Safe to use Registry Defragmenter ?

[Perman]

Hi, folks: My friend mentioned it to me the other day. I was puzzled. Why a defragmenter for registry? I use cleaner and occasionally a compactor, but never a defragmenter. Usually, it is bundled with cleaner program. Does anyone know that (1) is there a need for its service? (2) how safe is its service ? We all know registry is a vital part of O/S, and just can not be messed around. Anyone? thanks.:)

[screamer]

I "think" the term is relative to defragmenter / compactor ???

In any case it's used to consolidate the file and remove any free space between entries.

I've tried the reg compactor in J-V 16 PT 2006. It was un-able to compact any of my registry trees.

Back to Perman's question: How Safe is it to use?

[Perman]

Hi, folks: I am not quite sure that defragmenter is the same or similiar to compactor. However, I did use registry compactor(to compact and optimize) bundled w/ registry mechanic and it managed to save x% of registry space. But I never try defragmenter and have no idea how it functions. :)

[WSFuser]

Ace Logix has a utility (http://acelogix.com/regcompact.html) that supposedly does both functions, defragmenting and compacting of teh registry.

i never paid attention to teh difference in terminology; i think the terms can just be used interchangeably.

[Perman]

Hi, folks: Thanks. I also notice that there is a registry defragmenter within TuneUp Utilities. It requires all running programs in background to be turned off first. My question still remains; is it safe to use? or is there a need at all?
Thanks.:)

[WSFuser]

i havent had any issue from using them but i havent noticed any improvements either.

[Rico]

Hello Perman,

I'm surprised noone has mentioned this, but try ERUNT. ERUNT comes with NTREGOPT two programs, both free. ERUNT makes perfect copies of your Registry & NTREGOPT takes the slack out. So if NTREGOPT did something wrong you would restore via ERUNT. I've been using both for years, & never had a problem. Check it out at:

http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/

Also to actually defrag your registry, try: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/FileAndDisk/PageDefrag.mspx Note Sysinternals was purchased by Microsoft 'Pagedefrag' can be found at M$ website. Also Perfect disk will defrag the registry, but won't remove the slack or unused space.

Take Care
Rico

[WSFuser]

i did not know PageDefrag also defrags the registry. i might try it later on.

[lucas1985]

PageDefrag defrags the registry files, not the registry keys.

[KDNeese]

-{ Quote: "Hello Perman,

I'm surprised noone has mentioned this, but try ERUNT. ERUNT comes with NTREGOPT two programs, both free. ERUNT makes perfect copies of your Registry & NTREGOPT takes the slack out. So if NTREGOPT did something wrong you would restore via ERUNT. I've been using both for years, & never had a problem. Check it out at:

http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/" }-

I use NTREGOPT all the time without any problems whatsoever. Is basically the same principle as defragmenting your hard drive - places everything where it should be so your system takes less time trying to find things. I have noticed a little increase in speed after defragmenting the registry, but not all that noticeable - unless you've installed and uninstalled a bunch of programs, then have cleaned the registry. Then the speed increase is much more evident at that point.

[Perman]

Hi, folks: Thanks for all the feedbacks. I think registry defragment is a less known and uncharted area. Your experiences are very helpful, I shall explore these apps. Thanks again.:)

[screamer]

-{ Quote: "Hello Perman,

I'm surprised noone has mentioned this, but try ERUNT. " }-

It's strange, I've tried ERUNT. In fact it still makes a BU copy of my registry every day. Problem is... any time I've tried to use ERUNT (to restore corrupt registry) my box crashes. error msg says registry data is corrupt.
hmmm??

...screamer

[Rico]

Hi Screamer,

Have you relayed that info to Lars?

Take Care
Rico

[KDNeese]

-{ Quote: "It's strange, I've tried ERUNT. In fact it still makes a BU copy of my registry every day. Problem is... any time I've tried to use ERUNT (to restore corrupt registry) my box crashes. error msg says registry data is corrupt.
hmmm??

...screamer" }-

The ERUNT main program hasn't worked for me either. I don't remember if my computer crashed or not - last time I used it was long ago. However, the registry defragmenter has worked like a charm. I don't defragment it too often, however, as upon further study I've learned that a fragmented registry isn't a problem unless the fragmentation becomes enormously huge. There are some really good articles at the Microsoft Technet site concerning this issue that are very interesting.

[pots8pans]

G'day Guys,

Whilst I am interested in the defrag, can any of you strongly recommend a good registry cleaner?

Regards

Pete

[WSFuser]

see these threads:

Do you use a Registry Cleaner/Tweaker? (http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=161047)
Can someone recommend a good RegistryCleaner? (http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=161484)

[mercurie]

WSFuser,
I see by checking into your links that you use CCleaner. I use it too, but not the registry part. Is it good and safe to follow it's suggestions when using it? :)

[WSFuser]

i have yet to experience any problems with using CCleaner. of course, ymmv.

[mercurie]

O. K. thanks I currently use System Suite 4 for this with it's green, yellow, red stop signs. Red be very careful. Yellow and down to green totally safe to remove.

[pots8pans]

Thanks guys for the tips. I'll look into them

Regards

Pete

[Ice_Czar]

Ive been defraging the Master File Table, Page File and Registry at every boot for 4 years now. (O&O Defrag 4)

And it was only just the other day I had any issue. It was late and I decided to try a new pagefile configuration, and altered the size of both pagefiles (one of each HDD\Channel) and forgot to turn off the preboot defrag. Which is where it hung up on the next boot (I could have also just set the pagefiles to clear in GPEdit) but as I said it was late and I wasnt thinking very well.

I solved the it first ripping the defrag out with the commandine (W2K CD repair console) and deleted a virtual partition on the original %systemroot% while that didnt actually get rid of the preboot defrag screen it did allow me to skip it (before it hung before I could) I was then able to boot normally and reinstall the defrag.

never pays to do too many things at one time.