Millicent Bystander
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« on: April 21, 2010, 12:23:37 PM » |
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Looking to get the work PC running a bit better (the hard drive has been in 3 different machines on the same install of XP) and someone suggested a registry cleaner.
I always thought they were a bit of a con, are there any effective (free?) ones out there?
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Chaos
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« Reply #1 on: April 21, 2010, 12:26:34 PM » |
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I always thought they were a bit of a con
this
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claws
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« Reply #3 on: April 21, 2010, 12:49:40 PM » |
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I always thought they were a bit of a con
this this. Load of old rubbish, do more harm than good mostly, would totally avoid. (though if you insist, check ccleaner)
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Teatime
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Still rubbish after all these years
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« Reply #4 on: April 21, 2010, 12:53:24 PM » |
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Registry cleaners: Overrated. "Cleaning" the registry (= deleting orphaned entries) will unlikely speed up anything. If anything check for applications/services started with windows (different places to check, msconfig is a good start) and throw out stuff you either don't need or at least don't let it load automatically. Alternatively the best method is always to consider a clean install 
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Millicent Bystander
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« Reply #5 on: April 21, 2010, 01:07:15 PM » |
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Tune Up Utilities seems to actually work, the PC is working noticeably faster.
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mandl
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« Reply #6 on: April 21, 2010, 01:18:39 PM » |
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I use CC cleaner which is free http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/update?v=2.28.1091&l=1033It does more than clean up the registry i noticed a shift up in speed after using all its extras.
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Junta
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« Reply #7 on: April 21, 2010, 02:42:07 PM » |
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I always thought they were a bit of a con
this this. Load of old rubbish, do more harm than good mostly, would totally avoid. (though if you insist, check ccleaner) ccleaner is very good, and not spyware / ransomware infested either
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egg
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« Reply #8 on: April 21, 2010, 02:50:06 PM » |
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Looking to get the work PC running a bit better (the hard drive has been in 3 different machines on the same install of XP) and someone suggested a registry cleaner.
I always thought they were a bit of a con, are there any effective (free?) ones out there?
3 machines... same XP install..... errr I'd rebuild it from scratch.
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Millicent Bystander
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« Reply #9 on: April 21, 2010, 03:33:35 PM » |
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3 machines... same XP install.....
errr I'd rebuild it from scratch.
So would I if there wasn't essential software on it we don't have discs for. Edit: CC Cleaner picked up over 1500 registry errors
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« Last Edit: April 21, 2010, 05:33:50 PM by Millicent Bystander »
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Finaldeath
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« Reply #10 on: April 21, 2010, 07:54:44 PM » |
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Windows will crash if you mess the registry - despite it being slightly better in new versions, it does bloat (which can make it corrupt more easily, sigh, and does slow things down eventually).
I'd recommend reinstalling if there is any major problems with it. An expert (which I profess to somewhat be) can easily "clean" things but yeah, as others mentioned, unless it's a startup process location or a virus there's little difference. CCleaner is okay. Most of the AV and spyware programs will also clean the registry where necessary.
If you have essential software I'd recommend backing up the files (including your entire Documents and Settings folder) and the entire registry ("regedit" in "Run..." and click "Export All") now to another medium - at the least it can be copied back later. I'd hate to hear you get a virus or HDD crash and have to reinstall anyway!
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Finaldeath
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« Reply #11 on: April 21, 2010, 08:45:45 PM » |
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3 machines... same XP install.....
errr I'd rebuild it from scratch.
So would I if there wasn't essential software on it we don't have discs for. Edit: CC Cleaner picked up over 1500 registry errors Oh that makes it more challenging  Use belarc to obtain your keys, and download software.... unless you have some bespoke stuff..... Just to add more expert advice to professor FD's comments (  ), when backing up your PC include full C drive and system state data (includes registry along with other important 'stuff'  ) All this can be done through NTBackup included in windows. This will ensure you can recover the whole PC and applications 
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Millicent Bystander
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« Reply #12 on: April 21, 2010, 11:14:29 PM » |
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Oh I do have the essential information on a memory stick and the company who set up our network also backs up all the info on the main server but the programs are specialist window pricing/manufacturing ones that have to be set up and programmed to work with the factory machinery by the company who supplied them.
In short reloading windows would be more trouble (and money) than the few milliseconds I would gain. I may do it when we get the promised software upgrade though.
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« Last Edit: April 21, 2010, 11:16:40 PM by Millicent Bystander »
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I find myself stark naked except for a pair of latex gloves attempting to pull on a pair of red tights on in my parent's spare bedroom.
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« Reply #13 on: April 22, 2010, 12:18:18 AM » |
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I think the phrase 'if it ain't broke.....' is suitable here in your situation 
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CruelCow
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Move along. Nobody suspicious is here.
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« Reply #14 on: April 22, 2010, 09:15:32 AM » |
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Never change a running, critical system.
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