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Wise Registry Cleaner 4 Pro was available as a giveaway on March 27, 2009!
Wise Registry Cleaner is a powerful registry cleaner and registry optimizer, it speeds up your PC by cleaning your Windows Registry. It removes the junk that accumulates in your Windows Registry. You can safely and easily clean your Windows registry.And it will help you improve your PC's performance by optimize your Windows Registry.
Windows 98/Me/NT/2000/XP/XP-x64/2003/Vista/Vista-x64/2008 Server; Pentium 233 MHz or above; 32 MB RAM or above; 5 MB hard drive space or more
2.06 MB
$19.95
i really find registry cleaners very necessary to improve the system performance of a desktop PC :.;
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Registry cleaning freewares are available online and the users have to download it to their computers to clean their registry. After downloading the appropriate version of the registry cleaner that is suitable for your OS, the program has to be installed into the system. Installation process is very simple and is less time consuming. For Windows XP users, the need to reboot the system after installation is absolutely not needed. By running the .exe file placed on the desktop, the program will be launched without delay.
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I think it's a really good program! Thanks a lot, I really like this post and your blog looks great.
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Installed and tried the software on my other laptop after downloading to memory stick on my working laptop. 1st problem is that it required a registration in order to work. I had no internet connection (part of the reason I needed the program in the first place)so I could not register it on the computer I needed to fix. I found a way to get that working and then the program required me to pay in order to fix the problem (free only to tell me my computer was broke, not to fix it). It found 1400 registry errors. I later downoaded TuneUp as recommended by another on this site. It found 601 errors and fixed them for free, no problems.
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Hi Folks,
The market for registry cleanars is built on the google advertising of the scareware and scamware products. So even the more reputable companies are essentially meeting an artificial product demand. I am including Wise in the 'more reputable' category, but I would say that essentially the registry entries you should remove are those you recognize from deleted software or understand fully in another way, individually by hand. A program can show you those, but the time and effort is better spent anyway.
Wise does have a forum up now (a good sign, it was indicated above to be non-functional) however I wonder if they keep up the comments from people who had real problems.
As for defrag and compacting the registry, check out this thread on Wilder's .. my post is #10. I wrote this up because I was trying to understand the program differences.
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=236733
Registry defrag for 09?
If you want (small) performance gain in the registry, use a compactor (sometimes called defrag, leading to confusion). NTREGOPT with the ERUNT backup (I would also have a WIN-PE type reboot disk handy) being one alternative, Auslogics another, and a couple more for consideration. If you want to have fun with extra time, do some hand-cleaning before, do not delete anything you really have any doubts about. If the program is not friendly to your hand-choice method, deep-six it.
Shalom,
Steven Avery
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Don't forget to NOT ALLOW automatic updates as that will cancel your registration! Even as a certified PC Tech I make the occasional mistake :) and I certainly do not know it all. This software, like any maintenance or security software, MUST be set up properly to be effective and safe for the average user. Things like, "unused file extensions" may not be unused, simply not currently in use. My thanks to the savvy who reference things like ERUNT; it is now downloaded as a new find. I run SpyBot, Comodo, Glary, and CCleaner on every machine I rebuild. This offer I might use but would need a commercial license for every machine I fix for a customer. Thank you everyone, it's been another fine night at GOTD!
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#70 - it's true i've been very tough on Asschaff - not because he's in the Taliban though... because he "reviews" software with opinion with no basis in fact (but presents his reviews as factual) which is actually very misleading for newbs looking for good advice. Go to his website... well-meaning as it might be you'll find ridiculous statements like "GoDaddy.com is known as a domain registry not a hosting company so their hosting is not as good as others..." Rubbish. We have 100s of sites hosted at GoDaddy and they're just fine. Ditto 1and1, which he also disses for no reason. Typical young kid trying to be an "expert" but unwilling to do any actual research or practice any true journalism. We who have spent our lives dealing with technology know there is more to reviewing software than installing it for 5 minutes and checking it out. Most of the "reviews" you get from blogs and etc. are worth exactly what you're paying for them.
