Registry Cleaner?

[Asaf]

Hello,

Is it recommended to use a Registry cleaner tool for Windows 2003 Server as
I have installed it as my development PC?
If yes, is there a recommended tool for that?

Kind Regards,
Asaf

 

[Meinolf Weber]

Re: Registry Cleaner?

Hello Asaf,

If you like to have problems you can run registry cleaners. But how should
a tool developed not from MS now how MS handles all keys? So if you use them,
complain not about problems you get.

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
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** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
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> Hello,
>
> Is it recommended to use a Registry cleaner tool for Windows 2003
> Server as
> I have installed it as my development PC?
> If yes, is there a recommended tool for that?
> Kind Regards,
> Asaf

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

Re: Registry Cleaner?

>Is it recommended to use a Registry cleaner tool for Windows 2003 Server as
>I have installed it as my development PC?
>If yes, is there a recommended tool for that?
>
>Kind Regards,
>Asaf

You can but the risk belong entirely to you. CCleaner is probably the
least intrusive and allows you to make a backup of the registry stuff
that it is cleaning out so you can restore it should something get
bunged up. Make a backup of you stuff first.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Re: Registry Cleaner?

Asaf <AG70@newsgroups.nospam> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Is it recommended to use a Registry cleaner tool for Windows 2003
> Server as I have installed it as my development PC?
> If yes, is there a recommended tool for that?
>
> Kind Regards,
> Asaf

I vote no. I don't use them on workstations, either. there is rarely any
harm in "shards" of old software/services left in the registry, if the
software itself has been uninstalled. There is a lot of potential harm in
running any automated cleaner through the registry. Do your registry cleanup
manually if you must do it at all.

 

[Peter Foldes]

Re: Registry Cleaner?

Originally posted by Bruce Cambers MS-MVP

<Snip>

*NO* automated registry cleaner does anything
of value, and they all have the potential of damaging the OS.

Why did you think you needed a registry "cleaner?"

What specific *problems* are you actually experiencing (not some
snake oil program's bogus listing of imaginary problems) that you think
can be fixed by using a registry cleaner? If you do have a problem that
is rooted in the registry, it would be far better to simply edit (after
backing up, of course) only the specific key(s) and/or value(s) that are
causing the problem. After all, why use a chainsaw when a scalpel will
do the job? Additionally, the manually changing of one or two registry
entries is far less likely to have the dire consequences of allowing an
automated product to make multiple changes simultaneously.

The registry contains all of the operating system's "knowledge" of
the computer's hardware devices, installed software, the location of the
device drivers, and the computer's configuration. A misstep in the
registry can have severe consequences. One should not even turning
loose a poorly understood automated "cleaner," unless he is fully
confident that he knows *exactly* what is going to happen as a result of
each and every change. Having seen the results of inexperienced people
using automated registry "cleaners," I can only advise all but the most
experienced computer technicians (and/or hobbyists) to avoid them all.
Experience has shown me that such tools simply are not safe in the hands
of the inexperienced user.

The only thing needed to safely clean your registry is knowledge
and Regedit.exe. If you lack the knowledge and experience to maintain
your registry by yourself, then you also lack the knowledge and
experience to safely configure and use any automated registry cleaner,
no matter how safe they claim to be.

Further, no one has ever demonstrated, to my satisfaction, that the
use of an automated registry cleaner, particularly by an untrained,
inexperienced computer user, does any real good. There's certainly been
no empirical evidence offered to demonstrate that the use of such
products to "clean" WinXP's registry improves a computer's performance
or stability.

I always use Regedit.exe. I trust my own experience and judgment
far more than I would any automated registry cleaner. I strongly
encourage others to acquire the knowledge, as well.

<End snip>


--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

"Asaf" <AG70@newsgroups.nospam> wrote in message news:8FB6B0E8-EA10-4309-922A-AE9D53080A5D@microsoft.com...
> Hello,
>
> Is it recommended to use a Registry cleaner tool for Windows 2003 Server as
> I have installed it as my development PC?
> If yes, is there a recommended tool for that?
>
> Kind Regards,
> Asaf
>

 

[Geoff Schaller]

Re: Registry Cleaner?

Peter,

This is way too gratuitous and cute by half. I would accuse you of snake
oil yourself.

There are a number of quite competent registry cleaners around and they
do a good job. In particular, cleaning up references to controls, out
dated file extensions and application records is quite convenient and
can reduce the size and complexity of the registry dramatically.
Knowledge and Regedit alone is not enough, not unless you have some
voodoo way that helps decipher all those GUID references.

