Registry cleaners

LookinAround
I agree and many people, far more qualified than me have asked the same question, including a number of MVP`s and MCSP`s and the like.
I have yet to see a definitive explanation. I suspect that it is a little like the one in some of the VERY few more trusted - been around for years - examples.
I do not see it ever reporting thousands or even hundreds of entries that need cleaning.
I have just been working on a thread on another site and someone has installed one - it found 3000 errors. IT FIXED THEM.
Great - the problem is he now has a Windows boot failure.

Yes, but ...

That’s a substantial find LookinAround, as it is the first time that I see official endorsement of a registry cleaner, but which is MS’s own. As it is official, one would expect this cleaner to at least not cause damage, yet…

What they mean of course is “in case our cleaner removes valid registry items.” So, even MS who know their system best, aren’t sure about their tool’s safety. After all, even their updates and patches can cause trouble.

Thus, the potential for damage seems to persist. As regards usefulness, though I admit I am now shaken, I would like to see an independent expert’s confirmation based on actual measurements, not claims. And I still haven’t seen such confirmation. On the contrary, serious computer mags who tried to measure any gains in speed found none.