registry
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Didn't thinks so ,i aint no computer buff (as you've probably guessed
)just doing general maintenance,and i've read that the registry can get bloated over a period of time ,i've never touched the registry since i've had this computer ,computers been slow off and on this last couple of weeks .What do you advise i check ?
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Download Piriform's CCleaner and run the registry cleaner. Make sure you allow it to back up your registry first - just in case it deletes something important by mistake. CCleaner will also clean up temporary files, Internet cache and cookies, etc.
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yeah remember to review all of the options before starting it off, if i remember rightly some of the defaults can be a pain (like emptying the recycle bin and clearing passwords for example)
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Definitely! They're all presented as check boxes anyway so it's very easy to deselect any unwanted actions.
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Definitely go with CCleaner - messing with the registry can screw things up big time.
So can registry cleaners.
CC Cleaner is a good program, but there is no need to run the registry cleaner on it. Cleaning the registry isn't necessary, and there is no benefit to doing so. You can however risk corrupting it, which happens from time to time.
If you don't know what the registry is, basically don't touch any of it if you want your computer to work.
Two programs that you can use that are actually useful:
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/
Erunt makes backups of the registry, and NTREGOPT restructures the registry to make it run faster. (Note, this is quite different from registry cleaning, which is useless.)
CC Cleaner is a good program, but there is no need to run the registry cleaner on it. Cleaning the registry isn't necessary, and there is no benefit to doing so. You can however risk corrupting it, which happens from time to time.
If you don't know what the registry is, basically don't touch any of it if you want your computer to work.
Two programs that you can use that are actually useful:
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/
Erunt makes backups of the registry, and NTREGOPT restructures the registry to make it run faster. (Note, this is quite different from registry cleaning, which is useless.)
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Removing redundant entries and their indices from any database is going to make it faster to access and that's essentially what CCleaner is doing. It gives you an option to back the registry up first - again good practice and removes redundant entries.
I've used it for ages with no ill-effects and will sometimes see a significant increase in performance.
Nothing wrong with the registry cleaner section of CCleaner at all.
I've used it for ages with no ill-effects and will sometimes see a significant increase in performance.
Nothing wrong with the registry cleaner section of CCleaner at all.
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Removing redundant entries and their indices from any database is going to make it faster to access and that's essentially what CCleaner is doing. It gives you an option to back the registry up first - again good practice and removes redundant entries.
I've used it for ages with no ill-effects and will sometimes see a significant increase in performance.
Nothing wrong with the registry cleaner section of CCleaner at all.
Yep used it for ages with no problems.
Avast was not impressed with that NTREGOPT doo dah.
Removing orphaned entries in the registry does not speed up access to the registry. Any boost in speed will be practically unnoticeable if all you are doing is deleting old registry keys.
Articles from MVPs on the issue:
http://miekiemoes.blogspot.com/2008/02/registry-cleaners-and-system-tweaking_13.html
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=28099
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/2005/04/why-i-dont-use-registry-cleaners/
How do you mean?
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Of course it will - if you remove redundant entries and indices from any database it'll speed up access times and that's all the registry is. The amount of speed increase will depend on the number of entries removed. I've seen significant performance changes after running CCleaner.
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[QUOTE.........
How do you mean?[/QUOTE]
Can't quite remember the words but it wanted me to use it in sandbox.
How do you mean?[/QUOTE]
Can't quite remember the words but it wanted me to use it in sandbox.
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........
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Strange, it's not malicious, and sandboxing it would be pretty pointless. Some of the AVs don't like any program thats more advanced than normal installations, as NTREGOPT isn't a standard program function.
Most of the False Positives I ever get are from specialist tools.
Most of the False Positives I ever get are from specialist tools.
CCleaner's main function is not a registry cleaner. The performance gains seen after running it are mainly due to it's other functions. The performance increase simply from running the registry is minimal, there would need to be thousands and thousands of broken entries for it to make a difference.
On the other hand, regularly cleaning does result in a fragmented registry, slowing down access.
In defense of CCleaner, it's a good program, and it's registry scanner is more accurate than most.
Most registry cleaners cause more damage than they solve, and quite a few more are just simply malicious. If you are recommending cleaning the registry to someone, they are just as likely to download other registry cleaning tools that are likely to cause damage.
You are also advising a user to touch the registry, who's initial question was "Can I delete the registry". You shouldn't go near the registry unless you understand how it works, and are an experienced user. The many cleaners that advertise "Fix windows errors now!" etc, are quite frankly scams and will just damage the computers of those who blindly download them. Most people don't know what the registry is, but many of them are willing to run cleaners without a moments hesitation.
Edit:
Just to illustrate my point, I just scanned for issues in CCleaner, and found out of the the scan, about 20 "Issues" that were correct registry entries that should not have been removed. Two of them were the uninstaller entries for two working and installed programs. Continuing with the registry clean, this would have broken several file extensions and removed two installed programs from the "Programs" list in control panel.
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I'll reiterate. The registry in Microsoft operating systems is a simple database. Removing redundant entries and indices from any database will improve access times.
