#66, The Crusader, "Registry Defragmentation" is strictly a performance-enhancing issue. As for products such as this offering, for one, I don't really trust utilities which claim to internally (logically) defragment and compact the Registry. Note that Sysinternals never produced such a tool, and none of the big-name disk defragmenters have ever claimed to internally (logically) defragment the Registry. If you must use such a tool, there are some which will do the logical defragmentation/compaction at boot time, which is the only safe way.

Disk (physical file) defragmentation is a proven performance-enhancing technique, used by Microsoft and third party tools (only trust the ones which use the Microsoft defragmentation API's). By far the most critical Windows performance issue is page file fragmentation--it's far more important than other file fragmentation.

What was biased about my comments? I used the latest versions of Raxco PerfectDisk, Diskeeper, and O&O Defrag. I stated exactly what I observed. None of them tell you much about what they're doing at boot time. PerfectDisk at least gives you the file numbers of the files that it's moving. Diskeeper was much too quick, a clear indication of not really defragmenting (my pagefiles are 6 GB each, it takes time to move that much data). Actually, it left the pagefile with over a hundred thousand fragments, which destroyed my PC's performance. It caused scheduled recordings to fail, recordings and live TV to be messed-up, etc. Try Diskeeper yourself if you don't believe me. On volumes where System Restore is enabled, it won't re-order the files at all, no option to do so, it won't track file use, and those are among its most-proclaimed features. Additionally, they charge excessive amounts for their version which supports more than 60 GB drives. When was the last time anyone used drives that small, 1776? I have about 6 TB online. O&O Defrag took a lot longer at boot time, indicating it was actually doing something, but the pagefile still had tens of thousands of fragments. PerfectDisk gives the most information at boot time, and will tell you if it fails to fully defragment the system and page files. There are other failings among all three products, which I didn't go into. This was a follow-up post to one which I had posted a couple of weeks back. You're under no obligation to read any of my comments.

Responding to #5 "Fubar"
Hey friend you seem to have good insight but, your response is almost unreadable.

Try putting a space between paragraphs,so it is readable to all!

I have downloaded this program and will check it our.

GOTD always has good programs,some I check out others I have no use for.

oops !.. forgot to include the link.

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/12/29/download-oo-defrag-10-professional-with-free-license-serial-key/

Another alternative is "O & O Defrag 10 Pro version" available here with free licence key.
I can't say how good it is compared to others but it works for me.

1- windows has built in program
2-many free alternatives
3-performaance wise un-noticable by computer
4-risk of playing with registry
5-just pass this one

I think Iris may have got the idea RE. differenc between reg defrag and system.. One such post pointing this out would have been enough IMO..

Uh, look... files get broken into file fragments all the time. Obviously it's more efficient / faster to deal with a file in as few chunks as possible, since each chunk must be accessed and combined into building the file every time the file is brought into RAM. (Yep, a file in a Single chunk is 'defragmented'. Whether the chunks are part of an executing program, or data being used, registry or background service running... it's all chunks. Anyway, defrag of disk or registry reduces overhead for accessing of full files. (Other very good 'reg-specific' comments are on the thread!) Don't lose sleep over this. Your freshly defragged disk will start making fragments right away, while registries are more 'stout'.

PS ever since I sold my soul for the free Glary (includes registry defrag), I've tried a lot of tools, but use Glary ever day.

PSS I was (kinda am) a Big fan of Defraggler... simple, good, free -but now I love MyDefrag - free, optimizing disk multifraggler

It would seem many people posting here don't know what the registry is, or what fragmentation is. There's confusion over file and registry defragmentation. There's confusion over registry cleaners and registry defragmentation. This offering offers one specific function, the benefits of which rely largely upon how much software (including drivers) you install/uninstall. Even then, for the average user, any improvements are likely to be minimal given the speed of disk access these days (unless of course, you live your life by the millisecond).