Now on the plus side - Asschaff has a great sense of humor and with a little editorial schooling could be a great and entertaining writer.
-Roj
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Again, a useful addition to my collections of registry cleaners, 5-6 of them, running them in series one after the other, and never getting any major problem so far. I still wonder why some people are overly cautious of these cleaners. I have Acronis full image backup just in case something goes wrong, but so far, from my very frequent plays with these, they have never cause me much problem, but only increase the responsiveness of my computer and programs. Thanks to WiseCleaner.com for giving us their best of the 3 cleaners.
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I agree with Ashraf's comment that registry cleaners are not something that you want to be testing on your computer. I use WinUtilities 6.2 which in available as a free download and recommend it for XP. Don't gamble with your windows registry. Giveaway of the Day is a welcomed link to many other fine softwares.
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Trust me, this program is awesome! I've used the free version for a long time and I can promise it has no false positives. It has rid me of many BSOD issues and I love it. Anyone who is running windows should have this utility at their side. It is the most thorough Reg Cleaner I have ever seen. Its great to have the pro version now. Seriously, dont miss this giveaway. Thanks GAOTD!!!
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Further to WiseRegistryClean, the ubobtrusive 5th button from the left on the toolbar opens the Optimization Tool. It gives a choice of using the Wizard, (default)or going it alone. I Went it alone and found the items addressed to be sensible rather than radical, and worked well.
I know there are plenty of choices in optimization utilitys, but of the two I am familiar with, one just does it all, "PC Pitstop", and "Tweak Manager" which seems to assumes you are expert on the subject of Tweaking/Optimizing. I think the The WiseRegistryClean approach here is the best of both worlds, and is bonus to a sound product.
Definetly a keeper
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Lets correct a few things before I go on:
1. If you do add and remove programs constantly, chances are you will need a registry cleaner.
2. Registry cleaners are safe. For those of you who say no they aren't you have no clue what you are talking about. Perhaps years ago there were problems but not in the last 5 years.
3. For those of you suggesting that you have to back up your WHOLE SYSTEM, this is not correct. All you need to do is back up your registry. You can also do a system restore point before cleaning the registry.
4. You should defrag your registry in addition to cleaning it.
Now that you understand the basic and stay away from those who say other wise.
This program from GAOTD is a good choice to download.
~Another great review from SuperDooperTom
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NOOO, never use these, ever ever. registry's should be left alone unless you know what your doing. This could potentially mess your comp. up...
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Further to WiseRegistryClean version 4 pro. Installs and runs well on XP pro. In use it backups the registry by default before cleaning.
I would consider the program to be an asset and a keeper. My previous comments still hold true.
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Thanks as usual but today, no thanks! I have Tuneup utilities 2007, 2008 & 2009 but much prefer 2008 to the others. The first thing I do after installing it is to remove the one touch automatic scheduled cleanings. I can handle that myself, manually & be safe. I use WinASO Registry Optimizer like someone else mentioned in a very limited capacity that years of using it showed to be safe. Once after a fresh install of Windows & programs because that leaves trash in add/remove category & not again for several months. Regular cleaning or using multiple applications with the thought that you can gain performance is a farce!
I hate reformatting, system restoring sometimes from safe mode or the repair option on a Vista install DVD. Do whatever suits your fancy with todays offer but you've been put on alert by the best, regular visitors/cementers to give away, myself not necessarily included. Fubar remains inconspicuously absent today. I wonder why! That answer should be self explanatory.
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Am currently using version 3 and have never had a problem with that. Is more thorough than cclean. FirstDefence ISR is very susceptible to over zealous registry cleaners (and states so) and has never encountered a problem with Wise Registry clean.
