I installed a trial version this utility called Registry Booster 2 by Uniblue that is supposed to be a good registry cleaner. Reason i brought this up is because i already have RegCleaner, RegScrubXP and a regcleaning utility in CCleaner, however after i cleaned the registry using those 3 the Registry booster found over 200 registry issues. As you guys already know, RegCleaner is a manual cleaner so one must know what to remove, RegScrubXP has an issue finder as well as a manual cleaner and the utility in CCleaner automatically finds issues and one can choose what to remove. Registry booster is like that too though it finds more issues than the other programs, though this program is not free, its 29.99. is this a good registry cleaning program? If not can someone recomend something else?

I don't mind paying for a good registry cleaner since i know that neglecting this issue could cause problems.

I think CCleaner is one of the best out there personally! Sorry I can't recommend anything else really.

You do not need to clean the registry more than 3 times a year.

The performance gain is negligible,and it`s more likely to cause problems.

CCleaner is fine.

This one claims to know which issues one can safely fix.

I haven't had any problems with it, yet.

And it's free.

http://www.wisecleaner.com/

TweakNow: http://www.tweaknow.com/RegCleaner.html This is available in both freeware and pro versions. I have it on 3 machines. PCWorld Magazine recommends it as one of their 100 best freebies. It's never made a mistake on me.

I agree that CCleaner is good, but RegCleaner is just as effective. I much prefer to use it when I am dealing with uninformed or noob users... because too many stoopid clients have done themselves real damage with CCleaner. Almost nobody screws up with RegCleaner.

I haven't tried TweakNow RegCleaner yet, i was referring to this RegCleaner from majorgeeks:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/RegCleaner_d460.html

But i'm going to download it and give it a try.

TwealNow was built on the same framework, as the original on which RegClean, RegCleaner, and a few others were designed. I think Juoni Viuorno designed the original while working at Microsoft, but that may be a fairy tale.
Bottom line. TweakNow, RegClean, RegCleaner, and a few others will do all that most thinking people need. They let you see, and think about, what you are doing... whereas, others rush through without telling you a darn thing then want you to make a decision in a hurry at the tend.
The best part about all of these is you learn a lot about how a Registry really works.... Put them together with a real Registry editior and you are going to be a lot smarter.

I always found Advanced System Optimizer, it has a great registry cleaner/fixer and many many other tools.
cheers
Hynesy

Reg cleaning makes no difference to performance.

It`s mass delusion.

Take a look at the section called Registry in www.majorgeeks.com. There are 60 or 70 registry programs there.
Reg Cleaning makes a difference to several factors in tracking down install problems and errors, Po Girl, and thus do indeed affect performance.
But I agree that running registry cleaners routinely does not help... in fact, they are all dangerous... to a degree, with some very dangerous for those who do not have a good foundation in registry editing.

Hey I was curious to know too : -D on what register cleaner to use.

I got couple of recommendation from a friend, like Reg-supreme pro and Reg washer. I haven't clean my registry for almost 1.5 years. I have little knowledge on it, I'm not sure what it will happen if i accidentally deleted the wrong registry' even after the program like reg washer told me safe to delete?
What will happen to my system afterward?

pro and con of using a registry cleaner?

appreciate in advance

I would use neither Reg-Supreme Pro, nor Reg Washer. Too dangerous to existing systems.

What evidence do you have that you need a registry editor? If you don't know, perhaps you have no need. Otherwise, use registry software that targets a known problem.

without question, Crapcleaner (CCleaner) is not only free, but a good registry repair and cleaner.

norton systemworks is also good. (just install the utilities only)

I noticed today that several online sites are now selling the download for CCleaner ending in model number 544. Perhaps the days of the free version are about over. I agree that it is the best for someone who knows how a registry works.

We strongly disagree with Systemworks, as a good registry editor or anything else, in the computers we see in our shops. We deal with a lot of customers who are seniors or elderly. They constantly screwup their registry with Symantec. Then they charge the person as much as $76 to fix the damage done.

