Registry Mechanic

[MedRxman]

Is this a safe program to use?

Thanks,

BL

 

[R. McCarty]

Only if your instance of XP is fully Imaged and Verified before you
use it. Even though Registry Cleaners do backup keys/values it will
change modify - restoring those will not always leave the PC in the
state it was at the time of removal.

Don't expect magical results - The Registry will always have keys
these programs deem invalid and subject to removal. Unless you've
installed/uninstalled high numbers of programs your Registry is fine.

Proper maintenance (Chkdsk, Defrag, Security Scans, Driver updates)
yields better results than Registry Cleaning.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Is this a safe program to use?

I always recommend against the routine use of registry cleaners. Routine
cleaning of the registry isn't needed and is dangerous. Leave the registry
alone and don't use a registry cleaner. Despite what many people think, and
what vendors of registry cleaning software try to convince you of, having
unused registry entries doesn't really hurt you.

The risk of a serious problem caused by a registry cleaner erroneously
removing an entry you need is far greater than any potential benefit it may
have.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Is this a safe program to use?

Thanks,

BL

By "safe," I assume you mean the one least likely to render your
computer completely unusable? No such products are particularly safe,
unless being used by an experienced technician.

Why would you think you need to clean your registry?

What specific *problem* are you experiencing that you *know* beyond
all reasonable doubt will be fixed by using a registry cleaner? If you
do have a problem that is rooted in the registry, it would be far better
to simply edit (after backing up, of course) only the specific key(s)
and/or value(s) that are causing the problem. Why use a shotgun when a
scalpel will do the job? Additionally, the manually changing of one or
two registry entries is far less likely to have the dire consequences of
allowing an automated product to make multiple changes simultaneously.

The registry contains all of the operating system's "knowledge" of
the computer's hardware devices, installed software, the location of the
device drivers, and the computer's configuration. A misstep in the
registry can have severe consequences. One should not even turning
loose a poorly understood automated "cleaner," unless he is fully
confident that he knows *exactly* what is going to happen as a result of
each and every change. Having seen the results of inexperienced people
using automated registry "cleaners," I can only advise all but the most
experienced computer technicians (and/or hobbyists) to avoid them all.
Experience has shown me that such tools simply are not safe in the hands
of the inexperienced user.

The only thing needed to safely clean your registry is knowledge
and Regedit.exe. If you lack the knowledge and experience to maintain
your registry by yourself, then you also lack the knowledge and
experience to safely configure and use any automated registry cleaner,
no matter how safe they claim to be.

Further, no one has ever demonstrated, to my satisfaction, that the
use of an automated registry cleaner, particularly by an untrained,
inexperienced computer user, does any real good. There's certainly been
no empirical evidence offered to demonstrate that the use of such
products to "clean" WinXP's registry improves a computer's performance
or stability.

I always use Regedit.exe. I trust my own experience and judgment
far more than I would any automated registry cleaner. I strongly
encourage others to acquire the knowledge, as well.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrum Russell

 

[MICROSOFT]

Is this a safe program to use?

Thanks,

BL

Contrary to all the fear-mongering a few MVPs here like to spew, yes, it's a
decent program and reasonably safe when used properly and thoughtfully. It
has a decent reputation amongst most knowledgeable users and has a decent
set of safeguards.

That said, before touching the registry or any part of the operating system
for that matter, be sure that you have either backed up all of your
important data or don't mind losing it in the evetn of a catastrophic
failure. Backups are important perios as there Contrary to what the folks
here like to say, it IS possible, when somethiung is already wrong, for a
registry cleaner or even manually editing the registry by an experienced
person, to cause a catastrophic failure. All that means is, be sure to back
up stuff that's important to you.

Regards,

Pop`

 

[MICROSOFT]

This is typical fear-mongering, egocentric crap at its best.

Only if your instance of XP is fully Imaged and Verified before you

There are other backup methods: Imaging is NOT the only way to backup a
machine. ALL information does NOT need to be backed up and it's different
for every user. All you're trying to do is throw out some fanciful language
to make a newby scared enough to remain ignorant of his machine. You are
ignorant for taking this position you have taken.

use it. Even though Registry Cleaners do backup keys/values it will
change modify - restoring those will not always leave the PC in the
state it was at the time of removal.