The bigger question is of whether a cleanup is necessary but often it
is. For example, removing beta software, especially when the uninstaller
is immature. Anti-virus cleanup is another good one.

Like all things, you take appropriate precautions and do registry
backups.

It doesn't have to be as negative as you paint it.

Geoff



"Peter Foldes" <bounce@bounce> wrote in message
news:emfNiLkCJHA.1228@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl:

> Originally posted by Bruce Cambers MS-MVP
>
> <Snip>
>
> *NO* automated registry cleaner does anything
> of value, and they all have the potential of damaging the OS.
>
> Why did you think you needed a registry "cleaner?"
>
> What specific *problems* are you actually experiencing (not some
> snake oil program's bogus listing of imaginary problems) that you think
> can be fixed by using a registry cleaner? If you do have a problem that
> is rooted in the registry, it would be far better to simply edit (after
> backing up, of course) only the specific key(s) and/or value(s) that are
> causing the problem. After all, why use a chainsaw when a scalpel will
> do the job? Additionally, the manually changing of one or two registry
> entries is far less likely to have the dire consequences of allowing an
> automated product to make multiple changes simultaneously.
>
> The registry contains all of the operating system's "knowledge" of
> the computer's hardware devices, installed software, the location of the
> device drivers, and the computer's configuration. A misstep in the
> registry can have severe consequences. One should not even turning
> loose a poorly understood automated "cleaner," unless he is fully
> confident that he knows *exactly* what is going to happen as a result of
> each and every change. Having seen the results of inexperienced people
> using automated registry "cleaners," I can only advise all but the most
> experienced computer technicians (and/or hobbyists) to avoid them all.
> Experience has shown me that such tools simply are not safe in the hands
> of the inexperienced user.
>
> The only thing needed to safely clean your registry is knowledge
> and Regedit.exe. If you lack the knowledge and experience to maintain
> your registry by yourself, then you also lack the knowledge and
> experience to safely configure and use any automated registry cleaner,
> no matter how safe they claim to be.
>
> Further, no one has ever demonstrated, to my satisfaction, that the
> use of an automated registry cleaner, particularly by an untrained,
> inexperienced computer user, does any real good. There's certainly been
> no empirical evidence offered to demonstrate that the use of such
> products to "clean" WinXP's registry improves a computer's performance
> or stability.
>
> I always use Regedit.exe. I trust my own experience and judgment
> far more than I would any automated registry cleaner. I strongly
> encourage others to acquire the knowledge, as well.
>
> <End snip>
>
>
> --
> Peter
>
> Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
> Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.
>
> "Asaf" <AG70@newsgroups.nospam> wrote in message news:8FB6B0E8-EA10-4309-922A-AE9D53080A5D@microsoft.com...
>
> > Hello,
> >
> > Is it recommended to use a Registry cleaner tool for Windows 2003 Server as
> > I have installed it as my development PC?
> > If yes, is there a recommended tool for that?
> >
> > Kind Regards,
> > Asaf
> >

 

[Peter Foldes]

Re: Registry Cleaner?

Geoff

Unfortunately it is. It is playing Russian Roulette in a way. I have seen many that used Reg Cleaning Tools with back up only to find that they cannot boot and cannot get to those backups.

Reg Cleaning tools are snake oil remedies. Cleaning the Reg will not make things faster or create more space. In the hands of the ordinary user it is a extremely dangerous tool.