On past experience with version 3 I would rate Wise Registry Clean as safe and thorough. Just dont delete the red items marked as unsafe to remove, or at least backup the registry before you do.
Now to try this later pro version.
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So registry cleaning is not the wonderthing many people think it is.
When you really have a lot of corrupted entries in your registry it can help.
When you have only little corrupted entries it will help a little at the most or not at all mostly.
Whenever you clean you take a risk of damaging your installations because entries could be cleaned that should have remained. Always check the scan result. A scanner not able to show you the results or not giving you the opportunity to overrule the scanresults, before the actual cleaning, is worth nothing at all. (the amount of control makes the difference between cleaners)
Many entries cleaned are not of any importance at all; registry-size is not a problem as stated before (#30).
Balance the pro's and contra's before you go cleaning and think first about the settings to use in order what you want to accomplish.
Registry-defragmenting does exsist! It is more effectfull then registry cleaning.
Here is a freeware defragmenter to download:
"http://download.registry-clean.net/download/registry-defrag.exe"
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I've read most of the comments today and appreciate them all. There are lots of opinions and lots of facts. Since my experience with this app is based on minimal usage, my comment is opinion based.
Find a registry cleaner/optimizer, or even two, that you feel comfortable with and use them seldomly. Once a month is more than sufficient in most cases. With hard drives now measured in TB and RAM hitting upper single to low double digits in GB, the boost in performance to the average PC will be negligable after running even a heavy-handed "registry wizard". My opinion and practice is to run a light-handed variety without touching anything driver or custom control related. For the average user this is going to be sufficient. I simply don't have the time or patience to continually restore my registry or reload my OS because I chose to fiddle with my registry every time I uninstalled something.
I do thank all of you for the great reading today...and thanks to GOTD for the offering. It's one I've used in the past. Unfortunately it was not a good fit for me. But for others it may just be the best thing since fire!
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Been using free version for a couple of month.
Seems to work very well.My question is there have been
many program updates (new versions).All have been free
if you get GOATD version will you not get any updated
version of the program.These updates contain mostly
bug fixes.
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I used this and sure enough it wiped out windows installer. it was only after that happened that I discovered my system repair wasn't working now I'm in a whole heap of trouble and windows XP came pre installed so I don't have a cd to reload from..... Help
I really wish I hadn't bothered.
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Hi from New Zealand,
would people please refrain from smartarseing others who have made very useful comments ( EG No 56 by Mike, also Ashraf ), or ask for a bit of advice, by marking their comments down as unuseful, as it is not needed any more. Please remember your manners, and show appreciation of others, or help them, as goodwill makes the world go round. Comments on this are not required.
Some one asked about defraging the registry, or something, so here is an extract from The Magic Secrets :
SERVICING OR TUNING UP XP :
To get XP to run fast and smooth XP depends on a number of factors:
a REG CLEANER = I use 3 = CCleaner ( do not use advanced functions ) + IOBit ASC3 ( Smart Ram may slow your computer ) + PAYWARE JV16 adv functions are dangerous and for experts only, they all clean little bits that the others have missed.
b DEFRAGMENTER = IOBit Smart Defrag, do not use Auto Defrag.
c REG DEFRAGMENTER = Free registry defragmenter
d SERVICES TWEAK = Google this, it really increases speed & smoothness, but you'll need an expert to do this for you. I have made up a manual that takes 20 mins to institute, and I use it on all my on my builds with 100% success.
e TUNE XP = system optimizer, simple manual availiable, otherwise experts only.
f UNINSTALLER = Revo Uninstaller
g SYSTEM RESTORE = this is in XP > System Tools. Here you can make a backup of XP ( Restore Point ), so if you have problems,you can go back to a good configoration. Do this before installing a program that you are not familiar with, or any changes that you are unsure of.
h DISC CLEANUP = this is in XP > System tools > select the drive you want to cleanup > more options > remove all but the most recent restore point > LC cleanup > LC yes > LC OK > LC yes, nad your done. This gets rid of all the rubbish restore points.