Simplified fragmentation explanation : files are split into small chunks, but very rarely stored 'next to each other' on your disk. Each chunk contains a 'pointer' to the next chunk. Defragmentation is the process of tracking down these chunks and bunching them 'together' on the disk, thus reducing the amount of physical jumping around the disk 'reader' has to do in order to find the necessary bits of data.

As detailed previously, the registry is just another file, but one which may only be subjected to the defragmentation process before it's 'in use' by the operating system.

Most registry cleaners don't carry out this function. They simply identify entries in the registry which are considered no longer necessary or erroneous in some way.

Of course, it's always a good idea to have several registry backups.

#6

"....if you let Windows automatically handle pagefiles, not only will it do a poor job, but Vista and higher will delete the pagefile on Windows shutdown, preventing defragmentation." You are so far off topic (and wrong about enough) to wonder if your post was meant for another giveaway for a another day.

There is nothing wrong with this. I am not sure what version of Windows that you are referencing. An empty page file does not need defragmenting. Those worried about being secure I expect wipe the page file as a matter of course.

I do not see anyone referencing data to support their post. Those shouting chicanery to the developer of today's giveaway need to reference their point of view. Prove it!

To #52 this program does not actually remove registry keys like a registry cleaner does. What it does is reorganize the registry so it is smaller and faster to access.

@Iris

Microsoft *does* have a registry defragger. It is called PageDefrag v2.32, a free download, that defrags the registry files. It runs on Windows XP (32-bit) and higher (32-bit). It even shows you the number of fragments of the individual registry files, and lets you choose whether or not to defrag the files on the next boot of your computer or on every boot. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897426.aspx

I am highly skeptical about the claims made about this program. The registry is not a single file, contrary to what the program documentation says. There are at least 10 registry files on my computer alone in several diferent folders. A search of Microsoft.com did not turn up a "linear structure" associated with the registry.

To those having problems with this "freezing" their computers, don't worry. All registry defragment programs take several minutes to analyze the registry, and for much of this time your computer will be unresponsive.

Just wait a few minutes and your computer will be running fine again!

Fubar #6

Usually your comments are well worth reading. Most times even when you get a little off of the subject your comments are interesting. Lately I think that you are preaching too much and your sermons are too long. Your comments today are so far off-topic and so biased that I consider the space that you took up - wasted.

I would hope that you would step a little back in time and write something that is worthy to read.

#46 Giovanni, is Registry Reviver same as Registry Mechanic 8? Your link brings up Reg. Reviver.....just asking.

Glary Utilities has the same thing in it... and it's free.

~Joji~

Another solution looking for a problem. There is ZERO evidence a registry ever needs to be "defragmented" or that doing so is safe, will improve performance, or is even advisable. Whenever you see something like this - ask yourself... if this is so important, why didn't MS include it in the design for Windows ? Or do these offshore programmers know more about Windows than Microsoft?

Proceed with caution.

Oh, and I might add...I don't know that much about my computer operating system as the person above me comments. Lately, it is running terribly slow and I don't know why. I've tried to keep up with everything Microsoft says to do for keeping my computer running smoothly, but it has slowed down so much!!! Maybe you'll give away something soon that will help it to run faster. I would again...very much appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Kaye D. Duke

Thank you for all your cool give-a-ways. I do definitely appreciate it!!!
Sincerely,
Kaye D. Duke

@49 Let me clarify a few things. here. The registry DOES exist physically - in files called SAM, SYSTEM, SOFTWARE, SECURITY, and files called ntuser. There may be other files. When Windows starts up, it reads these files from the hard disk and assembles a virtual registry with Registry hives in RAM (not the CPU). The Registry is accessed continually, many times a second. When Windows shuts down, it saves the hives from RAM back into the respective physical files on the hard disk. It may do this at other times.

A registry defragger, actually defrags these files. I have noticed improvement in speed using NTRegOpt mentioned earlier. The longer the periods between defrags, the greater the performance improvement. Another good commercial defragger is part of Registry Organizer located at http://www.chemtable.com/organizer.htm.

@ Patrick, #49:

If only others would read and take note of what you posted. . .