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

"Geoff Schaller" <geoffx@softxwareobjectives.com.au> wrote in message news:48b8d10d@dnews.tpgi.com.au...
> Peter,
>
> This is way too gratuitous and cute by half. I would accuse you of snake
> oil yourself.
>
> There are a number of quite competent registry cleaners around and they
> do a good job. In particular, cleaning up references to controls, out
> dated file extensions and application records is quite convenient and
> can reduce the size and complexity of the registry dramatically.
> Knowledge and Regedit alone is not enough, not unless you have some
> voodoo way that helps decipher all those GUID references.
>
> The bigger question is of whether a cleanup is necessary but often it
> is. For example, removing beta software, especially when the uninstaller
> is immature. Anti-virus cleanup is another good one.
>
> Like all things, you take appropriate precautions and do registry
> backups.
>
> It doesn't have to be as negative as you paint it.
>
> Geoff
>
>
>
> "Peter Foldes" <bounce@bounce> wrote in message
> news:emfNiLkCJHA.1228@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl:
>
>> Originally posted by Bruce Cambers MS-MVP
>>
>> <Snip>
>>
>> *NO* automated registry cleaner does anything
>> of value, and they all have the potential of damaging the OS.
>>
>> Why did you think you needed a registry "cleaner?"
>>
>> What specific *problems* are you actually experiencing (not some
>> snake oil program's bogus listing of imaginary problems) that you think
>> can be fixed by using a registry cleaner? If you do have a problem that
>> is rooted in the registry, it would be far better to simply edit (after
>> backing up, of course) only the specific key(s) and/or value(s) that are
>> causing the problem. After all, why use a chainsaw when a scalpel will
>> do the job? Additionally, the manually changing of one or two registry
>> entries is far less likely to have the dire consequences of allowing an
>> automated product to make multiple changes simultaneously.
>>
>> The registry contains all of the operating system's "knowledge" of
>> the computer's hardware devices, installed software, the location of the
>> device drivers, and the computer's configuration. A misstep in the
>> registry can have severe consequences. One should not even turning
>> loose a poorly understood automated "cleaner," unless he is fully
>> confident that he knows *exactly* what is going to happen as a result of
>> each and every change. Having seen the results of inexperienced people
>> using automated registry "cleaners," I can only advise all but the most
>> experienced computer technicians (and/or hobbyists) to avoid them all.
>> Experience has shown me that such tools simply are not safe in the hands
>> of the inexperienced user.
>>
>> The only thing needed to safely clean your registry is knowledge
>> and Regedit.exe. If you lack the knowledge and experience to maintain
>> your registry by yourself, then you also lack the knowledge and
>> experience to safely configure and use any automated registry cleaner,
>> no matter how safe they claim to be.
>>
>> Further, no one has ever demonstrated, to my satisfaction, that the
>> use of an automated registry cleaner, particularly by an untrained,
>> inexperienced computer user, does any real good. There's certainly been
>> no empirical evidence offered to demonstrate that the use of such
>> products to "clean" WinXP's registry improves a computer's performance
>> or stability.
>>
>> I always use Regedit.exe. I trust my own experience and judgment
>> far more than I would any automated registry cleaner. I strongly
>> encourage others to acquire the knowledge, as well.
>>
>> <End snip>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Peter
>>
>> Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
>> Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.
>>
>> "Asaf" <AG70@newsgroups.nospam> wrote in message news:8FB6B0E8-EA10-4309-922A-AE9D53080A5D@microsoft.com...
>>
>> > Hello,
>> >
>> > Is it recommended to use a Registry cleaner tool for Windows 2003 Server as
>> > I have installed it as my development PC?
>> > If yes, is there a recommended tool for that?
>> >
>> > Kind Regards,
>> > Asaf
>> >
>

 

[Geoff Schaller]

Re: Registry Cleaner?

Sorry, but you are letting your prejudices and inexperience in such
things colour your attitude.What you are offering is not balanced
advice.

Geoff


"Peter Foldes" <bounce@bounce> wrote in message
news:edCc$9lCJHA.2476@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl:

> Geoff
>
> Unfortunately it is. It is playing Russian Roulette in a way. I have seen many that used Reg Cleaning Tools with back up only to find that they cannot boot and cannot get to those backups.
>
> Reg Cleaning tools are snake oil remedies. Cleaning the Reg will not make things faster or create more space. In the hands of the ordinary user it is a extremely dangerous tool.
>
> --
> Peter

 

[Hank Arnold (MVP)]

Re: Registry Cleaner?

Asaf wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Is it recommended to use a Registry cleaner tool for Windows 2003 Server as
> I have installed it as my development PC?
> If yes, is there a recommended tool for that?
>
> Kind Regards,
> Asaf
>

Registry cleaners are a very emotional topic. You'll hear many folks
talk about the in almost religious "solves all problems" tones and
others who damn them as the devils spawn.

IMNSHO, the truth is somewhere in the middle. The problem I have with
them is that when they go wrong, they can go *HORRIBLY* wrong. If you
have good backups and know what you are doing, I suppose that they can
be of some marginal use. I tend to discourage the use unless something
else indicates that there is a reason to try.

The discussion these days reminds me of the ones we all had about how
effective (or even necessary) defragging is.

Bottom line is that if we are talking about a workstation, my answer is
"maybe". If we are talking about a server (especially if it's a
production server) a definite *NO* *WAY*!!! The risks involved far
outweigh any possible minimal benefits.....

--

Regards,
Hank Arnold
Microsoft MVP
Windows Server - Directory Services