Registry Mechanic

Question

Does anyone know anything about 'Registry Mechanic'?  It is suppose to scan your registry for errors and repair any errors found.  I am so afraid to mess with the registry because I do not know how to fix it if something goes wrong with the scan and repair.  I do not want anything deleted that could cause me to lose vital info.  Please help!  I would like to thank you in advance for your time in replying to this message.   Cheers, JourneysLady

dalem29 · Answer

Are you having any particular problems or error messages that would lead you to conclude that you need to make any changes to the registry? Message Edited by dalem29 on 07-19-2005 02:51 PM

ky331 · Answer

most people are reluctant to recommend... and use... registry cleaners.   some, in fact, will tell you to stay clear of them.   there's always the potential of doing severe damage to your system.   also, given the gigantic size of a registry, even if you were delete a hundred (or more) entries, you won't be able to note any significant improvement in boot-up speed.   so, as Dale said, unless you've been alerted to a particular problem you really need to fix, it's probably safest just to leave things alone.   having said all this, I personally have used TweakNow RegCleaner (free version).   being skeptical, I used to search around my disk to verify that anything it claimed to be problematic really was.   so, over time, and with experience, i've gained confidence in this product.   but, i still tend to hold back from recommending it, or any other registry cleaner...

Midnight Star · Answer

JourneysLady,

I would also recommend setting a manual restore point just before running any registry cleanup tool. That way, if somethings goes wrong, you should be able to get back to the "system state" just before the cleanup. When system restore creates "restore points", it's actually backing up the registry for you (among other things). If you'd like to do it (backtup the registry) manually, you can use the "export" feature of RegEdit, or read the registry backup instructions from Symantec.

==========

Mike.

JourneysLady · Answer

Thank you for your response - I am not having any problems at all with the registry now. But the scan said that I had ovear 300 errors in my registry - it scared me to say the least.

Cheers,

JourneysLady

JourneysLady · Answer

Thank you for your response. That is a good idea to set a manual restore point just in case. I am going to just leave it alone for now even though the scan reported over 300 errors in the registry.

Cheers,

JourneysLady

P.S. Love your quote about the sun

JourneysLady · Answer

Thank you very much for the information that you gave me. I am not having any problems at this time. When I downloaded "Registry Mechanic" it automatically did a scan and it found over 300 errors in my registry - that's what scared me. How is that possible? Nonetheless, thank you again.

Cheers,

JourneysLady

msgale · Answer

Let me say first, and this is directed to everyone who may read this thread, 1 - If you don't understand the registry do not use registry cleaners, or put another way and it may be considered somewhat brutal 'If you have to ask the question, you probably won't understand the answer.'  2. If you are having problems and it is related to the registry do not use a registry cleaners, but have some one walk you through the specific solution for your problem.   Most likely the 300 errors reported are only a figment of the mind of the developer of the register cleaner.  As an example, the registry keeps many MRU (Most Recently Used).  Let us say you used MS Word to edit a file on a floppy disk, then you removed the floppy disk.  There will then be a pointer in the registry to a non existent file, an error in some peoples mind, but is it really an error?  I also have a registry entry for Compuware/DevPartner which I no longer have on my PC, is that an error?

JourneysLady · Answer

Thanks so much for your advice. You are right I shouldn't fool around with the registry - I just thought that maybe a progam would keep my computer up to date for me. I really appreciate your info. Have a great evening.

Cheers,

JourneysLady

Midnight Star · Answer

JourneysLady,

The registry gets cluttered very easily; not all software completely removes all traces of itself, when it's uninstalled (even though it should). Some have even called the registry a "garbage dump for programs" - not because they recommend using it for that, but because that's how some programs treat it.

What the registry is, is a simply a database. This database contains records that are used by the operating system, installed software, and the user. What's nice about the acr (access routines) for the system registry is that it's quick, and allows random access; more importantly though, the registry is a common place for data to be stored by all applications (remember operating system programs can also be called applications, or tasks if you prefer). Common storage allows different programs to share configuration information - including such information as used by windows itself, help programs written by different vendors to "get along" with each other, and allows creating anything from different loadable user profiles to configuration. Another aspect of the registry is to store the "last good configuration", just in case something goes awry with the current session that's running. If your lucky, only the records in the registry that's associated with the current session are corrupted, and not the registry's access "tree" - when that happens, it's usually a reload unless the system can be restore from another means (replacing the registry or specific entries).

