Re: Windows Start Menu

HeyBub wrote:
Pete Dashwood wrote:
HeyBub wrote:
William M. Klein wrote:
Concerning "MSCONFIG" and clean up stuff, I have been using
CCLeaner recently and found it pretty good in cleaning up "temp"
stuff AND it has a fairly decent interface into what I assume is
"msconfig" (at least it does the same kind of thing with a LITTLE
more information about what each existing started application is).

See:
http://www.ccleaner.com/

(I haven't had problems with the "registry cleaner" part - but if
you don't want to use that part, you can turn it off)


The problem with CCleaner is the TEMPTATION to use the "registry
cleaner" function.

Absolute Law:
No good can come from any use of any registry cleaner but great,
irreparable, and catastrophic harm can easily result.

No registry cleaner will appreciably (or even detectably) shrink the
size of the registry. Since the registry is not read sequentially,
removing moribund entries will not speed things up. At all.

Now Microsoft does offer a free registry cleaner. Tests done by
experts reveal the Microsoft registry cleaner doesn't actually DO
anything.
We think Microsoft is offering a registry cleaner for its placebo
effect.
Even if registry cleaners were able to safely perform their main
function, deleting unused entries, this activity is roughly the
equivalent of waxing the underside of your automobile's fenders.

This is pretty much my take on it too.

(Having said that, I do back up the Registry then Clean and de-frag
it every 6 months or so. I don't know whether it makes a difference
or not (my system generally performs very well), but it makes me feel
better...)
DEFRAGGING the Registry can be of some limited use but if you never
did it, it wouldn't really matter.


Yep. I monitor the microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (and other)
newsgroups. At least once a week some soul blunders in with the
lament that, after "cleaning" his registry, his machine won't work.
And by "won't work" I mean it won't even boot!


I have some sympathy for these people because there are really misleading
ads out there that appear to promise specific solutions (based on what the
victim was searching for) as Jimmy noted recently.


You raise an interesting issue when you say you "back up the Registry
then..." Many say that's what they do.

If, however, the registry cleaner has so scrambled - or deleted - the
registry, what do you do with the backup?

The cleaner I use doesn't do that. But, if it did, I'd restore the Registry
and investigate (just like with any backup). I take a full image copy of the
current working registry, before it is cleaned, the cleaner is configured to
save a before image of anything it changes, and I usually have a system
restore point set before cleaning as well. Never had a problem, and only
used the cleaner's restore once in 4 years. Caused by me OKing something for
deletion which I should not have. It was restored without problem. I have
never had to resort to either the System Restore or the physical images.


Oh, you can mount the problematic hard drive in another machine and
attempt to restore the backup registry. This technique often
succeeds. Of course the possibility remains that the "cleaner"
instigated some "hidden" damage that may not be apparent for long
periods, if ever. The "backup" will, in this case, be useless.

That's why you need to be very careful about which cleaner you use. I can
see every change it made and I can undo any or all of them. It works.

Pete.
--
"I used to write COBOL...now I can do anything."


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Registry cleaner ?
    ... Unknown typed: ... They make excellent analogies since registry cleaners are the ONLY thing they've singled out. ... Did it ever occur to you your UNDO isn't needed ... don't run a registry cleaner? ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics)
  • Re: Registry mechanic
    ... I do not let any registry cleaner etc on my one and only computer. ... safely configure and use any automated registry cleaner, ... Routine cleaning of the registry isn't needed and is dangerous. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: to the OP also: Re: How to clean registry
    ... That is your opinion and I do not refute that. ... "They" say all registry cleaners are snake oil. ... "They" say there can never be a benefit to using a registry cleaner. ... as files in the temp folder of your disk don't slow it down. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: registery cleaners are they helpful?
    ... I do not let any registry cleaner etc on my one and only computer. ... an automated registry cleaner, particularly by an untrained, inexperienced ... Routine cleaning of the registry isn't needed and is dangerous. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware)
  • Re: Registry Cleaners
    ... the cleaner suggested the fix and the suggested fix ... The only good registry cleaner is one that will list what it finds ... Ran a scan to count the number of entries in my PC's registry ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers)