Gotta hate the XP registry

[pipspeak]

Just got a new T61, set up windows, installed office and just for giggles I thought I'd run a couple of registry applications to check everything was OK. Well, both found over 100 "errors" in the registry! This on a machine not more than a few hours out of the box. Go figure.

Made me wonder whether to trust the reg apps or not. I used RegScrub and Registry Mechanic. Are there any others that are any better?

[USSS]

JV16 PowerTools. I've used it for 5+ years with nary an issue. It will make backups for you very easily should something go awry.

[pipspeak]

I'll give it a go. Thanks.

[bill bolton]

Well, both found over 100 "errors" in the registry! This on a machine not more than a few hours out of the box. Go figure

That's not unusual for an XP machine that has just been "set up" and had a major software install done on it. Many of the "errors" are probably related to references to install files which are no longer in their original locations.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[jdhurst]

Bill B has pretty much nailed it - not really errors. So on one hand, software writers could do a vastly better job if they merely opened their eyes, but on the other hand, it isn't worth losing sleep over.
... JDH

[pipspeak]

true... and 150 errors in the entire registry is but a small fraction of the number of keys that exist.

jv16 already failed one test... I had it do an auto fix of all the registry errors and it broke my BT stack, requiring a registry restore. Not a good start. I'll keep playing.

[jdhurst]

I used JV16 before it became a paid tool, and it was OK, but as you note, had some errors. I now use Registry First Aid quite successfully. One person here reported problems, so if you do try it, save the FIX file so you can add it back to the registry if need be. ... JDH

[mattbiernat]

I used JV16 before it became a paid tool, and it was OK, but as you note, had some errors. I now use Registry First Aid quite successfully. One person here reported problems, so if you do try it, save the FIX file so you can add it back to the registry if need be. ... JDH

just started using RFA as well. before I was using registry mechanic. RFA has much better detection rate and seems quite safe since I only delete the green entries. I leave RED and yellow alone. also remember that some applications simply write to the registry whenever you use them so that could have been one of the reasons you got so many entires.