i ERASE UNUSED DISC SPACE = This is always the last thing you do after servicing, to get rid of all the old rubbish deleted files that are left in XP. Use Eraser, it makes a big difference, because it removes the cluster tips, so XP can move around nicely, in its partition. Remember to use Disc Cleanup first, to remove all but the last restore point and make sure you have a good one. Non gamers use a 15gb C partition.
j DUST & FLUFF = the biggest cause of computers burning out, especially as the home user usually has their setup in the bedroom. It blocks up the cooling fins, causing overheating, also it covers the components, then picks up moisture from the air, and shorts things out. I blow my computer out with an air line every 3 months. However, most people don't have an air line, so use a vacuum cleaner on blow, a small brush, and remember to keep the computer pluged in, so you can hold a bare metal part of the case to earth youself, to prevent static discharge into the components. Also use a plastic knitting needle to stop the fans spinning.
Regards Bill.
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#57
I'm surprised your system still works properly. It is never a wise idea to install various registry cleaners just to use one after the other and try to get 0.02MB each time over (unless it's a test box which in the case, it doesn't matter). Many of the options in the cleaners are the same, though are often relatively hidden, so using one after the other could lead to possible registry damage instead of registry aid. The same concept goes with anti-virus software: if one has too many installed, they often don't work correctly and can lead to your computer becoming infected rather then well. Personally the only registry programs/disk cleaners I have installed are CCleaner, and WinUtilities - both have only the features I need and suffice.
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Thanks for your comments Ashraf, they are always very helpful..... :)
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#2-3- can a person without a ton of pc skills use these? im thinking i may need one, but i have no clue what to do. may theres a clean/tune up for dummies out there... thanks!! sarah
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My best cleaners are Ccleaner, Quicksys Regcleaner and AMUST Regcleaner. After using WiseRegistry Cleaner I always had to reinstall my HP Scanner!
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#41, the Registry can indeed be defragmented. Some defrag programmes don't work their magic on 100% of the HD and leave those folders fragmented. If a particular defragmenter doesn't touch the registry, then it will need to be defragmented.
Suggesting that someone switch to Linux is hardly useful advice for someone who you feel is such a neophyte as to require your patient explanation of the difference between a registry cleaner and defragmenting their hard drive. If he is simply using his computer to do basic things and isn't a tech head geek, how do you expect him to be able to use Linux?
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as a tech in #12 message
You gotta be kidding me. With a messed up registry, the system won't run or run badly or sluggish, the registry is the heart of the operating system
give me a break!!!
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Be careful with the registry.You can seriously screw-up your system. Check what is going to be deleted.Also make a back up point or a second back up registry!
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It doesn't make any difference how easy they are to use or how good the UI, etc.... because in general - registry cleaners are solutions looking for a problem. Publishers use FUD /scare tactics to make you believe the registry is the root of all evil and something that needs to be continually "fixed". Nothing could be further from the truth. The idea that one "finds" more problems than another is a joke - it's all in what you define as a "problem". Most of the time, they're just remnants that are totally harmless - for instance a key left over when you drop a shortcut into your recycle bin.
Registry "Cleaners" almost never improve the performance of the computer, and can really wreck havoc if you don't know what you're doing- flagging and modifying or deleting registry keys that are crucial to the system functioning. If you're having trouble with a particular application - talk to their tech support and if necessary, they'll guide you through a manual registry edit touching ONLY the keys necessary. Otherwise - leave the registry alone until you're ready to run your system restore disks or do a manual re-format/re-install.
- Roj
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If you can't manually clean your Registry you can't trust in yourself to know what is being deleted by an "AutoCleaner" . Such programs are a myth nowadays, since WinXP was introduced tests show there is close to no advantage to running a "Registry Cleaner", and your more than likely to break something. There's good Forums who can help if you feel you have a problem with your Registry after a Software update, or a Malware attack. Consult with an expert, it will save you a lot more time than hacking your Registry and trying to fix it .
