What's The Safest Registry Cleaner and Registry Defrag (Free)?

[eugene91]

Im not sure if this thread belongs here..

Im wondering what's the safest registry cleaner and registry defrag to use which is free?

Currently I only use CCleaner to clean the registry after uninstalls :)

[CiX]

Ccleaner IMO

[Boyfriend]

+1 for CCleaner
You can enhance CCleaner capabilities with CCleaner Enhancer

[HAN]

From several things I've read on the web, if you are having no issues, registry cleaning in XP and higher is not necessary. For that reason, IMO, no automated registry cleaner is "safe" (fixing something that's not broken is not a best practice.) If you do have PC issues that you feel are coming from the registry, I guess running an auto cleaner might be worth a try. But truthfully, if a PC is running poorly, a fresh install of Windows is the best answer.

As for registry fragmentation, maybe it's an issue. I know it's never been an issue for me. The longest part of booting on any PC I have ever used was the loading of programs, not the loading of instructions for Windows itself.

[drone]

For registry cleaning I've used only CCleaner, but check carefully every single item found before confirming deletion.

For registry (and also other system files) defragmentation IMHO nothing could beat Page Defrag (from Sysinternals):

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897426.aspx

[Nanobot]

-{ Quote: "Im not sure if this thread belongs here..

Im wondering what's the safest registry cleaner and registry defrag to use which is free?

Currently I only use CCleaner to clean the registry after uninstalls :)" }-

Wise Registry Cleaner (http://www.wisecleaner.com/wiseregistrycleanerfree.html)
is one of the safest Reg cleaners out there (more than CCleaner IMO),it has a Reg defrag function and comes in a free version too.

[layman]

-{ Quote: "Im wondering what's the safest registry cleaner and registry defrag to use which is free?" }-

Eusing has a cleaner and separate defragger, both safe in my experience. Registry cleaning is, of course, a potentially damaging process. Unless you have the expertise to understand what the cleaner is removing and the consequences of that removal, it's best to leave well enough alone or stick with an ultraconservative tool like CCleaner. CCleaner sorta dusts the registry, as opposed to giving it a good scrubbing.

[layman]

-{ Quote: "Wise Registry Cleaner (http://www.wisecleaner.com/wiseregistrycleanerfree.html)
is one of the safest Reg cleaners out there (more than CCleaner IMO),it has a Reg defrag function and comes in a free version too." }-

Our license for Wise just ran out and I have uninstalled it. While it has a better looking UI, it isn't superior to Eusing in any sense. I kept is around just for the defrag function, which Eusing now also offers. Oddly (and annoyingly), when I uninstalled Wise, it took the liberty of uninstalling the Eusing defragger as well!

[zfactor]

ccleaner i think is the safest but i prefer jv16 just a user without much knowledge of what to remove and what not to can get themselves in trouble much easier as it is MUCH more powerful

[Nanobot]

-{ Quote: "Our license for Wise just ran out and I have uninstalled it. While it has a better looking UI, it isn't superior to Eusing in any sense. I kept is around just for the defrag function, which Eusing now also offers. Oddly (and annoyingly), when I uninstalled Wise, it took the liberty of uninstalling the Eusing defragger as well!" }-

Apparently both sucks....

28.10.2010 - Comparison of 176 Registry Cleaner Products (http://www.macecraft.com/registry_cleaner_comparison2010/)

not an independent test but still quite interesting

[mantra]

-{ Quote: "+1 for CCleaner
You can enhance CCleaner capabilities with CCleaner Enhancer" }-
what is CCleaner Enhancer ?

[DasFox]

-{ Quote: "ccleaner i think is the safest but i prefer jv16 just a user without much knowledge of what to remove and what not to can get themselves in trouble much easier as it is MUCH more powerful" }-


JV16 is great for when you want some more advanced features. I've personally never had a problem with it since this program started many years ago, just using it on the default clean. So advanced or not, it picks up even with the default settings where CCleaner leaves off and does more. Plus with it like CCleaner you can make a backup, so you never worry about killing something...

CCleaner & JV16 both make a great combo.... :thumb:

[Brian K]

From Mark Russinovich, in answer to this question....

"Hi Mark, do you really think that Registry junk left by uninstalled programs could severely slow down the computer? I would like to ‘hear’ your opinion."