The performance improvements I've mentioned have nothing whatsoever to do with CCleaner's other functions. I never use them as I do that part manually. I've used the product for a good while now on my own and other systems and have never seen an issue with the use of the registry function - no corruption, file association problems, uninstall database problems or any other registry related issues. Just improvements and the occasional problem fix. It's a reputable product that's very well thought of overall.
It doesn't need a degree in computer science to use either - it's suitable for anyone to use as long as they follow the default steps.
The performance improvements I've mentioned have nothing whatsoever to do with CCleaner's other functions. I never use them as I do that part manually. I've used the product for a good while now on my own and other systems and have never seen an issue with the use of the registry function - no corruption, file association problems, uninstall database problems or any other registry related issues. Just improvements and the occasional problem fix. It's a reputable product that's very well thought of overall.
It doesn't need a degree in computer science to use either - it's suitable for anyone to use as long as they follow the default steps.
I'm aware of what the registry is.
Users are definitely the most unreliable part.
It's a controversial issue that is legitimately debated. I stand by what I've said, based on my own experience and knowledge, as well as reliable and trusted sources. I'm against encouraging users to edit the registry, and I believe Registry Cleaners do far more harm than they have benefits.
However, there is no point continuing to debate over it. As said, it's a controversial topic that ultimately comes down to opinion.
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Before going near the registry, have a look in Task Manager and see what is running i.e. using resource; RAM and processor.
Over a period of time and typical installations, programs and services can be added to run at 'startup'. Controlling only the necessary items at startup will ultimately give you better performance prior to upgrading.
You can disable programs at startup using MSCONFIG and unchecking the ones you don't need.
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Someguy201 has good intentions but I honestly fail to see how anyone can advocate using a program like NTREGOPT to "re organise" the registry and yet advise against cleaning it??? Fiddling with it in any way is something I would personally avoid but...
I'm sorry, but I wouldn't trust the majority of MVPs I've gotten wind of as far as I could throw them. I've read their answers on all sorts of forums and let me tell you for a "most valued professional" I've often been shocked at the complete lack of knowledge put across.
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NTREGOPT isn't a dangerous program to use. It doesn't alter the registry in any way. "The optimization
done by NTREGOPT is simply compacting the registry hives to the
minimum size possible."
Registry cleaning alters the registry, it is deleting things. There is a substantial difference between what NTREGOPT does, and what a Registry Cleaner does.
I have no idea who you've spoken to, or seen replies of, but all of the MVPs I know are experts in their specific area. - That said, their specific area.
There are many differnet categories of MVP, and it takes years of high quality advice to be awarded it. Being an MVP does not however mean you are an expert in every single way.
Just to justify one of my links, miekiemoes is the Assistant Director of Research at Malware Bytes. She is also an MVP because of her community efforts, but that aside she is a high profile figure in the security world.
Ed Bott is: http://www.edbott.com/weblog/about-ed/
There is a bit of information about Bill Castner on this page, but I'm not honestly aware of him much.
http://www.aumha.org/vsop.php
I assure you these are trusted sources.
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Will, mate, you need to look up the definition of altering.
To compact a database the program in use has to move data from on disk area to another, that's effectively altering the database
I will clarify what I meant, I didn't phrase it too well. NTREGOPT doesn't alter the contents of the registry in anyway, however it also does not do a physical disc defrag. What it does do, isn't dangerous. I've never heard of a case of any damage being done from NTREGOPT, and ERUNT is built into quite a few other tools to perform a robust registry backup that can be accessed in the event Windows will not load.
"Note that the program does NOT change the contents of the registry in
any way, nor does it physically defrag the registry files on the drive
(as the PageDefrag program from SysInternals does). The optimization
done by NTREGOPT is simply compacting the registry hives to the
minimum size possible."
If anyone wants to argue over that statement, please contact the developer not me.
On the other hand, you need to do more research before condemning the entire MVP community, and a non dangerous tool. NTREGOPT is in no way similar to a Registry cleaner, it's a completely different kind of tool. As said, I have never even heard of a case where any damage has been done by it. If you interrupted it in the middle of it's routine it would not cause any damage to the registry.
There are different levels of risk attached to running various tools. I'm against advising general users to run tools that can easily do a lot of damage. Likewise, any tool is fine to run in the right hands. I will continue to advise against registry cleaners, for the same reason I will advise that people don't run tools like Combofix on their own.
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I would still suggest there are others places to look before the registry for a slow computer. Also the OP only read that it can get bloated, not that it is the cause.
Personally...Ive never cleaned a reg, if it is so bad at that point I'll just reinstall the OS.
Personally...Ive never cleaned a reg, if it is so bad at that point I'll just reinstall the OS.
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Didn't thinks so ,i aint no computer buff (as you've probably guessed
Have you tried rebooting?
Just a comment.
There are two registry areas. Local machine & Local user. You could just create and use a new user. You would lose some settings though. Personally I wouldn't bother.
As previously mentioned there are more important areas to look at. I would start off with process monitor.
There are two registry areas. Local machine & Local user. You could just create and use a new user. You would lose some settings though. Personally I wouldn't bother.
As previously mentioned there are more important areas to look at. I would start off with process monitor.