Anyway. Glad I'm not alone in being a little bemused: I have never heard it said before that restoring linearity to a registry is a recipe for faster and more effective computer-related tasks.

The cynic in me is tempted to suggest that defying gravity is also a recipe for faster and more effective computer-related tasks: instead of having to reach over and grab hard copy out-put from my printer tray, I could just hook those pages out of the air as they float past my desk.

However; the developer clearly believes the linearity theory is worth putting into practice -- and good on him / her / them for making a genuine effort to demonstrate tangible benefits.

Running against this defrag / linearity theory, however, is a particularly powerful and established alternative.

It's darn near a decade since I first 'adopted' Lars Hederen's debut version of NTREGOPT, a tiny freeware app which works by examining each registry hive and then re-structuring it as and where appropriate so as to delete space resulting from modified or deleted keys.

That simple, quick, and safe deletion and re-structuring achieves a reduction -- obviously, doh! -- in the size of the hive. Ergo: smaller hive, faster access. To use Lars' word, it's compaction. Not defragmentation.

The drawback with NTREGOPT, of course, is that apart from an acronym whose meaning may well elude many computer users today -- (Windows) New Technology Registry Optimizer -- the darn thing doesn't have a snazzy GUI, doesn't offer a seemingly wide range of user options and inputs -- doesn't, in truth, provide any satisfaction at all to those who *think* the hard work of learning how to master a computer consists merely of pressing a few buttons here, or clicking on a few options there.

Everyone and anyone can do that. Sadly though, significantly fewer have the faintest idea of just what processes they're invoking, and just what consequences may, perhaps, arise as a result of the misplaced belief that one press of a button and hey, I'm Bill Gates.

As this thread graphically demonstrates, there are people who can't even tell the difference between the software generously offered here today and a hard drive defragmenter. Just as there've been others on GOTD in recent days who can't tell a system monitoring app from a junk file eraser.

Ignorance of that kind when it comes to the computer registry is not only regrettable. It can be fatal to a computer's operation.

So. . . As I'm ignorant (and freely admit it) of what registry linearity consolidation via defragmentation processing actually means, I'm going to have to pass on today's offer and stick with the humble, non-glitzy, non-defragmenting NTREGOPT.

Kudos though to today's developer for taking a distinctively different approach here, and thanks, too, to GOTD.

Microsoft provides PageDefrag v2.32, a free download, that defrags the registry files. It runs on Windows XP (32-bit) and higher (32-bit). http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897426.aspx

I have not used this utility myself, but it has the very nice feature of showing you how fragmented your paging and registry files are. It runs CHKDSK before defragmentation, which is done at boot-time. I think I will give it a try on my XP computer.

I like RegVac ...

http://www.regvac.com/regvac.htm

been using 10 yrs , never corrupted system ...
backs up registry before cleaning ...
easy restore ....
more registry tools than you can imagine ... inc. defragging of registry

My advice is read all the comments and use your common sense. Some people on here go on and on and write long essay's which can be shortened down to a simple sentence. You don't need registry cleaners fixers unless you have a problem with your PC and using software you know nothing about is not a good idea...its as plain and simple as that.

@20 (Richard Troubleshooter)

You must be a troubled person, since you can write such an unpleasant comment. Try to remember, that the people from GAOTD are working for free. Be happy, if you once in a while get just the program you wished for. Greetings from Denmark !

A WARNING to everyone that wants to alter the Registry. Many programs like these do clean or defrag the registry, but just one error in the program can leave your pc unstable and even useless. The registry is the entire file system to run the programs installed on your pc, even Windows. Be very careful of what you use and do some investigating on your own from other sites that have reviewed the software no matter what everyone's opinion is here. You may not find out until sometime later that a Registry has been incorrectly mmodified when you go to use a program you have not used in a week.
USE CAUTION when using any program that modifies the registry in any way. Read Asherf's review from Aug. 25, 2009 and at least understand what the perpose of using these programs.

I have been using the free program NTRegOpt for a long time and it appears to do what the listed program does.
http://download.cnet.com/NTREGOPT/3000-2086_4-10549462.html
is a download site.

