registry

[Claire Brucker]

Just what is the registry? Does it need regular cleaning? If so, how do you
clean it?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

<answered inline>

Just what is the registry?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Registry

Does it need regular cleaning? If so,
how do you clean it?

No. In fact - if you have to ask what tthe registry is (even after you
learn it and can explain it to others) - the registry is better left alone
except in particular cases where you are following specific instructions to
add or remove specific things.

Although there are some fine registry tools out there - the ones that just
go through and find orphaned entries and then remove them for you should not
be utilized by the layman (or even the so-called expert) unless every single
entry is checked with a fine-tooth comb before removal of each and every one
and a full backup of the system was made before attempting it so you can
restore if things begin to fail. It's not worth the risk you take.

While I cannot say conclusively that cleaning out *any* registry will not
improve performance of *any* machine - I can say that most people - even
with machines that have been around since 2001 and have had each successive
service pack installed and every version of Microsoft and Open Office
installed since 2001 and removed - and assorted other packages (hundreds -
if not thousands) installed and removed multiple times - will not see any
marked improvement from a cleaned registry. They will not recover much (if
any) drive space and they will not gain much (if any) performance. (When I
say much for performance - nano, maybe milli seconds...)

 

[Claire Brucker]

Thank you, SS, for your great answer. I am glad that I don't have to do
anything.

 

[Leonard Grey]

In Windows, the registry is where Windows and your other software store
most of their configuration settings. A registry does NOT need cleaning,
despite all the hype you'll read to the contrary, so your last question
is moot.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

"A Day in the Life of a Web 2.0 Hacker" - PC Magazine
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2330952,00.asp

 

[Twayne]

No. In fact - if you have to ask what tthe registry is (even after
you learn it and can explain it to others) - the registry is better
left alone except in particular cases where you are following
specific instructions to add or remove specific things.

That's a little condescending, don't you think? Especially considering
the stated purpose of the post was to find out WHAT the registry is?

You never answered either question, although you gave a long boilerplate
spew about the perceived dangers of registry cleaners. Your only
purpose in answering thus had to be self-serving, with no consideration
of helping the OP.

Twayne

 

[VanguardLH]

Just what is the registry? Does it need regular cleaning? If so, how do you
clean it?

Go to your local library. Get a copy of Windows for Dummies. Read.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Just what is the registry?

It's a bunch of files that contain setting information, both for
Windows itself, as well as much of your hardware and most of your
applications. It's critical: without it, or if it gets screwed up,
your system won't run.

Does it need regular cleaning? If so, how do you
clean it?

Not only does it not *need* regular cleaning, registry cleaning is
very dangerous and more likely to hurt you than help you. Here's my
standard post on the subject:

Registry cleaning programs are *all* snake oil. Cleaning of the
registry isn't needed and is dangerous. Leave the registry alone and
don't use any 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.

 

[John John (MVP)]

That's a little condescending, don't you think? Especially considering
the stated purpose of the post was to find out WHAT the registry is?

You never answered either question, although you gave a long boilerplate
spew about the perceived dangers of registry cleaners. Your only
purpose in answering thus had to be self-serving, with no consideration
of helping the OP.

The OP asked three questions:

1- Just what is the registry?
2- Does it need regular cleaning?
3- If so, how do you clean it?

Shenan aswered questions 1 & 2, question 3 does not need an answer
because the registry does not need cleaning.

John

 

[Leonard Grey]

Reply below.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

"A Day in the Life of a Web 2.0 Hacker" - PC Magazine
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2330952,00.asp

The OP asked three questions:

1- Just what is the registry?
2- Does it need regular cleaning?
3- If so, how do you clean it?

Shenan aswered questions 1 & 2, question 3 does not need an answer
because the registry does not need cleaning.

John

I would steer clear of Twayne. S/He's on this crusade over registry
cleaners and won't be denied.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

<answered inline>

Just what is the registry?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Registry

Does it need regular cleaning? If so,
how do you clean it?

No. In fact - if you have to ask what tthe registry is (even after
you learn it and can explain it to others) - the registry is better
left alone except in particular cases where you are following
specific instructions to add or remove specific things.

Although there are some fine registry tools out there - the ones
that just go through and find orphaned entries and then remove them
for you should not be utilized by the layman (or even the so-called
expert) unless every single entry is checked with a fine-tooth comb
before removal of each and every one and a full backup of the
system was made before attempting it so you can restore if things
begin to fail. It's not worth the risk you take.
While I cannot say conclusively that cleaning out *any* registry
will not improve performance of *any* machine - I can say that most
people - even with machines that have been around since 2001 and
have had each successive service pack installed and every version
of Microsoft and Open Office installed since 2001 and removed - and
assorted other packages (hundreds - if not thousands) installed and
removed multiple times - will not see any marked improvement from a
cleaned registry. They will not recover much (if any) drive space
and they will not gain much (if any) performance. (When I say much
for performance - nano, maybe milli seconds...)

That's a little condescending, don't you think? Especially
considering the stated purpose of the post was to find out WHAT the
registry is?
You never answered either question, although you gave a long
boilerplate spew about the perceived dangers of registry cleaners. Your
only purpose in answering thus had to be self-serving, with no
consideration of helping the OP.