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#2, Ashraf,
I tried the Tuneup Utilities 2007 on your recommendation a week or so ago and it was easy-to-use, well organized, and DANGEROUS. It crippled my access to DSL and hence the Internet, and corrupted my McAfee virus database. I had to do a System Restore to get my Vista O/S to work properly again. (whew!)
IOW, take Tuneup Utilities 2007 off the alternatives list, if you use Vista.
Happy Dae·
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I love Registry Cleaners and I will keep this one. I have all alternatives mentioned above but I think the best of the best is jv16 Power Tools.
http://www.macecraft.com/news/169/
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i think i have enough reg cleaners, tuneup 08, Advanced Sys Care, Ccleaner, regscrub XP, Comodo SYS Clnr, glary utilities free & paid, + ashampoo winoptimizer. i think the install space is no longer worth the clean
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Maybe this will help understanding Windows' Registry & software like Wise Registry Cleaner 4 Pro... When it comes to cleaning, remember that you probably won't get too many benefits from cold medicine when you're feeling fine, & the same goes for Windows -- how much the registry benefits from cleaning depends on how nasty it is beforehand. And there are always those who feel, like Mr. Monk, that something can never be clean enough. Do you believe in preventative maintenance, or are you a wait till it breaks sort of person? Do you like your desk spotless, or grudgingly clean it a week or so after it becomes a health hazard?
The registry is where Windows & a lot of the programs we run store miscellaneous data, from the license key to the position of the graphic components that make up the program's window. Windows itself also tracks a LOT of stuff, like every program you run, every site you visit, every file you ever open. Most of the tracking info cycles like a log file or the list of recent docs in most programs -- new entries cause the oldest ones to be deleted. Installation software usually adds more content to the registry than the software it installed, but it can also delete 500 - 1000 old tracking entries, to give you an idea of the numbers we're talking here. A free program called RegShot will take before & after snapshots of the registry, and then compare them for you -- it's a great way to find out the impact of installing or even just running a program, & you can save the results as a separate file [handy if later you want to make sure all traces of a program are gone after un-installation].
Windows itself will monitor some critical files, replacing them if deleted. It might perform different sorts of backups, & have a program to clean your temp folders & old restore points, but when it comes to the registry, aside from a backup copy [sometimes used after something like a hard reset], you're on your own... Windows is perfectly content letting you, or rather your software bloat & mangle the registry. The more software you use, the worse it gets. One trick is with relatively simple software, backup the registry with ERUNT, install the program, then restore the backup... It doesn't always work, but when it does (& it does most of the time), the program itself will add just the critical registry entries when you start it, cutting changes to the registry by maybe 1/2 to 2/3. Mal-ware can also alter the registry, BUT, if written well, you'll hardly ever find it, so don't go nuts thinking you will. [Check out Regdelnull @ Microsoft Technet -> Sysinternals].
Editing, or cleaning the registry will usually not screw things up to the point where Windows won't start -- put it this way: I'm sure I've done it at one time or another, but can't remember when. If you use ERUNT to make a backup beforehand, you basically have to be able to get to the folder where the backup's stored, & run the program there. Currently with so many people running the NTFS file system, getting to that folder takes some pre-planning & work, making a bootable CD or USB stick -- Note: make sure whatever your strategy, that it works before you need it to, which is absolutely the worst time to find out the directions you followed on whatever web page left one or two sentences or steps out. Personally I recommend something called LiveXP -- it takes longer to set up, but it's simple to use, & with it things like restoring a disc image (made with Paragon software) is roughly 8 times faster than the usual included boot disc. Some people are better off not bothering with ERUNT, instead using disk image backup software, like the free Seagate Disc Wizard, or Paragon's pay ware. It takes longer to backup & restore, but if you make it a practice to backup every day, no need to run ERUNT separately, & it may be easier to run the restore than navigating to the ERUNT folder.