Installed no problem (windows xp sp3, 2.4 processor, 2gb memory). As the name implies, the program defrags the registry rather the than the hard disk. As always with any new program, before installation I created a restore point in ERUNT (a registry backup program, much better than the Windows offering).

Registry Defragmentation ran very quickly, with an interface showing what was happening, and the result was shown on a two-pane before and after chart. My own registry had a little defragmentation, which was rectified by this program. The computer needs a reboot for the new registry to take effect and this was carried out without any undue occurrence. I have opened and used several programs, which do seem to show slight improvement in their response.

glary utilities does more than this program.

Iobit Smart Defrag (freeware) comes to mind. Thanks GOTD, at least for the reminder to defrag. I'll start mine tonight.

2: Registry defrag and disk defrag are two completely different things. For example, you could probably delete a random file in your hard disk as long as it isn't in C:/WINDOWS or C:/Program Files, but you'll have to prey that your computer will work after you delete a random registry key.

Anyways, I see there is a bit of risk in using this program; a few people have used it and it fail, according to the recommendations given. So I will do the safe thing and simply won't try it.

Registry defrag is not disk defrag, so no windows does not have this

I am a complete novice regarding the current GOTD offer, but I have successfully used the following registry defragmenting program without a problem for several months:

Eusing Free Registry Defrag 1.5
http://eusing.com/free_registry_defrag/registry_defrag.htm

Prior to installing Eusing, I successfully used the following registry defragmenting program without a problem for nearly 1-1/2 years:

NTREGOPT, NT Registry Optimizer
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/

I cannot truly say how deframenting the registry has improved PC or system performance, but as a bit of a performance NUT, programs like these are always of interest to me.

Cheers,

Martin

Hi,

From developer's site: "“Registry Defragmentation” performs physical defragmentation of the Windows registry file."

I'll have to open up my machine, remove that huge registery chip and replace it by a slimmer one... Problem: no such thing on the market. Sollution: build one myself. Just need access to some schematics and buy some patents, and as the whole thing has already been invented by Elcor SOFTWARE (!) I don't have to invent anything new ;-) I'm inclined to agree with:
>Suggestion by Anonym: "When I digged for my registry, I only found silizium in my machine and I left a lot of dust behind me... Assraf: what shoould I do now? Shall I now digg in my wife´s computer, too? Will this be more successfull?"

The registry does occupy a physical area (call it a 'matrix', call it 'circuits', call it whatever you want, it's silicium based, tangible material) within the CPU-processor. Changing its contents is a matter of software, which, as far is I know, is physical only in it's effects (and it's representation on e.g. paper) and by no means in it's physical appearance. So far for "performs physical defragmentation"...

Furthermore:
>"linear structure which will reduce application response time and registry access time".
>"the key is not in size but in its linear structure, hence it determines access time".
Anyone who knows anything about computer (CPU) architecture knows that, for decennia, R&D has been and still is focused on non-linear processes (e.g. parallel processing, neural networks). Linear structures have very limited advantages over non-linear ones. Accessing a hard disk e.g. is (IMHO) proof enough. Better still: search-and-sort algorithms, algorithms for voicerecognition, real time picture and video applications. Lineary structured those would take a lifetime to produce useful results. So, linearity is no guarantee for faster processing, certainly not on the relatively simple level of registry "cleaning". This argument (sales pitch) is irrelevant.

Finally: before you have anyone (even you) or any program make changes to your registry, make a back up first and make sure you know what all the entries mean (no easy way around that!)... From personal experience I've learned that 'cleaning' my registry has never speeded up any of my computers, but, on the contrary, has resulted in maddening frustration, huge loss of time and reduced system performance. When your system slows down, then, in 99.9999% of the cases, the problem lies outside your registry and can be solved using some very simple tools and fundamental safeguards.

