[jmdraft]

Everybody knows that, over time, our registries get full of crap that sneaks in. everybody also knows that most of us don’t know what most of the crap is and wither it’s safe to dump it or not.
Question: is there some kind of service, app, site, program……whatever, which will help us to identify all the crap and tell use what is safe to dump without causing our operating systems to malfunction?

[LincolnSpector]

jmdraft, on 22 March 2012 - 03:54 AM, said:

Everybody knows that, over time, our registries get full of crap that sneaks in. everybody also knows that most of us don’t know what most of the crap is and wither it’s safe to dump it or not.
Question: is there some kind of service, app, site, program……whatever, which will help us to identify all the crap and tell use what is safe to dump without causing our operating systems to malfunction?

There are programs, generally referred to as "registry cleaners," that allegedly search out and remove all the junk in the Registry. Whether they're worth using is a matter of controversy. The problem is that they have to make judgement calls on what should be removed. If they're too aggressive in assuming items should be deleted, they can break your system. Therefore, the people who design these programs tend to err on the side of safety. Result: They're unlikely to do harm (although it's still possible), but their unlikely to do good, as well.

My general recommendation is: If Windows is so messed up that you're considering doing a reinstall, try a registry cleaner first. Otherwise, don't bother. Ccleaner's a pretty good one, and free.

Lincoln

[jmdraft]

LincolnSpector, on 22 March 2012 - 06:52 AM, said:

jmdraft, on 22 March 2012 - 03:54 AM, said:

Everybody knows that, over time, our registries get full of crap that sneaks in. everybody also knows that most of us don’t know what most of the crap is and wither it’s safe to dump it or not.
Question: is there some kind of service, app, site, program……whatever, which will help us to identify all the crap and tell use what is safe to dump without causing our operating systems to malfunction?

There are programs, generally referred to as "registry cleaners," that allegedly search out and remove all the junk in the Registry. Whether they're worth using is a matter of controversy. The problem is that they have to make judgement calls on what should be removed. If they're too aggressive in assuming items should be deleted, they can break your system. Therefore, the people who design these programs tend to err on the side of safety. Result: They're unlikely to do harm (although it's still possible), but their unlikely to do good, as well.

My general recommendation is: If Windows is so messed up that you're considering doing a reinstall, try a registry cleaner first. Otherwise, don't bother. Ccleaner's a pretty good one, and free.

Lincoln

Thank you Lincoln,

I’ve had the paid versions of CCleaner in several computers for several years and I like it. I also have the paid version of Registry Mechanic and like it as well. This is more specific: I have a thing called Roxio (pertains to making CDs etc.) in several computers. I noticed 12-15 Roxio items in my registry, determined that they would not affect Windows function and disabled them in one computer and left them alone in another. I rebooted both, used a little kitchen timer and took notes to see what would happen. The computer with the disabled items was DEFINITELY and MEASURELYBLY faster than it was before and the one I left alone was as slow as ever.
I’m still looking for something that will identify items in the registry and advise about the consequence to Windows function if they are disabled.

[LiveBrianD]

Yep, CCleaner is pretty good. Generally, registry cleaners aren't worth buying though. I use ccleaner for the regular cleaner though and don't think its' registry cleaner has messed things up. (once Windows wouldn't login, hanging while doing it, I reinstalled the nvidia video driver, it worked for a day and then stopped, and then I simply reinstalled Windows and the problem was gone. I was using ccleaner, not sure if that caused it or what...)

[SpiritWind]

Hi JM :

Perhaps the info at http://www.pcdecrapifier.com and the
use of the FREE program there may be of some help !?
I have been recommending this site and the free program
there for several years .

[jmdraft]

SpiritWind, on 22 March 2012 - 07:32 PM, said:

Hi JM :

Perhaps the info at http://www.pcdecrapifier.com and the
use of the FREE program there may be of some help !?
I have been recommending this site and the free program
there for several years .

Thanks SpiritWind,

I posted the question in 6 forums and until yours, most replies have been questions……………not answers. Yours is the first, and only, specific answer to my specific question and, good, bad or indifferent, it’s EXACTLY the ANSWER I was looking for!