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@mike #47: "it’s not like A/V software where Heuristics might be involved. Where A/V software can look for something that *might* somehow resemble mal-ware"
Heuristics isn't any more intelligent then any other software. The logic is more complex that might be different, but the program using heuristics does exactly as programmed. When something *might* somehow resemble mal-ware the flag is raised because some threshold is reached. The logic is complex because many properties are taken into account to evaluate that very threshold but the threshold (complex or not) is reached or not, very distinct.
Again your concept of false positive (see also #49) makes it non existent in whatever situation or program. The concept "false positive" would be non existent at all.
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It seems all of us considering/using more than one prog to maintain registry should add freeware RegSeeker (as mentioned by #45) to the list. Just compare: it recieved Very Good (4.4/5) rating by 352 users and 5/5 star - Excellent editor's pick rating at Softpedia, while at time of posting this 200 thumb ups/130 thumb down for today's GAOTD offer
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Registry-Tweak/RegSeeker.shtml
BTW, I have used free Wise ver. 3 and I am happy with it, so certainly i'll use todays ver. 4 Pro too.
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Each to her / his own, so there appears to be no harm in trying today's GOTD offer and then comparing it with whatever you're used to (or checking it out against the many freeware alternatives mentioned in this thread.)
The verdict on every cleaner is surely going to be subjective though -- for example, one poster here clearly has grounds for advising extreme caution with CCleaner, arguably one of the world's most popular apps of this type, yet others say CCleaner is just fine.
(My experience of CCleaner is yes, it's fine now, but not so long back it definitely wasn't, which is why I stopped using it.)
Yet perhaps the single most important point worth considering where any software is concerned -- be it a cleaner or anything else -- is not: what can it do for me? But: what do I know about the developer who produced it?
That's why #4 Agent's post is so good to see: Comodo's track record is way up there with the industry's best and its principals have a pedigree to match (their biogs are all on Comodo's website, or well, they were when I last looked.)
Surprising, then, to see only #4 referring to Comodo's own System Cleaner -- a pity, especially as the Comodo app comes in two freeware guises, with the USB-stick mobile being of great practical help if ever you need to safely clean a friend or relative's computer:
http://system-cleaner.comodo.com/
Thanks to GOTD and Wise for today's opportunity -- and for encouraging the kind of informative debate there's been on here today.
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Addedum to #39
I regularly back up my whole system with Acronis True Image if case of disaster. So if you are in for experimenting I suggest you do the same or use a freeware program like Macrium Reflect. I have not tested Reflect in a real case so I can not assure it is totally to trust. Is there anybody who uses Macrium Reflect or any other freeware comperable to Acronis True Image? Comments?
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Well, I ran it, it found 352 entries, 25 'not safe'. I normally use Glary's Reg Cleaner and it doesn't find many. All these that it found appeared to be 'new' that Glary didn't bother with.
I reviewed ALL the selections and pick about 200 that I felt were safe. Many I knew shouldn't have been removed as they pointed to REAL programs, mostly folders.
Tried to re-boot, system DID NOT. Stopped for a very long time on the Windows (XP Pro SP3) screen with the moving bar on the lower center. Never booted and after 10 minutes I turned it off and powered it up again. Same results. Off and then on and ran SAFE MODE. To the programs credit, it ran in SAFE MODE and I was able to restore the deleted entries using restore.
System then booted normally.
It is possible I could have recovered using the LAST GOOD HARDWARE choice, but I didn't want to try.
This program is gone...
Irv S.
P.S. I looked at the web site and tried to get to 'Forum' to see if anyone else hit this. Doesn't seem to exist, can't get there.
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Last time i used( two weeks ago) a "cleaner" sofware i was not able to log in to my laptop.
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@mike #40: "There really is no such thing as a False Positive"
So, what is a false positive, it all depends much on definition. In your view it is only a matter of logic: "is this entry referencing to an existing file?" Either it is 'yes' or 'no' obviously, very exact, no false positives.
