Registry Cleaners and system optimizers

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fanisdead · #1 Post by **fanisdead** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 1:17 am

Hi guys,

Just wondering what your favorite registry cleaners and system optimizing apps were. The reason why I ask is that I thought it would be useful for members to have a compiled list of the best software to clean and optimize their windows OS systems.

BlueDevilTide · #2 Post by **BlueDevilTide** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 4:12 am

I use CCleaner regularly.

If you want to spend some money, get TuneUp Utilities 2007. Great piece of software, IMO. It's 1-Click Maintenance feature is handy as well. It has a lot of optimization programs...it's really a wonderful piece of software.

It's not really "optimization" but it does help productivity: Copernic Desktop Search. I was recommended it by someone on this forum and it's a wonderful piece of software as well. If you think you might use it, give it a shot.

Puppy · #3 Post by **Puppy** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 5:03 am

The best way is to not use such useless tools. They can damage things only. I don't need to try every free/share/whatever-ware in the world so I don't have problems with bad-written software producing garbage.

The only optimization which makes sense is disk defragmentation.

#4 Post by **jdhurst** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 6:29 am

Puppy wrote:The best way is to not use such useless tools. They can damage things only. <snip>

As a overarching generalization, this is not true.

I agree on not trying every possible freeware registry tool and have not. But Registry First Aid is not free, came highly rated to me, and solved a problem for me after I screwed up Access Connections with an unsupported adapter.

At that particular time (some years ago on this current TP), Access Connections quit working properly and I figured I would have to rebuild. I searched out registry cleaners and RFA quickly surfaced as a product that would, at least, not further damage my machine. As I noted, it actually fixed things and I was very please with it.

I understand your point of view. I just offer evidence that the best of these can work and are worth the few dollars to acquire them.
... JDH

#5 Post by **carbon_unit** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 7:09 am

We use Registry Mechanic in the shop and it seems to help without any ill side effects so far.

t41user · #6 Post by **t41user** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 5:37 pm

To Puppy:

Just a note to second jdhurst's eminently plausible response.

CCleaner, for instance, is a wonderful program. Even if you do not use it to adjust/modify the registry, what's wrong with using a program such as CCleaner to delete all the information that Windows deceptively collects and saves? Most users don't know how to delete the files and data that Internet Explorer, for instance, doesn't really delete even when it claims to do so. You might be surprised how much memory a utility like CCleaner can free up (by eliminating Windows secret records of basically everything you do/ever have done with your computer).

dcouzin · #7 Post by **dcouzin** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 11:44 am

I suspect that Puppy's comment was misunderstood. I understand it as saying that by abstaining from amateur software in general -- installing (and usually uninstalling) whatever is free and fun -- one's registry doesn't become a mess and then there is no need for registry cleaning software.

But I, for one, can't resist what's free and fun -- it's part of learning. Then free and fun EasyCleaner 2.0 by ToniArts has much to do. It is widely recommended and it seems to cause no harm.

Deckard · #8 Post by **Deckard** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 6:14 am

jdhurst wrote:
Puppy wrote:The best way is to not use such useless tools. They can damage things only. <snip>
As a overarching generalization, this is not true.

I agree on not trying every possible freeware registry tool and have not. But Registry First Aid is not free, came highly rated to me, and solved a problem for me after I screwed up Access Connections with an unsupported adapter.

At that particular time (some years ago on this current TP), Access Connections quit working properly and I figured I would have to rebuild. I searched out registry cleaners and RFA quickly surfaced as a product that would, at least, not further damage my machine. As I noted, it actually fixed things and I was very please with it.

I understand your point of view. I just offer evidence that the best of these can work and are worth the few dollars to acquire them.
... JDH

After reading the comments here and on various reviews, I have purchased the RFA.

Since you have been using it for a long time, can you give me some hints on how to use this piece of software correctly?

I ran the tool and it found 1000+ invalid paths and obsolete items. Do I just let the software fix them for me without checking every single entry?

It looks like the registry on my system is pretty bloated, I would really like to put it on a diet, but I wouldn't want to mess the operating system at the same time.

