Do I need a registry cleaner for my computer?

Question

I was wondering if one is important. I don't know anyone who has one. I never used one before. I saw like registry doctor, but not sure if its something I need. Can someone explain to me what it does and why i may need it if i do. can it mess up my computer?

Answer 1

If your PC is fresh out of the box, then no. But if you've used it for several months, and particularly if you have installed and removed applications, then its a good idea.

Other good reasons to warrant a registry cleaner:
- Previous adware or spyware infections that have been forcibly removed by your antivirus/antispyware
- Error messages from programs (particularly about DLLs)
- Long delays when starting Explorer or Internet Explorer

Think of the registry somewhat like a phone book. When published (ie: when your PC is new), its mostly accurate. Over time though, people (like applications) come and go or move. If the registry is not correctly updated, and many programs, particularly their uninstallers, and prone to leaving a mess behind.

The -number- of errors is not as important as type of errors. Unfortunately unless you're a developer, its hard to spot which is which, so best to fix them all.

A word of caution: there are dozens of shady ones out there that will exaggerate the number or severity of errors to throw a scare into you.

I recommend the free personal version from here:

http://RegistryOptimizer.com

It is fast, accurate, and professional. More important, it does a registry backup before making any changes so you can "undo" the cleanup/repair.

Answer 2

Yeah, if your not careful when you play with the registry then you can messup up your computer. You don't need to buy one cause their are alot of free ones out on the internet. I like RegSeeker from Hoverdesk it's free and probably the best one I have used.

Registry is basicly like a advance Control Panel for WIndows. If you know alot about how it works then you can do all kinds of neat things like Configure Hardware at a detail level all the way to Configuring Windows Mods.

I perfer to go ahead and make a backup of it and then play around with it. This way you can re install it via a bootdisk if you have a corrupt one. CCleaner mentioned above is not really a good registry tool at all because it will scan only certain "preprogrammed" spots in the registry "mostly keys dealing with privacy / missing links.

Answer 3

Some people use them, and they can remove some unwanted or unused entries, but for the most part I avoid them. There probably won't be much performance gain, and deleting the wrong registry key can leave your PC unbootable.

It works by removing registry entries that no longer have programs associated with them, or other empty registry keys. But some programs intentionally leave empty keys to make installing addons easier later.

If you think you have something messing with your registry, use an anti-spyware program. It will remove only the necessary registry entries and will minimize the risk of deleting wanted registry entries.

In general, you want to leave the registry alone unless you know what you are doing.

Answer 4

Without trying to be cruel; if you have to ask the question your knowlege of the registry is too weak to be safe. If you make a mistake when deleteing a registry file you can do in your computer and have to pay a pro to get up and running. If you decide to use a registry cleaner then back up your registry before you do anything to it.

Answer 5

You can see most registry cleaner freeware and some shareware to list on http://www.regsofts.com. Browse the categories, you will find something worthy of downloading onto your system. For example:
Free Windows Registry Repair http://www.regsofts.com/free_registry_repair/registry_repair.htm
RegSeeker http://www.regsofts.com/freeware/regseeker.htm

Answer 6

This is what I use, its safe and free to use
CCleaner is a freeware system optimization and privacy tool. It removes unused files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space. It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history. But the best part is that it's fast (normally taking less than a second to run) and contains NO Spyware or Adware.
http://ccleaner.com

Answer 7

why do u need registery cleaner
registry cleaner can fix ur registry problems
but if u do not change ur registery then u dont need it