-{ Quote: "No, even if the registry was massively bloated there would be little impact on the performance of anything other than exhaustive searches (ed. of the registry itself).
On Win2K Terminal Server systems, however, there is a limit on the total amount of Registry data that can be loaded and so large profile hives can limit the number of users that can be logged on simultaneously.
I haven’t and never will implement a Registry cleaner since it’s of little practical use on anything other than Win2K terminal servers and developing one that’s both safe and effective requires a huge amount of application-specific knowledge." }-

[PaulBB]

-{ Quote: "what is CCleaner Enhancer ?" }-

CCleaner Enhancer is an add-on for CCleaner that makes it even more powerful. CCleaner Enhancer adds support for over 270 new applications, which means that from that moment on you can use CCleaner to remove any traces left by those as well.

A non-official plug-in, so you should use it at your own risk.
hxxp://thewebatom.net/programs/ccleaner-enhancer/

Now on the registry cleaners. In my experience depends. If you have a brand new shiny Windows 7 copy and you installed and uninstalled some crappy codec pack and now you have no sound is better if you try to do a System Restore. If your computer is old, full with viruses and has a lot of errors than you can try some trusted registry cleaner begining with jv16 PowerTools, Registry Healer, Vit Registry Fix, TweakNow RegCleaner, Auslogics Registry Cleaner or Uniblue RegistryBooster.

Just stay away from:

Error Doctor
Error Nuker
RegCure
ErrorSmart
PC Health Advisor

If you see a website like this (http://imgur.com/KFNRA.jpg) just run away.

Avoid Registry Cleaner Comparison / Reviews websites, they are full with ClickBank affiliate software with one purpose: money. There is this website (http://www.registrycleaner.tk/) where the reviews are as unbiased and objective as possible and where the real users can vote their favorite software not some webmaster hungry for money.

[SirPeterPan]

Besides Ccleaner (http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner) with CCEnhancer (http://thewebatom.net/programs/ccleaner-enhancer/), I also use:

• Registry Cleaner: Eusing Free Registry Cleaner (http://www.eusing.com/free_registry_cleaner/registry_cleaner.htm)

• Registry Defrag: Eusing Free Registry Defrag (http://www.eusing.com/free_registry_defrag/registry_defrag.htm)

They are all very safe and free products.

[mantra]

-{ Quote: "CCleaner Enhancer is an add-on for CCleaner that makes it even more powerful. CCleaner Enhancer adds support for over 270 new applications, which means that from that moment on you can use CCleaner to remove any traces left by those as well.

A non-official plug-in, so you should use it at your own risk.
hxxp://thewebatom.net/programs/ccleaner-enhancer/

" }-
but this add on does not enhance ccleaner registry cleaner

thanks

[allizomeniz]

Theoretically any registry cleaner that allows you to make a backup is safe. If it doesn't, I wouldn't use it. CCleaner has never done me any harm but it's pretty weak in my opinion. I've been very happy with Eusing. Does a thorough job and I've never had any problems. :)

[GlobalForce]

Whichever you go with Eugene, make sure you know how'da access that backup should your system no longer boot.

[eugene91]

Thanks for all the inputs. Ill stick with CCleaner only then I guess :)

[Brian K]

GlobalForce,

I'm curious, how does one restore a registry backup to a system that no longer boots?

[mantra]

-{ Quote: "Besides Ccleaner (http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner) with CCEnhancer (http://thewebatom.net/programs/ccleaner-enhancer/), I also use:

• Registry Cleaner: Eusing Free Registry Cleaner (http://www.eusing.com/free_registry_cleaner/registry_cleaner.htm)

• Registry Defrag: Eusing Free Registry Defrag (http://www.eusing.com/free_registry_defrag/registry_defrag.htm)

They are all very safe and free products." }-
never seen a gain in registry defrag:thumbd:

[GlobalForce]

Brian, I'll leave that for their proponents.

[Mr.PC]

PowerTools Lite (http://www.macecraft.com/ptlite/) (Registry Cleaner - Freeware from Macecraft developer of jv16 PowerTools)
and
Registry Life (http://www.chemtable.com/RegistryLife.htm) (Registry Cleaner & Defragmenter - Freeware from Chemtable developer of Reg Organizer)

[Nanobot]

-{ Quote: "never seen a gain in registry defrag:thumbd:" }-

As far as I'm concerned None of the so called registry defrag tools do a proper offline/boot time reg defrag

with the exception of jv16's Registry Compactor who defrag/compact the registry before windows starts

after every run my system feels and IS faster/snappier

[rookieman]

Do you run this with Win7 Nanobot?

[layman]

-{ Quote: "not an independent test but still quite interesting" }-

Not an independent test? To say the least!!

Actually, Johnny Vuorio's tables re. competitive products do serve to provide some insight (such as, which don't uninstall cleanly), but it's hardly a definitive or objective source.