Any help is appreciated.

Puppy · #9 Post by **Puppy** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 6:27 am

dcouzin wrote:I suspect that Puppy's comment was misunderstood. I understand it as saying that by abstaining from amateur software in general -- installing (and usually uninstalling) whatever is free and fun -- one's registry doesn't become a mess and then there is no need for registry cleaning software.

That's where virtual machines with undo disks have their purpose

#10 Post by **jdhurst** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 7:01 am

Deckard wrote:<snip>
After reading the comments here and on various reviews, I have purchased the RFA.

Since you have been using it for a long time, can you give me some hints on how to use this piece of software correctly?

I ran the tool and it found 1000+ invalid paths and obsolete items. Do I just let the software fix them for me without checking every single entry?

It looks like the registry on my system is pretty bloated, I would really like to put it on a diet, but I wouldn't want to mess the operating system at the same time.

Any help is appreciated.

I clean out temporary files first.
1. Right click on the task bar, select properties, start menu and clear the recent items list.
2. If you can find Checklinks (Windows resource kit), remove dead links.
3. Run the disk cleanup wizard.

Then run RFA, allow the safe items to be deleted and see where you stand. This approach works for me. YMMV.
... JDH

Deckard · #11 Post by **Deckard** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 7:51 am

jdhurst wrote: I clean out temporary files first.
1. Right click on the task bar, select properties, start menu and clear the recent items list.
2. If you can find Checklinks (Windows resource kit), remove dead links.
3. Run the disk cleanup wizard.

Then run RFA, allow the safe items to be deleted and see where you stand. This approach works for me. YMMV.
... JDH

Thank you. I have just completed a full scan and fix. All went well. No ill effects till yet.

#12 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 7:58 am

This CheckLinks program can be found on e.g. a W98/SE CD under:
X:\tools\reskit\desktop\chklnks.exe (size=364,304)
Just copy it anywhere to your harddisk and run it by double-clicking.
No installation required. Also runs under XP Pro.

There is also Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit Tools available as a free download from MS (12MB) but that gives you a whole load of extras, which you may not want/need.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... layLang=en

bopchie · #13 Post by **bopchie** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 8:03 am

i stick to ccleaner and the last free version of JV's regcleaner.......and defrag regularly

Deckard · #14 Post by **Deckard** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 8:49 am

realblackstuff wrote:This CheckLinks program can be found on e.g. a W98/SE CD under:
X:\tools\reskit\desktop\chklnks.exe (size=364,304)
Just copy it anywhere to your harddisk and run it by double-clicking.
No installation required. Also runs under XP Pro.

Thanks.

I've managed to find it on this site:

http://www.petri.co.il/download_free_reskit_tools.htm

Techgurl · #15 Post by **Techgurl** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 7:13 pm

Crap Cleaner does too much. JV tools registry cleaner is much more conservative and does a good job without trashing stuff.

bopchie · #16 Post by **bopchie** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 9:25 pm

yeah if you just install it then run it then it gets a lil carried away....you gotta untick a few things so you dont lose things like saved passwords/cookis and so on

#17 Post by **GomJabbar** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 4:58 pm

Fred Langa would appear to agree with bopchie and Techgurl regarding JV16 PowerTools. I ran across the following article yesterday while looking for unrelated information.

InformationWeek, Oct. 10, 2005: Langa Letter: Testing 10 Windows 'Registry Cleaning' Software Packs

Edited.

krcmd · #18 Post by **krcmd** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 11:34 am

I have forced myself into several rebuilds now by trusting the green safe-to-repair findings of my registry cleaner. I note that some people swear by them and others at them.

Is there a list of easy to follow rules to avoid breaking by cleaning?

thanks.

spuddog · #19 Post by **spuddog** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 5:07 pm

I use cccleaner and registry mechanic, being the cautious type (from experience) my routine is to make an image of my system drive and back-up my registry, then run all the cleaners, anti-virus and anti-spyware. If something goes wrong (eventually it will), reformat, then re-image.

Scott

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