Have a nice weekend.
Patrick

[This comment #3 at time of submission 16:45 GMT+1]

I have been a visitor to the GOTD site for some years, now visiting every day. A lot of the programs are useful, some not so useful, and I always view the comments and suggestions of others (notably ASHRAF) to help my decision whether to install. For some people the offered program does not work, because of the program limitations, because of the computers limitations and sometimes because of the persons limitations.

I don't know that windows has a registry defragger; windows does have a disk defragger but I've used either Glary Utilities registry defragger or Iobit's Advanced Systems Care Registry defragger and both these utilities require you to shut down ALL running programs before proceeding. This program did not ask me to shut down running programs so this makes me a little leary about using it. It installed OK on XP SP3. I ran it and it said 6% fragmented. I did not defragment and then ran Glary Utilities Reg defrag and it said 1% fragmented. In any case, I opted to not defrag at this time.

Hi all!!


Today's giveaway is not bad and for sure worth downloading (after all it's FREE, isn't it?? LOL!!)!!

The only bug I found till now is that, although the program really finds and removes unused Registry entries, it doesn't offer users the option to see or save any of the entries but, apart from this problem, this tool is very useful and handy especially for geeks like the undersigned who install/uninstall new applications almost on a daily basis.

So I give it a THUMBS UP!!


Key Features:

* Multi-Language GUI
* Novice
* Advanced
* Automatic Removal
* Shows Progress
* Compacting registry
* Regularly removes deleted data from the registry
* Reduces software response time
* Reduces system response Time
* Reduces boot time
* Builds new registry with linear structure
* Backup Registry
* System backup



As far as I'm concerned, when I have to clean the registry of my PC, I've always used this combination of free tools and never had any problem till now:


- RegSeeker (only green registry keys must be deleted)

- Clean My Registry

- RegScrub

- Free Windows Registry Repair

- EasyCleaner

- Ccleaner and/or Advanced System Care 3.5 Pro (I know a trick to get a free LIFETIME LICENSE of this nice program…LOL!! )


Plus NTREGOPT and/or QUICKSYS REFDEFRAG to defragment the Registry!



Everything for FRERE!!

So it's not necessary true that you have to pay money to keep your PC healthy & fit.


Then of course if you want to turn your machine into a FERRARI you can also use TUNEUP UTILITIES 2008 or 2009, jv16 PowerTools 2009, WinOptimizer 2010 and/or WinUtilities pro, REGISTRY MECHANIC 8 etc…. but the FREE TOOLS mentioned above are enough for me to keep my system fit and healthy.



- FREE TUNE UP UTILITIES 2009 (LIMITED TIME OFFER ==> so HURRY...LOL!!):

http://www.tuneup.de/promo/winloadtuu09/


- FREE REGISTRY MECHANIC 8 (1 year FREE license code ==> worth 30 $)

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2010/01/14/pc-tools-registry-mechanic-8-free-download-with-1-year-license-code/


- FREE JV16 POWER TOOLS

http://for-free-on-internet.com/2009/12/jv16-powertools-2009-worth-2995-4-free/


- FREE ASHAMPOO WINOPTIMIZER 2010 (supports WINDOWS 7)

http://dottech.org/freebies/13468



Finally, let me mention a pretty unknown but amazingly powerful FREE registry tool I've recently stubled upon called "Eusing Free Registry Cleaner" that works great for me.


http://www.softpedia.com/get/T…..aner.shtml


Give it a try!!


And to defragment the HD of your PC "ULTIMATE DEFRAG" is definitely the best free option I'm aware of out there:

http://download.cnet.com/UltimateDefrag-Freeware-Edition/3000-2094_4-10582157.html


Enjoy!!


Cheers from Italy!

#2 Iris, don't confuse Hard Drive Defrag with Registry Defrag. They are two completely different things.

If you decide to try this remember to make a System State backup BEFORE you run this GOTD software. The fastest way to kill a computer is to mess with the Registry.

If your computer does not start properly after the reboot [which will be required after your run any Registry Defrag app]. You should use the Option Start from the Known Good Configuration. This will restore the Registry to it's original condition.

