Registry Cleaners

[~Terence~]

There are often times that I need to uninstall programs from my Windows XP. That's why I am trying to decide whether I should use a registry cleaner for the purpose of cleaning after the programs that I uninstall.

After I uninstall a program using its uninstaller (Add or Remove Programs in Windows) and remove all the leftover files/folders (which is relatively easy), I always use regedit to search and delete the corresponding registry keys/values.

However, this is so time consuming because the search function in regedit is slow and unsophisticated. And often times I have to leave some registry key/value there just because I am not sure if there is any dependency for it.

So which registry cleaner / editing tool do you guys recommend for this purpose and why?
(Assuming price doesn't matter as long as reasonable)


Here are some of the criteria (most to least important):

1) SAFE to use! Even with backup/restore ability, I still prefer if it wouldn't create errors by removing things that it shouldn't had in the first place. (The backup/restore method is not foolproof, since I am not going to test every software on my computer after each use of the registry cleaner, so it'll be hard to target/revert the problem-causing changes)

2) Descriptions for what it found, and options for what it is going to do.

3) Remove as much garbage in the registry as possible

4) (Preferred) Let me target leftovers from a specific program, kind of like what I do with the search function in regedit but in a more efficient manner.


Any idea is welcomed.
You can even tell me why I shouldn't use a registry cleaner and what are the alternatives.
Thanks. :)

[Longboard]

there are so many alternatives !!!
do a search here in the forum, there have been dozens of threads asking this question
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=129916&highlight=registry+cleaners
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=148717&highlight=registry+cleaners
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=129350&highlight=registry+cleaners

Couple of starters, the top link is a pretty good one, representative of most discussions.

:)

[King FN Kong]

there are tons of materials here regarding reg cleaners. just search.

you might want to consider a stand-alone, uninstaller program. total uninstall seems to be getting the high vote.

post here by Lb

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=131864

search total uninstall. theres also a poll regarding best ways to uninstall apps.

[Longboard]

Damn
might have missed the point again, sorry, having that sort of a week
If you want uninstallers that is of course slightly different

Didn't you get enough answers here?:
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=145310&highlight=uninstallers

[Rico]

Hello Terence,

Welcome to Wilders!

1. I find the absolute best way to insure, no remnants of left over from un-wanted applications, in your registry is to:

Just prior to installing a new application, make a system restore point. If yu decide you no longer want the application remove it, then use the restore point.

As for registry cleaners, I've used 'RegSeeker' for years, never a problem, current version 1.52. First time I used it, it found 1000 errors, fixed all of them without any problems. And its Free! See:

http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm

Take Care
rico

[john2g]

Another solution. although it doesn't answer your question directly. Before I try any new software, I make an image using TrueImage. If I decide that I don't want the software. I just re-install the image: the re-install of the image takes all of 2-3 minutes. You can be then 100% sure that all traces are removed.

[~Terence~]

I just got Total Uninstall recently, and I am using it for all the new applications that I install from now on. However, I still have a lot of existing old applications on my computer that I have to uninstall sometime in the future. I am just wondering if a registry cleaner combined with some techniques will help me get rid of them completely. ::)

[zcv]

-{ Quote: "However, I still have a lot of existing old applications on my computer that I have to uninstall sometime in the future. I am just wondering if a registry cleaner combined with some techniques will help me get rid of them completely. ::)" }-
If you have the setup.exe's, one way is to re install them with TU - then uninstall.

No one app - Reg cleaners/TU is quarenteed to be 100% effective, it also involves registry searchs, here a reg cleaner is very usefull for searches besides its stated function.

SR gets rid of anything installed in the Windows folders, the Registry, and any .exe's. There are some files that it doesn't monitor however. A list of SR monitored files: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/sr/sr/monitored_file_extensions.asp

The only 100% method is drive imaging (restoring a "before" image).

[ErikAlbert]

Which registry cleaner you use isn't so important. The way HOW you use a registry cleaner is important.
Running a registry cleaner and click the remove button in order to remove as many registries as possible is IMO the wrong way.

[Wai_Wai]

Strange to say, the best registry cleaner is no registry cleaner. It is the answer from:
http://ask-leo.com/whats_the_best_registry_cleaner.html

Also:
Detailed discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of registry cleaners:
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,17193982#17201816

Why I don't use Registry Cleaners
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000643.html

Registry “Cleaners” - are they any good?
http://www.pcdoctor-guide.com/wordpress/?p=258

Registry Cleaning Tests

Comments about jv16 tests:
http://forums.techguy.org/reviews/101651-registry-cleaning-software.html?
http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=423151
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=4471

Testing 10 Windows Registry Cleaning Software
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,17193982#17203821
(There is a table of summary in that post)


Do your own dilgence and judge by yourself. ;)