Windows Registry Cleaners -Are they Safe

[Ned Seagoon]

See point 8 in Murf's original post.

[lufbra]

Originally Posted by SpywareDr

And that's exactly what we're doing, sharing our opinions.

Without knowing the facts first!

[SpywareDr]

My opinion is based on experience and known facts.

[lufbra]

Originally Posted by Ned Seagoon

I don't know, however experience tells me that a one post member who is pushing a particular product is probably a spammer or has some undeclared vested interest in that product.

That's just it, you don't know but you're quick enough to let folks know what you think! The guy wasn't "pushing" anything, just simply posting saying that the program hadn't caused any problems for him.

Originally Posted by Ned Seagoon

The fact that there are several versions of this product is also a concern, a free very cut down version that requires registration with an e-mail address and two more comprehensive versions that have to be paid for is even a greater concern.

(scenario 1 - lots of spam urging purchase of paid version)

(scenario 2 - free version breaks registry- paid version repairs it)

There are VERY few programs these days, that don't come with a free version as well as a paid version. The fact is that as far as this forum is concerned, there are very few posts from folks who have had trouble after using one of these programs, certainly no more than problems any other type of program causes

Originally Posted by Ned Seagoon

If the new poster were to come back and post something more substantial than the statement like "I have been using this for years" as a recommendation, perhaps the post would have a little credibility.

However, on the face of it, I would be prepared to wage my left knacker that this poster is one of those SEOE from the Philippines or India who just makes pointless posts containing the name of a product, so that search engine crawlers will pick it up and elevate the ranking of the products search results.

Come on back new member, prove me wrong!!

We may never know who this guy is/was or where he comes from, because there's a very good possibility that he's been scared away by your post! Who's to say he hasn't ANY computer knowledge that could very easily have been very useful to this forum? What if he already posts at other forums giving tons of help to folks in need, and has just found CTH? But now because of what has been posted aimed at him, he won't be back.

I feel sorry for anyone who has joined this forum AFTER you joined. Because if we go by what you're saying above, they are most likely from the Philippines or India making pointless posts!

[Ned Seagoon]

Originally Posted by lufbra

Because if we go by what you're saying above, they are most likely from the Philippines or India making pointless posts!

Ooh! we did get out of bed on the wrong side today. Didn't we?

[zipulrich]

Not taking sides here, but in MY personal experience CCleaner is a useful tool. I've used it on literally hundreds of PC's (since the old Crap Cleaner/green chicken days) and never had a single issue. That's not to say it won't bork your system. Just my experience. And the poster in question is from here in the USA.
Keep your left knacker, Ned

[Ned Seagoon]

Originally Posted by zipulrich

And the poster in question is from here in the USA.

OK thanks, I better send out for an order of humble pie.

[Jintan]

Reg cleaners trash systems, CCleaner is a very useful temp storage cleaner, but it's reg cleaner function trashes systems.

My opinion.

[SpywareDr]

I agree, but would probably state it as "it's reg cleaner can trash systems". Simply because doing so does not always trash a system.

[Jintan]

Maybe I should rephrase that.

Reg cleaners trash systems.

Better?

[SpywareDr]

You are entitled to your opinion.

[Ned Seagoon]

But Jintan's wealth of experience suggests that his opinion is the one a wise person would follow.

Backs to Murf's original post, I agree with him, what does it matter if there are a few unnecessary entries within the registry? Computers are great at searching for records, if there are some there that are not needed, they will be skipped over when searching.

It's just like going into the local library and looking for a book by Shakespeare, if you come across one by Jonson, you skip right past it, and keep looking for Shakespeare.

If there is any chance of the application trashing the computer, and little chance of a significant improvement in performance, why take the risk?

[lufbra]

Originally Posted by SpywareDr

My opinion is based on experience and known facts.

Where's your "known facts" regarding to AshleyP being a novice?

Originally Posted by Ned Seagoon

Ooh! we did get out of bed on the wrong side today. Didn't we?

Not really, just making a point about your statement. I guess the other points made, meant I got out the right side of bed.

[SpywareDr]

Originally Posted by Ned Seagoon

But Jintan's wealth of experience suggests that his opinion is the one a wise person would follow.

If there is any chance of the application trashing the computer, and little chance of a significant improvement in performance, why take the risk?

And I agree. As I posted earlier, using registry cleaning tools unnecessarily or incorrectly could lead to disastrous effects on your operating system such as preventing it from ever starting again. For routine use, the benefits to your computer are negligible while the potential risks are great.

That does not mean however that every time CCleaner's reg cleaner tool is used that it will trash the system. It is reasonably conservative in its assessment of what could be safely removed . . . and even more so when in the hands of an experienced user.

--

Originally Posted by lufbra

Where's your "known facts" regarding to AshleyP being a novice?

I didn't say that. I simply said "Random registry “cleaning”, especially by a novice, is inviting disaster."

[zipulrich]

Originally Posted by SpywareDr

"Random registry “cleaning”, especially by a novice, is inviting disaster."

Now that's worthy of a bumper sticker or tattoo or something. Very well put.