Twayne,

You are telling the world you missed my answer to "What is the registry?"
(even though you quoted the answer in your own reply?) Here is the link I
gave that explains it quite well (even includes a link at the bottom to
information on Registry Cleaners... But you'd have to read the information
given...)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Registry

Af for 'condescending' - not at all. I gave facts based off my experience
with such things and the link I gave would lead to more information on the
matter if one wished to follow up on their own free time. That's it.

You snipped a lot of my posting in your response. Conveniently the parts
that skimmed the issue of question (3) and did not completely disagree with
what you mighht have to say (likely why you snipped it - you just wanted to
argue IMHO.)

You have your opinion, I have mine. Post yours if you like - but don't try
to pick a fight for no reason - it's not wise or mature.

I have included the entire text of my posting above. For those who wish to
trust an archival vs. anything I said I posted - you can find it all
archived indefinitely here:
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...37749b72a26/15e7e2f5bbabecdd#15e7e2f5bbabecdd

Otherwise - I have nothing more to say on the matter. The OP seems to have
gotten the information they requested and are welcomed to come back and ask
for more (or clarification) if they so desire.


Claire,

I hope you did get enough information.

I did see your response elsewhere in this conversation thanking me for the
answer. If you need to know more I suggest following up on the first link I
gave you about what the registry is. Near the bottom is more information
concerning registry cleaners and even a blurb about the 'argument' that
Twayne is obviously trying to propogate here.

If you read anything you feel you need translated from 'geek speak' to
normal human - come back and let someone here know. Nothing wrong with
wanting to learn - that's what we are all doing.

 

[db.·.. >]

and the daily double is:

What is http://onecare.live.com/site/en-US/article/registry_cleaner_why.htm

 

[Twayne]

Reply below.

---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

"A Day in the Life of a Web 2.0 Hacker" - PC Magazine
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2330952,00.asp


I would steer clear of Twayne. S/He's on this crusade over registry
cleaners and won't be denied.

The "crusade" is really about misinformation; in this case against
closed minded zealots who refuse to verify/clarify/validate their claims
in any way. His adamancy is bolstered by absolutely nothing based in
fact and reality around the issue. Otherwise he would either accept the
challenge or admit to the "evidence" and other things I've provided him
over the last couple of years and tried to convince me otherwise with
facts rather than blind proclamations. When one becomes that closed
minded they become dangerous to anyone who might listen to them because
they don't reason things out.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

<snipped>

and the daily double is:

What is
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-US/article/registry_cleaner_why.htm

I do love that link.
I like to think of it as the classic "right-hand knows not what the
left-hand is doing..."

For those who do not follow links, here is the web page - quoted...
(My favorite part is the question, "What if I accidentally remove something
I need in my registry?" The levels of irony there and proof that this is
not something to be taken lightly astound me. And then the carefree "Oh -
just use system restore, because that will never fail you" attitude is funny
too.)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is the registry?
--------------------------
The Windows Registry is the place on your PC where Windows stores
information it might need to retrieve later—for example, when you open an
application or change a system setting. The registry contains profiles for
each user, the applications installed on the computer and the types of
documents they create, what hardware exists on the system, and the ports
being used.


Why should I clean my registry?
----------------------------------------
Over time, the Windows Registry can begin to contain information that's no
longer valid. Maybe you uninstalled an application without using the Add or
Remove Programs function in the Control Panel, or perhaps an object or file
in the registry got moved. Eventually this orphaned or misplaced information
accumulates and begins to clog your registry, potentially slowing down your
PC and causing error messages and system crashes. You might also notice that
your PC's startup process is slower than it used to be. Cleaning your
registry is the easiest way to help avoid these common problems.


How do I clean my registry?
-----------------------------------
The Windows Live OneCare clean up scanner will find and remove any invalid
registry items on your PC. It's easy—it’s part of a full-service Windows
Live OneCare safety scan. Or, for a targeted approach, click Clean Up Scan
in the Clean Up Center. The clean up scan will check your registry and
locate any items that can be removed safely. You can then choose to remove
all the items the scanner finds or select items individually for removal.


Can't I just delete registry items on my own?
--------------------------------------------------------
We don't recommend trying to remove registry items on your own. It's often
difficult to determine which items correspond to which applications, and by
attempting to remove items yourself, you might accidentally remove a valid
registry item, causing software crashes and errors. The Windows Live OneCare
clean up scan is a safe and effective way to clean your Windows Registry.

And remember, when you want to remove a program or software application from
your PC, always use the Add or Remove Programs tool in the Control Panel.
Doing so ensures that any registry items associated with that application
are removed safely.


What if I accidentally remove something I need in my registry?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not to worry. Just like Microsoft Word, your PC has an "undo" option. In
this case, it's called System Restore. Once it's finished scanning, the
Windows Live Safety scanner creates a System Restore point on your PC. This
allows you to revert your system to its original state, before you performed
the scan, in case you inadvertently remove any valid registry items.

