Registry Cleaning... yay or nay?
 

I use RegSeeker version 1.45, and it really does get rid of a lot of junk.

It also automatically creates a back-up, but it has never deleted anything that caused any issues.

I never had a reason to use a registry cleaner, of course I keep my PC pretty clean, I suppose if you're installing and Uninstalling software all the time your PC may benifet from something like that. I personally would be hesitant to let any program go into my registry and attempt to clean it up, especially a free based one.

I use RegistryCleaner, the paid version. I have never had any issues with it at the moment.

Since I test lot of software, I need to install/uninstall lot programs. I need to use registry cleaners to keep my registry nice and clean, I have been using RegScrubXP for my XP and Windows 2000 systems and it does work great and is better than most of the commercial versions.

Earlier for Win98 systems I used Regcleaner.

I tend to believe in keeping the registry as clean as possible, since I install a lot of utility and graphics programs. I use RegCleaner by Jouni Vuorio, MS's RegClean, and the free version of Registry Mechanic last. Any thing that Registry Mechanic finds I then look at manually and decide whether or not I want the entry deleted or not. If I do, I delete it manually. BTW, I am running 98.

Teddy

Reg cleaners are EVIL!!! lol
Seriously tho I have never cleaned my reg and I have no problems with my PC, but as mentioned before I do tend to keep my PC pretty clean. If I can be bothered and I uninstall software I will check the reg manually and remove anything left behind.

A couple of people I know use reg cleaners all the time and have never had a problem with any of them, but I just don't trust em I'm afraid...

I wouldn't recommend manually checking and repairing the registry, only if you r 100%confident and know wat u r doing. But registry cleaning software do it all for you and way faster.:)

Yeah, I recommend cleaning your registry, but not manually unless you REALLY know what you're doing (like others have already said). I use RegScrubXP and System Mechanic about once a month.

Yeah, I do it every now and then. I use TuneUp Utilities 2006. Great program. I've used Notron System Works' registry cleaner before and Registry Mechanic, those worked well too.

I never use Norton anymore, cause once i used it, then my comp went crazy. It made a lot of my preograms not work properly, and made me have no internet connection and no sound card.

I allways use Norton on my XP and 98 machines, but like all regcleaners you can't let them do an automatic repair, because these progs want restore shortcuts and other files from the trash bin.
Some progs want to delete empty uninstall-strings. Why? In many cases the programmer has placed these strings as a flag!
And why want they delete the shortcuts? After an hour they are back!
Happily you can make an ignore-list.
I hate Registry Mechanic, it corrupted my scanreg.exe.
Agrith

I would suggest you use Zone Alarm instead of Norton, and you will see the difference.:)

RegScrub XP is definately my registry cleaner of choice. However, I also use CCleaner, sometimes. Whenever I clean up all the junk (I seem to have a lot of beta applicaions) in my system I always use CC an Disk clean up... since a lot of applications are in my start up list after I delete them, I need to clean up my registry, so I think using registry cleaners might be good for your comp.

I would suggest RagistryCleaner v5 for cleaning up the registry. I have never experienced any problems with it so far.:)