Truth is, I've given up on Macecraft (jv16) in disgust. For years, I held out some hope that Vuorio would progress to the point of being professional in his approach to development, but that shop just never gets any better. They have poor quality control, so the software they ship is buggy, chock full of defects and annoying quirks. Holding out hope, I used to pay for it -- but no more. I'm done with that shop!

[Nanobot]

-{ Quote: "Do you run this with Win7 Nanobot?" }-

Yeah Win7 x64

[Brian K]

-{ Quote: "Brian, I'll leave that for their proponents." }-

GlobalForce, nice answer.

I like Leo's summary...

"My fundamental belief is that the best registry cleaner is no registry cleaner at all."

http://ask-leo.com/whats_the_best_registry_cleaner.html

[cortez]

There are too many factors that slowdown/corrupt a partition that using a registry cleaner "shot gun style" can make matters much worst.

If you have a good understanding of rudimentary registry functions and use the cleaner cautiously in conjunction with "regedit" they can save a partition.

Using a registry cleaner/fixer to do the ordinary mundane stuff (remove remnants ect.) and then going into the registry to change values surgically is the sanest way to go.

I use Ccleaners' as it limits what will be cleaned. Mostly I use it to clean up after an uninstall.

[J_L]

The safest is not using one at all.

[mantra]

-{ Quote: "Yeah Win7 x64" }-
which version of jv16 power tools ?
because someone are buggy in the registry defrag

but i did not understand , you defrag your registry ,reboot and defrag it again , reboot , and defrag it again ?

thanks

[mantra]

-{ Quote: "The safest is not using one at all." }-
:thumb: :thumb: +1

[Nanobot]

-{ Quote: "which version of jv16 power tools ?
because someone are buggy in the registry defrag

but i did not understand , you defrag your registry ,reboot and defrag it again , reboot , and defrag it again ?

thanks" }-

TBH with you i haven't noticed to be buggy so far and i have the latest version (2.0.0.981)

Regarding the reg defrag this takes place on reboot,so once you hit "Compact" it'll ask you to reboot,defrag starts during the reboot,and there are some cases which you'll need to continue the defrag on a windows environment...All this procedure in a single reboot.

[ExtremeGamerBR]

-{ Quote: "The safest is not using one at all." }-

That's what I do. :thumb:

[acr1965]

I use System TuneUp which is just a different GUI than Ace Utilities from Acelogix. I paid a discount price because I switched from another product. Also, that ended up being a lifetime license (even from version 2 through current version 3.0+) and I can install it on as many computers are used in my house. Not bad for a price of like $13 a few years back. It sure as heck beats an annual rate for a limited number of computers from JV16 or TuneUp Utilities. After reading the JV16 report I am glad I purchased from Acelogix.

[tgell]

-{ Quote: "GlobalForce,

I'm curious, how does one restore a registry backup to a system that no longer boots?" }-


Erunt with a BartPE CD or Windows Recovery Console. But, this in no way changes my belief that registry cleaners do more harm than good if used improperly and Erunt would have to be run before any registry cleaner was used. I should mention that I cleaned out Net Framework with multiple registry cleaners and compacted the registry down near 30% and I still did not achieve a noticeable decrease in boot time.

[itsmej]

this i a nice informative thread and very good advice.i am impressed
i do use cc cleaner have for years and set at default never a problem..
itsmej

[pajenn]

-{ Quote: "Apparently both sucks....

28.10.2010 - Comparison of 176 Registry Cleaner Products (http://www.macecraft.com/registry_cleaner_comparison2010/)

not an independent test but still quite interesting" }-

Anyone try Registry Clean Master?

It removed about 5-10 times as much registry crap as the other top performers according to this study. (117087 entries removed in the Choke test compared to 16520 by Ace Utilities, 15492 by jv16 PowerTools 2010, 14375 by MV RegClean 5, and so forth.... Fresh Windows test results were comparable.)

[Mr.PC]

In the Fresh Windows test, the Least errors are the Best.
300 errors or Less are from the Best (=Green-Line) products.

Registry Clean Master found 108694 and, therefore,
it is not included in the Best (=Green-Line) products.

In the File Reference Analysis Accuracy test,
-500 or more errors from the 1000 Test errors
and
-0 False Positives
are from the Best (=Green-Line) products.

Registry Clean Master had 0 False Positives,
BUT it found 0 Test Errors from the 1000 ones,
it is not included in the Best (=Green-Line) products.

As you can see HERE (http://www.macecraft.com/registry_cleaner_comparison2010_9/) ,
Registry Clean Master isn't included in
the Recommended products List
which refers to the products that made it through All Tests.