To access the System Restore Wizard in Windows XP:
1. Click Start, then select All Programs.
2. Select Accessories, then System Tools, then System Restore.
3. In the System Restore wizard, make sure Restore my computer to an
earlier time is selected, then click Next.
4. Now you can use the calendar to select the date you performed the
clean up scan and instruct your PC to revert to the way it was before you
ran the scan.


How often should I clean my registry?
----------------------------------------------
We recommend a complete Windows Live OneCare safety scan once a month. The
full-service scan checks your registry automatically.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Ah well. My advice still does not change, luckily. I don't believe it is
_necessary_, the performance difference is minimal at best (unless you can
tell you gained a nanosecond in most cases), if you properly managed what
you installed and how you removed it in most cases - you wouldn't have
orphaned values anyway (like not testing software on your production
machine - use a virtual machine (based off free software) to play - afer for
everyone) and if you do decide to 'clean' the registry - do it carefully.
Even this article that has to do with a Microsoft Product has foreboding
language and such in it - warning you of the dangers. ;-)

Not saying you should or should not - just saying you better understand what
you are doing before you jump in.

 

[Bill in Co.]

The "crusade" is really about misinformation; in this case against
closed minded zealots who refuse to verify/clarify/validate their claims
in any way. His adamancy is bolstered by absolutely nothing based in
fact and reality around the issue. Otherwise he would either accept the
challenge or admit to the "evidence" and other things I've provided him
over the last couple of years and tried to convince me otherwise with
facts rather than blind proclamations.

You haven't once provided any real *factual evidence* on this.
Oh, wait a minute, I stand corrected: you saw it as "factual evidence".
Point taken.

When one becomes that closed
minded they become dangerous to anyone who might listen to them because
they don't reason things out.

Self-projection noted, once again. And you have my sympathies.

 

[Twayne]

and the daily double is:

What is
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-US/article/registry_cleaner_why.htm

Good answer; that covers it all.

 

[Kayman]

Just what is the registry? Does it need regular cleaning? If so, how do you
clean it?

AUMHA Discussion: Should I Use a Registry Cleaner?
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=28099
Note the comments from Dr. Mark Russinovich and the reference concerning
ERUNT.

Why I don¢t use registry cleaners!
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000643.html

CCleaner - Free
Cleans temporary internet files, cookies, history, recent urls, application
MRUs, etc. ... (Tune out the registry scanning/fixing option!)
http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/
If Windows Defender is utilized go to Applications, under Utilities uncheck
"Windows Defender" (so it won't delete the history of WD);
Followed by:
NTREGOPT
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Just what is the registry?

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 turn 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.

Does it need regular cleaning?

No, it most certainly does not!

If so, how do you
clean it?

Why do you even think you'd ever need to clean your registry? What
specific *problems* are you actually experiencing (not some program's
bogus listing of imaginary problems) that you think can 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. After
all, why use a chainsaw 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 only thing needed to safely clean
your registry is knowledge and Regedit.exe.

Having repeatedly 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. 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.

More importantly, no one has ever demonstrated that the use of an
automated registry cleaner, particularly by an untrained, inexperienced
computer user, does any real good, whatsoever. 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. Given the potential for harm, it's just not worth the risk.

Granted, most registry "cleaners" won't cause problems each and
every time they're used, but the potential for harm is always there.
And, since no registry "cleaner" has ever been demonstrated to do any
good (think of them like treating the flu with chicken soup - there's no
real medicinal value, but it sometimes provides a warming placebo
effect), I always tell people that the risks far out-weigh the
non-existent benefits.

I will concede that a good registry *scanning* tool, in the hands
of an experienced and knowledgeable technician or hobbyist can be a
useful time-saving diagnostic tool, as long as it's not allowed to make
any changes automatically. But I really don't think that there are any
registry cleaners that are truly safe for the general public to use.
Experience has proven just the opposite: such tools simply are not safe
in the hands of the inexperienced user.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

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. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[Twayne]

You haven't once provided any real *factual evidence* on this.
Oh, wait a minute, I stand corrected: you saw it as "factual
evidence". Point taken.

OH yes, I have. You just don't recall it and are too lazy to look for
it. It's there and Brucey boy knows it because he half responded to
one, ignored the others.

Self-projection noted, once again. And you have my sympathies.

I think you need to get down where the air supply to your brain is a
little better; t'ain't working.

 

[Bill in Co.]

Oh, come on now. Don't you know by now that Twayne knows much more about
this than Dr. Mark Russinovich? For shame, boy!

ROFL.

 

[Dave M]

I find it of interest that Microsoft has chosen to provide the Live OneCare
registry cleaner in an product they call the free Live OneCare Safety Scanner
which has seen absolutely *NO* Microsoft maintenance or support since 2006,
yet that is the only Safety Scanner function not also provided as a part of
the Live OneCare subscription product that is supported functionally by
Microsoft. Particularly considering the recommendation to run regular
monthly registry cleanings in that referenced article, you would think
Microsoft's smart marketing folks would have sweetened the subscription
OneCare pot by throwing the scheduled run of a Registry Cleaner in too.
Perhaps they were concerned with having to actually support the repair of
broken registries... do you think?