To #2: It appears from your comment you've mistakenly equated hard drive defragmentation with registry defragmentation. Today's giveaway does the latter.

Iris, Windows does NOT have a REGISTRY defrag program.

Trustworthy/reliable freeware alternatives:

http://www.registry-clean.net/free-registry-defrag.htm
http://www.321download.com/LastFreeware/page38.html
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/

(Last two may not work on Win7)

@ #2 The Defrag that comes with Windows does not defrag the registry, it only defrags the HDD. It is true that most computers will not see a visible increase in speed by defragging the registry, however, if you do install and uninstall alot of software it doesn't hurt to defrag the registry periodically to keep your cmputer from locking up. A word of caution though, Always back up your registry before doing any type of cleaning/defragging. It's alot easier and faster torestore a registry than having to reformat and reinstall everything.

Today real life. I read comments and wondered what might be the registry defrag mentioned in comment 2. I decided to give it a try and see what happened. Once downloaded I backup all systems and registry. The back up leaves out the hardware backup and I believe I did click it to back up, not sure. I ran the defrag and reduced size 3%. Rebooted and the first program I ran was Quicken online update and it did not work. Tried several times but would not work. I then restored the registry and quicken download worked but system settings were not the same and lost correct disply drivers. I tried to look at the backups and there appeared to be 4. I also wondered if one was hardware settings. Not sure if I messed it up but it definitly changed things. I am reinstalling my display drive now.

See Ashraf's review of the prior v9.1 here. http://dottech.org/gotdreviews/8895

Iris (#2), there is a difference between "defrag" and "registry defrag"!

Disk Defrag and Registry Defrag are two different operations. They both get cluttered to the point where you need to clean them out.

Iris-could you point me to that program? I believe you're thinking of the disk defragment utility,no? Anyway,Quicksys has a free one that has never caused any problems with my XP rigs,but my new Win7 rigs seem so damn temperamental,I'm afraid to try anything with the registry.

Iris - There is a difference between disk defragmentation and Registry defragmentation.

I agree, Chas, that there are a ton of Registry defragmenters out there, but the key is not simply defragging the Registry. What really differentiates them one from another is their ability to CLEAN out old, unnecessary lines from the Registry that are left over from previous program installations. Symantec was infamous for leaving code behind in the Registry, as were many other manufacturers, the result being your Registry becomes bloated with unnecessary code.

Why bother with this one when WinUtilities Pro and Glary Utilities, both previous GOTD offerings which are superior in performance & utility, each contain Registry cleaners & defraggers? Today's GOTD is a "pass it by" offering.

Program like this ARE useful. Your registry gets loaded every time that windows starts. Some programs you uninstall leave traces still not removed from registry and are actually STILL loaded on startup.
Removing start up strings from the sequence WILL help a lot..maybe not on dual core 2.8ghz superman machines...but most machines it will.
You see..'broken' references are FAR WORSE if left in the registry because during loads windows is looking for those shortcuts that are not there anymore...it takes longer to load while is searches for things that are GONE.

In response to message number two, I believe that you are seeing the hard drive defragmentation feature. A registry defragmentation is not the same thing. Since the registry is used to launch programs and services, this program may help make that easier and faster.

I dont know about this program yet, but, the last time I defragged my registry, it got corrupted. Twas good that I had it backe up first. So, whatever you do, backup your registry before running this, or anything else that edits it!!

Any proficiency gain you may receive is based on what you do with your computer. In my case, installing and uninstalling programs, programming, making changes, and basically doing everything I can to make things worse for my own system; an improvement is to be expected.

The reality is testing out software from sites such as this, will lead to issues over time.

BEFORE doing this; I'd suggest using a registry cleaner first. Try CCleaner. Many like that, it's fairly straight forward in what to do and what it's doing, and it's not deep enough to cause most people trouble.
Windows does NOT include a registry defrag tool. Not in the sense of what this does.

Final thoughts.
Needed? No
Useful? To some
$12? If I really needed it, I'd bite at that price for the support (it is supported, right?) ;)
Free? All game for it.

Nothing really negative to report.