I agree with all those that recommend CCleaner. However, as with any registry cleaner, you should make a backup of your registry, just in case something goes wrong. The bottom line is, if you don`t know what you`re deleting, leave it alone.

Regards Howard :)

Both are the best advice you can use. Every register editor worth its salt always gives that warning, yet, as with most things, users often ignore it. CCleaner does have one option that new users often miss which says, in effect in one routine, click here and the damage you do cannot be undone. Too many new users seem to miss that. Which is why I don't think new users should be urged to use CCleaner.

I concur raybay and that`s why I advised backing up the registry and not to delete anything if it`s not known what it is.

Regards Howard :)

I agree with you, Howard. I've had a multitude of customers who've "Wonked" up their pc's because they discovered (from a friend, no doubt) how to run programs like regedit and msconfig. These are also the same people who delete programs instead of uninstalling them, and then they can't figure out why they receive so many error messages where Windows is looking for specific .dll files and .exe files.

I would recommend ccleaner

but cleaning the registry every couple of months is enough, and only really for people who like to run a clean machine.


Its kinda like house keeping for your PC.. but the performance increase is neglible

"Clean" is arbitrary, and only in the mind of the user. I would only use it at times of trouble, because most of the stuff doesn't use much memory or space and harms nothing. If the user does not understand how registrys work, they can "clean" a computer into damage that makes it run poorly.

I think i should just defrag it instead of using registry cleaner xD

say... i'm curious to know; what would happen if you don't clean your registry after couple of years?

I am assuming after a couple years you would have dead/unless registry keys and corrupted ones, not to meantion the corrupted system files. It is recommended reinstalling windows XP every 6-12 months.

I use tuneup. It works fine.

Most likely nothing.
Registry cleaners are useful in repairing damage from infestations, but otherwise are only a toy for the neat freaks who want to keep their system in perfect order, not realizing that Registry Cleaners are merely marketing... a source of good money for a number of good programmers.
We are firmly convinced that registry cleaners bring our shop more work than almost anything except virus damage.
The registry is amazingly complex, loaded with unbelievable numbers of pages of critical stuff. Most users have no understanding at all about how the many registries are setup or how they work.

I use systemworks 2003 on a rare occasion. I wouldn't recommend any editions after 2004. I haven't had any issues, and I have only installed the registry repair and goback portions. I use it on both my laptop and home computer.
For everyday use, I use crap cleaner. I use systemworks so rarely now, I am about to remove it off my system completely. Still, its disc repair and windows repair tools are quite useful to me.

I haven't seen crap cleaner become commericalized yet. Selling open-source software is a common thing though. Heck, I've seen FREE open-office being sold on ebay (the fools that buy it are morons).

For the average person, they should just use the auto-repair features. Manual tinkering can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing.

Nothing is ever free. We now have a log of 34 different registry editors of which nearly all were free at one time. Nearly all eventually become pricey, or sold. My greatest disappointment was Juono Viourni, the writer of Tweak Now, and RegClean who now charges $29 for the once free program.
I don't know of any good registry cleaner that didn't eventually get through enough of our quality control to become sold.
The current version of CCleaner's download site reports that it is "Polite" to donate if you are going to use the program. There are now three CCleaner Donate blocks for US Dollars, UK pounds, and Euros. They offer to allow you to place it on your web site.
Each of the 34 released versions have edged closer to requiring payment.
As soon as we have completed performing quality control on CCleaner, you can expect it will become a paid program.
Some of the most evil ones became evil after they were sold. For them, you can buy programs to fix the problems caused by other programs they sell.
I agree that it is the tinkering that causes most trouble, but the warnings are simply not sufficient for the frustrated user who cannot get his system to working. Its like the people who decide that if a little bit of medicine is good, more must be better... or soap, when a little bit cleans, a lot of soap cleans more or faster or better. It is a very human trait that way too many cannot resist.