This is true only when you use a definition like that.
[By the way a cleaner is not only looking at missing referenced files.]
In my view (it's only my definition, use what is best for you) it is not a matter of logic but a matter of effect: "is this entry to be removed considering the applied settings?" This could be "yes" (by the cleaner) but still it is possible that I would not want that to take effect ("no" by me).
It is only to be removed indicated by the program but not by me.
To stay with your example of missing files, I have a external disk that is not always connected. When I scan for "missing referenced files" I will find many belonging to programs installed on that external drive.
I would call those false positives (they are flagged for removal, but I want to keep them), in your definition there are no false positives (logically the files are missing that is very true indeed).
For me, to agree there are false positives (according my definition), it makes me aware to watch closely what my scanresults are.
Having your definition would only assure me that the cleaner does it's work in a logical manner (no false positives). This is true for all programs they do exactly as programmed (al be it that some logic could be hard to follow).
I stick with the concept that make me aware the most. Neither view or concept is wrong, it's a matter of speech really.
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#20
to defrag registry use Pagedefrag
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/System-Tweak/Pagedefrag.shtml
it defragments so called Registry hives
(i.e. the places where registry info is physically stored)
this is done at boot time.
Virtual memory swap file is defragmented too.
It is not necessary to do this each boot time, (let's say once a month or after many installations/uninstallations), you can set it by Options.
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#15: "The fact is all reg.cleaners have false positives and you should always be aware of that."
Sorry, Alf, but it's not like A/V software where Heuristics might be involved. Where A/V software can look for something that *might* somehow resemble mal-ware, & generate a false positive, the registry just doesn't work that way... it's just a database after all. Software can't tell you whether an entry in that database is necessary or not, so it doesn't try. Registry Cleaners can tell you that: "look, this value is a key that doesn't exist anywhere else," "may I delete it for you?"
Now that may seem like a rather geeky point, & no big deal -- it probably isn't -- but it does lead to comparing cleaners like this one's way more intelligent than that one. Isn't the case at all. One may be better than another in the way it works, or the way it protects the user from themself, but they're all relatively dumb.
* * *
#20: "Would one of the experts mind explaining exactly how to defrag registry?"
Hardly an expert, but the simplest way I'm aware of is to use NTREGOPT which is included with the free download or ERUNT.
* * *
#27: "Coming to think of it, I can’t understand how cleaning the registry can make a PC faster. The registry lies in RAM, meaning it is Random Access."
Welllll, in order for the registry contents to make it into RAM they have to be read from the drives. Actually there's quite a bit of reading/writing going on there. But anyway, the less data the smaller the file, & the smaller the file that faster the read, or write. If the registry's very badly bloated, maybe approaching mangled, cleaning might reduce the size enough to notice a before/after difference in normal use.
* * *
#29: "The Registry ... is also downright dangerous to fiddle!"
Maybe it was mysterious & much feared when win95 came out & introduced the registry as a replacement for all the .ini files, but that was then & this is now. If you can read & understand the docs that come with it, you can use the free ERUNT to back up the registry, or use something like the free version of Acronis from Seagate (probably need at least 1 Seagate drive) with the same requirement to read & understand the docs.
If you can put it back, the worst that can happen, is you'll have to put things back. If you can understand the docs, & restore the registry, or the system disc (your choice), the biggest risk is your time.
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In my opinion and experience the negatives far out way the positives with this kind of software.
Mistakes made with this type of software can be fatal. Use with care or not at all.
my 2cents
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Just use "RegSeeker"! It's the best, its FREE and found 1,593 bad registry entries on my Vista machine.
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This is not so good. I tested the version 3 and had many problems.
Since then I use RegCure ONLY.
So I recommend to buy a licence for REGCURE because it's perfect.