For example: The regisry holds which programs that windows should start when the computer boots up, and at what time during that bootup they should be started.

When programs leave "junk" behind, registry "cleanup" programs can look for these entries, and try to make a best guess at to whether the entries should be deleted; like a link to start a program that isn't there. Some believe that "cleaning" out the registry improves system performance; especially if the system's been operating for quite some time (years actually) without a reload. For that, I think the performance would be in the eye of the beholder. For me, I found disk optimization to be the preferred methond for a performance increase.

It would be easy for a program to look at the registry and decide which entries could be removed; i doubt they'd tackle anything as elaborate as removing any configuration data used by windows: mostly sticking with invalid program links and their like. So if your going to choose one, choose wisely - not all programmers are wise ... :)

If i'd have my druthers for a speed increase, i'd install a second disk, save all my personal data on it, then use a small sized (but not too small) harddrive as a system disk. Load windows fresh, along with all the software i'm going to use, cleanout all temp files, optimize the harddrive, then "ghost" if off to the second drive. When/If you want to go back, just re-ghost the system drive. Now this doesn't take into consideration any new software loaded post ghost, but I think it'll help give you a better picture of the registry and it's uses.

Good luck.

=====

Mike.

Lorac30 · Answer

To Midnight Star and msgale.. I'd like to thank you for your response's.  This issue has been haunting me for quite some time now.  I guess msgale put it best when s/he said, ''If you have to ask the question, you probably won't understand the answer.'  This is actually the first time I have read why  one should not be using a cleaner, if they have no business doing so.  And.. now that I have read this.. it's no longer an issue for me :smileyhappy:  .. and I thank you!  (One less thing to think about!) With appreciation.. Carol

JourneysLady · Answer

Wow! Thank you so much Mike for filling me in on the mechanics of the registry, and especially for taking the time to do so. I am impressed to say the least! I have been using the computer for over 12 years now and have learned a great deal about how to operate it and it's many features (or should I say "Windows" features). But having said that, The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know.

I am constantly signing up for newletters that offer information and tips on how to's, namely one called, "PC Mag Tip of the Day". This is where I had gotten the info on "Registry Mechanic" download. What it failed to tell me was what it could do to mess up things for me as well. Like I said, I was at least computer literate enough not to mess with the Registry unless I knew exactly what I was doing and with what I was doing it with, others may just cleaned it. Like I say, "When in doubt - shout it out".

I have never used the forum for help before, I have always had to go through painstaking minutes of trying to understand and communicate with Dell's Phone Support from India. Although, I respect the people and their knowledge, I most of the time can't decipher what they are telling me because of their accent. Please forgive me if any of you reading this are from India, but I just have a hard time of it that's all, no offense meant in any way!

Again, thanks Mike you have been a great help. Cheers!

JourneysLady

Midnight Star · Answer

Anytime ... :) ===== Mike.

DELL-Chris M · Answer

JourneysLady, It really is a subjective question. I use the RegSeeker registry cleaner.

ky331 · Answer

Question to Chris-M: A clarification is requested:

Earlier in this thread, you indicated

"It [use of a registry cleaner] really is a subjective question. I use the RegSeeker registry cleaner."

But as of your 21 July "instructional" posting ( http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=si_virus&message.id=41834 ) , it now seems that you're actually advocating/recommending (and, dare I say, 'requiring'???) people to use RegSeeker, as a preliminary step before posting a HiJackThis log???

In particular, are we now to infer that use of RegSeeker as a Registry Cleaner, is completely SAFE and RELIABLE, even for "non-expert" users?

[ Your instructions (after downloading & unzipping) simply being:

* Click "Clean the Registry"
* Check everything
* Click OK!
* Click Select all- Select all
* Press the delete key on your keyboard
* Click OK

]

Message Edited by ky331 on 07-21-2005 08:52 PM

msgale · Answer

I stand by my original comment and with ky331 on the issue of registry clearners.  Actually I stand with many of the long time posters, on other several other Dell forums, on this issue.  Consider this, Microsoft's registry cleaner is no longer available from them, and if anyone should know how to write a registry cleaner, they are the ones.

Virus & Spyware

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