True, and exactly the same situation as daily use of a machine. The
likelihoods are very similar. Vague generalities such as this indicate that
you are simply spewing some egocentric crap you think sounds good and makes
you look like a big boy. "Boy" being the operative word there.

Don't expect magical results -

It didn't sound like he was. Why do you make the assumption that he needs
such a warning?

The Registry will always have keys

these programs deem invalid and subject to removal. Unless you've
installed/uninstalled high numbers of programs your Registry is fine.

NOw that is out and out wrong. First you say they "always" cause trouble,
and then you turn around and recommend using it if he's
"installed/uninstalled" a lot of progs; make up your stupid mind.

Proper maintenance (Chkdsk, Defrag, Security Scans, Driver updates)
yields better results than Registry Cleaning.

REgistry "cleaining", yes; but you're playing a silly semantics game. I've
used registry software for years with excellent results. They have affected
some very healthy and good results in correcting issues with the reigistry.

When you collect an original thought of your own, why not try to help
somoene you actually know how to help and shut up otherwise?

Pop

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

Is this a safe program to use?

NO!!!!!!!!!!!

You have to be an experienced and CONFIDENT user of Windows before you
let yourself trust that program.

Never let it do things the "default" way.

 

[MICROSOFT]

By "safe," I assume you mean the one least likely to render your
computer completely unusable? No such products are particularly safe,
unless being used by an experienced technician.

In fact, NO application period is "safe" in the vein you mean. The
differences you allude to are small to tiny to non existant and when backed
up, especially if imaged, present no problems. You admonish the world for a
tiny fractional percentage of errors most any application could create. You
seem to think that registry cleanrs are the only thing that ever writes to
the registry - and that's completely wrong. The dangers created by registry
cleaners from reputable sources are identical to that of an install routine
created by a reputable source. IME installs have created many magnitudes
more problems than registry cleaners have.

Why would you think you need to clean your registry?

What specific *problem* are you experiencing that you *know* beyond
all reasonable doubt will be fixed by using a registry cleaner? If you

Condescending little bass turd, aren't you? You haven't even come close to
giving any kind of answer to the OP other than to throw out some scare-speak
to make him join your bigotted opinion of somethig someone told you at
school somehow.

do have a problem that is rooted in the registry, it would be far better
to simply edit (after backing up, of course) only the specific key(s)
and/or value(s) that are causing the problem.

That's exactly what the good registry programs do, and they do it quickly.
In fact, I've come to the opinion that these programs are magnitudes smarter
than you try to appear since they give results and you've only given hot air
to it over these last few years with nary an appearance of anything to back
up your claims or even begin to prove your prejudices.

Why use a shotgun when a

scalpel will do the job?

Stupid analogy.

Additionally, the manually changing of one or

two registry entries is far less likely to have the dire consequences of
allowing an automated product to make multiple changes simultaneously.

On the other hand, there are hundreds of changes could be made that hte user
may not ever notice. I wish you could see how stupid you sound with these
baseless and obviously prejudiced statements. To listen to you there has
never even been a bug in a windows operating system in a lot of ways.

Nuff said.

Pop

 

[MedRxman]

I actualy asked the question to get other opinions.

A friend told me he was having a shutdown issue with XP Home. He called Dell
Support who could not resolve his issue and they (Dell) suggested "registry
Mechanic". What ever the problem was, it appears that the program resolved
his issue.

I personally have edited my own regisgtries in Win98 and XP when known
issues needed to be addressed.

I alwsays have a recent (working) image of all my PCs in the event it would
necessary.

My thoughts( after my friends Dell experience) would be to use the registry
cleaner as the next to last resort
(image restore) for an issue that could not be resolved via the support of
the news groups here that have thus far provided me good information that
resulted in GOOD results.

As for Mr/ms MICROSOFT it would be better to answer the question asked
rather than critique responders and wasting every ones time.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Nuff said.

Pop

Oh, dear. Name-calling, rather than a rational discussion or any
attempt to use facts. Is that because you have no facts and no
experience to call upon when attempting an "argument?"



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrum Russell

 

[Curt Christianson]

AMEN Grumpy--you and I finally agree on something ;-)

Obviously MICROSOFT (Pop) doesn't have a *clue* what he is talking about.
The number of posters here and in the 98 groups *will* attest to the fact of
just how dangerous they can be.

And Pop, come up with some hard evidence as to their safety, before you go
shooting your mouth off, and worse yet, disparaging those that quite
obviously know a great deal more than you.