Or wait to have it as the Give Away Of The Day ;)
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Sometime back by using the Wise Registry cleaner, I lost all my data along with the OS. I could not recover any data and even Data Recovery experts failed to recover. So back up is must and restoring before cleaning is most important. So avoid using this program.
I am holding the disk as such and not using with fond hope of recovery of data. Can knowledgeable persons suggest suitable method/s of recovering the data. (Since then I am now using new disk.)
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#10: "...make sure you backup your system before running this. Start -> Run -> type in “regedit” -> File/Export -> Make sure you select export range all -> save the file."
Wrong!!!!!
Sorry Wojo, but even though that's repeated several places on-line, it's absolutely useless. Why? How do you plan on restoring that exported file? Short answer: You Can't!
The registry is constantly in use -- the ONLY way to replace or restore it is before Windows starts -- the ONLY way to merge the .reg file you get out of Regedit.exe is in Windows. Classic Catch 22.
If anyone doubts that, try it without making any changes to the registry. If you want to see how much activity the registry has going on, run process monitor from systems internals. You want to back up your registry, use ERUNT.
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@20 You defrag a Hard Drive and "clean" the registry. To defrag your HDD, Strat>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Disk Defragmenter. To clean your registry, and seems you are asking, BE CAREFUL! but I would suggest CCleaner, or Glary Utilities Free edition. They are free and well documented/reputable, the default settings are safe and allow backing up the registry before removing "invalid" entries.
As others have mentioned I would advise creating a Restore Point before using any optimization utilities just in case. Strat>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Restore and create a new Restore point. If your system as any undesirable effects you can just use the System Restore to set your system back to it's previous state.
And for that really get frustrated with dealing with the Window's registry, A good FREE alternative is Try Linux (:0}
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Registry Cleaners look for dead links or pointers, and this includes Wise Registry Cleaner Pro 4. The basic idea is that when you uninstall (& sometimes when you update) software, both files and registry keys are deleted, but not every reference in the registry that points to those files &/or keys is removed. These registry cleaners look through your Windows' Registry, and check to see that every time a file is listed it actually exists on your hard drive(s). And they do the same thing every time a registry key is given as a value, checking to see that the key actually exists. The basic idea or logic is foolproof, and removing *dead* links [references to missing keys & files] reduces the physical size of the registry, which is a good thing. Unfortunately it's anything but foolproof in practice -- many programs use what looks like broken or dead links in the registry... remove them and those programs may stop working. And, there's no way for Registry Cleaning Software to tell the difference between the "dead" links you need and those you don't.
There really is no such thing as a False Positive If a registry cleaner picks out a broken link -- a file or key listed that doesn't exist -- that file or key really doesn't exist. It's like looking in your wallet to see if there's a $2 bill -- the answer's either yes or no. Some cleaners will search for missing files [you could have put that $2 bill in your pocket instead of your wallet], but in this case that's not too useful... if the *found* file belongs to another program, you could break something, & if a *found* file is in the program folder for updated software, if the newer version needed that registry key/value it would have updated it when you installed the update. Long story short, software can't make the decision whether or not to delete a registry key or value -- only you can. Sometimes it's easy -- the broken link is for a program you remember uninstalling -- and sometimes not. Sometimes a program's developers are ahead of the game, and when you start the app, it puts back the needed registry keys you just deleted -- if cleaning software reports the same problems after you clean the registry, maybe they aren't problems after all? If one registry cleaning program reports more problems than another, there's a good chance the one reporting fewer problems is only trying to protect you from yourself -- not all registry keys are equal, & those in some sections of the registry can potentially really screw things up if the wrong ones go missing.
Before editing or cleaning the Windows' Registry I strongly suggest you either backup your system, creating a disk image that you know how to restore if Windows won't start, or use ERUNT to back up the registry, & know how to restore it if Windows won't start [it's in the programs docs]. Even if 99% of the time you won't have any problems, all it takes is once to convince you. ;-)
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