[LincolnSpector]

jmdraft, on 22 March 2012 - 07:15 AM, said:

I’ve had the paid versions of CCleaner in several computers for several years and I like it. I also have the paid version of Registry Mechanic and like it as well. This is more specific: I have a thing called Roxio (pertains to making CDs etc.) in several computers. I noticed 12-15 Roxio items in my registry, determined that they would not affect Windows function and disabled them in one computer and left them alone in another. I rebooted both, used a little kitchen timer and took notes to see what would happen. The computer with the disabled items was DEFINITELY and MEASURELYBLY faster than it was before and the one I left alone was as slow as ever.
I’m still looking for something that will identify items in the registry and advise about the consequence to Windows function if they are disabled.

Are you talking specifically about speeding up boot times? The best way to do that is to turn off autostarters (programs that load automatically when you boot the OS). That is, in a sense, changing the Registry, since that's what tells Windows what to load at boot. But a Registry cleaner won't help, because as far as the cleaner knows, you want that program to load.

You need to go into msconfig and decide for yourself what programs you don't want to load.

Lincoln

[jmdraft]

LincolnSpector, on 23 March 2012 - 08:13 AM, said:

jmdraft, on 22 March 2012 - 07:15 AM, said:

I’ve had the paid versions of CCleaner in several computers for several years and I like it. I also have the paid version of Registry Mechanic and like it as well. This is more specific: I have a thing called Roxio (pertains to making CDs etc.) in several computers. I noticed 12-15 Roxio items in my registry, determined that they would not affect Windows function and disabled them in one computer and left them alone in another. I rebooted both, used a little kitchen timer and took notes to see what would happen. The computer with the disabled items was DEFINITELY and MEASURELYBLY faster than it was before and the one I left alone was as slow as ever.
I’m still looking for something that will identify items in the registry and advise about the consequence to Windows function if they are disabled.

Are you talking specifically about speeding up boot times? The best way to do that is to turn off autostarters (programs that load automatically when you boot the OS). That is, in a sense, changing the Registry, since that's what tells Windows what to load at boot. But a Registry cleaner won't help, because as far as the cleaner knows, you want that program to load.

You need to go into msconfig and decide for yourself what programs you don't want to load.

Lincoln

Thank you Lincoln,

Yes, I am talking about speeding up boot time. The pooters run fast enough once they’ve had a couple cups of coffee and a couple Js but getting them out of bed every morning is a nuisance. I turn them on, make my coffee, take a shower, feed my critters and about that time, they’ve just about finished their 2nd cup.

I know about msconfig, autoruns etc. and I can see what stuff is trying to get up and running. The trouble is that I don’t know what half of it is or what kind of problems will be caused if I stop it. I suspected there might be something for this and this gizmo that SpiritWind told me about is exactly it. It will still take me a while to rummage through it all but now I have something that will help me do it and I can charge it all to Dubya.
Now I’m going to have to start a new topic because I’m having trouble downloading and installing Service pack 3 in one of them and I’m not about to pay Macrogreed to help me do it.
Thanks for your time and concern and be sure to feed your dog.

[SpiritWind]

Hi JM :

Reading the exchange of thoughts between you and Lincoln,
I wonder IF the "philosophy" of Mark Russinovich, who is
an extemely knowledgeable person in all things connected
to the Registry that I read on the aumha.net may apply
which is at http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=28099 !?

[LincolnSpector]

jmdraft, on 23 March 2012 - 09:42 AM, said:

Thank you Lincoln,

Yes, I am talking about speeding up boot time. The pooters run fast enough once they’ve had a couple cups of coffee and a couple Js but getting them out of bed every morning is a nuisance. I turn them on, make my coffee, take a shower, feed my critters and about that time, they’ve just about finished their 2nd cup.

I know about msconfig, autoruns etc. and I can see what stuff is trying to get up and running. The trouble is that I don’t know what half of it is or what kind of problems will be caused if I stop it. I suspected there might be something for this and this gizmo that SpiritWind told me about is exactly it. It will still take me a while to rummage through it all but now I have something that will help me do it and I can charge it all to Dubya.
Now I’m going to have to start a new topic because I’m having trouble downloading and installing Service pack 3 in one of them and I’m not about to pay Macrogreed to help me do it.
Thanks for your time and concern and be sure to feed your dog.

You can't expect a mere program to know what autostarters you need.


General rule: Your AV program and your firewall need to autoload. What else needs to load is up to you. It's not a matter of whether or not you like the program; it's a matter of whether the program needs to be running in the background at all times.

If you don't know what a program is, Google it. If Google doesn't find the file name, it's likely malware.

Lincoln