to break old habits that may no longer be needed.

 

[A Guy]

The issue really isn't could a registry cleaner be used without any problems. The issue is, recommending one most certainly can cause issues. Even if 99 people had no issue, the 100th could. And since the posts here may be read by 1000's, there is no way to say which reader might have a problem, have no backups, and need their PC for work, etc.

If everyone took the advice to make regular, reliable system images, for the most part they can jump in and try all kinds of things. But the truth is, we very often see replies that they didn't even have System Restore points, much less images. One must assume the lowest level of skill/experience. And one must consider while the OP may have high levels of both, another searching on Google, and stumbling upon the post may not.

A Guy

 

[Victor S]

The issue really isn't could a registry cleaner be used without any problems. The issue is, recommending one most certainly can cause issues. Even if 99 people had no issue, the 100th could. And since the posts here may be read by 1000's, there is no way to say which reader might have a problem, have no backups, and need their PC for work, etc.

If everyone took the advice to make regular, reliable system images, for the most part they can jump in and try all kinds of things. But the truth is, we very often see replies that they didn't even have System Restore points, much less images. One must assume the lowest level of skill/experience. And one must consider while the OP may have high levels of both, another searching on Google, and stumbling upon the post may not.

A Guy

Excellent points. All of them.
Maybe somebody here will take on the task on writing a tutorial on system configuration geared toward imaging. Might help some.
In my personal experience, it's almost impossible to "train" most users to image, a main reason being their system configuration.
They get sold a computer with one hard drive, or a computer with a massive system partition, making imaging impractical or too time-consuming.
Some just don't want to image. They like trouble.
I'm starting to think my son is a lost cause.
He's an overclocker with probably 6 or 7 systems running at any given time.
Does water cooling, liquid hydrogen, the whole shot.
I've repeatedly preached to him the value of imaging, and he doesn't lack in software skills, and he agrees. I've given him stand-alone imaging CD's.
All you have to do is insert the darn thing, and go.
He was over here when I loaded a sysprepped image to an entirely different computer, and commented "Man, I can really use that."
But every single time he tells me he's reinstalling some version of Windows, and I ask, "Don't you have an image?" he says "No, didn't get around to it."
Probably too busy welding a box to hold hydrogen around the CPU.
You can lead a horse to water.......
True enough.