Those who wants a registry cleaner software should read this

I decided to test the legitimate and genuine registry cleaners even though I rather see people not to use one.  The test system is an XP system in Virtual PC.  It's XP with integrated SP3.  The registry cleaners should not find error in the registry because the system is unmodified and nothing was installed after the clean installation.

There's only 2 registry cleaner software that people should consider IF they really want a free registry cleaner.  Also to prevent people in using something like commercial version of RegCure that gave hundreds of people... a problem instead of cure.

Better is don't touch the registry in Windows unless you have to e.g. deleting a registry key that were added by malware using manual removal method or tweaking the registry by following a guide from trusted sources.

Published Fri, Sep 3 2010 8:06 by donna

Comments

Friday, September 03, 2010 6:44 AM by Basil

# re: Those who wants a registry cleaner software should read this

Thank you Donna for this excellent blog.

I must admit that I have been using CCleaner's registry cleaner for the past 3 or 4 years, and thankfully I have never had a problem. I must admit, however, that I always feel very nervous when using it. If I was to have a registry problem, as a result of using it, I know I would be in trouble.

As a result of your first class article, I have decided to stop using the registry cleaner part of CCleaner. I will, however, download  Power Tools Lite, and try it out. I rather like the screen shots you have provided.

Friday, September 03, 2010 8:10 PM by donna

# re: Those who wants a registry cleaner software should read this

Thanks Basil for reading the article.  CCleaner is a really good program in cleaning-up the system but better to use a program that is specialized to do what it has to do.  

CCleaner for cleaning-up and then, PowerTools et al for registry check/cleaning/fixing but only for users who really wants a registry cleaning program :)

I believe, standalone products works better.

Saturday, September 04, 2010 3:19 AM by Peter Griffioen

# re: Those who wants a registry cleaner software should read this

I have also felt using Reg cleaner in CCleaner a bit dodgy. I have now downloaded Power Tools Lite but will only use it if required. Be interested to know your comment on Revo Uninstaller. It also 'supposedly' cleans up the registry when removing a program.

regards and thanks for your posts, Peter.

Saturday, September 04, 2010 8:42 AM by Corrine

# Registry Cleaners & Windows 7

Hi, Donna!

Since your article is based on testing with Windows XP, it should be noted that with the move by so many PC users to Windows 7, it should be realized that there is seldom a need to use a registry cleaner with Windows 7.  

Modifying registry keys incorrectly can cause Windows instability, or make Windows unbootable. No registry cleaner is completely safe and the potential is ever present to cause more problems than they claim to fix.

Registry cleaners cannot distinguish between good and bad. If you run a registry cleaner, it will delete all those keys which are obsolete and sitting idle; but in reality, those keys may well be needed by some programs or Windows at a later time.

Windows 7 is much more efficient at managing the registry than previous Windows versions. If you are very knowledgeable of the registry, and use a registry cleaner to delete keys left over when uninstalling programs, the few keys removed will not make 1 millisecond's difference in performance. If you run a registry cleaner and do not know precisely what you are doing, you will have problems down the road. There are no gains to be had from using a registry cleaner and the risk is great.

My advice to people using Windows 7 is to forget all the "wisdom" learned about XP. Windows 7 is not XP and does not manage the registry the same as Windows XP.

Sunday, September 05, 2010 10:48 AM by donna

# re: Those who wants a registry cleaner software should read this

Thanks for mentioning the registry cleaner in Revo, Peter... which I totally forgot. If not, I should have try it out for the article but I will try it today since the XP is still in the same state (unmodified, nothing is installed).  I'll reply here again when I finished trying the reg cleaner in Revo.

Sunday, September 05, 2010 10:54 AM by donna

# re: Those who wants a registry cleaner software should read this

Hi Corrine!

The problem is even Microsoft provides registry cleaning service for Vista and Windows 7 via Windows Live OneCare Safety scanner and this is why consumers continue to use a registry cleaner.  However, I noted in my articles (in RegCure and in the Registry Cleaner comparison) that it's better to not to touch the registry cleaner especially if there is no need.  Only when they are advanced user who need to change, tweak something that require access to registry editor in Windows.