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Post by Jo'Roq on Feb 10, 2007 11:42:16 GMT -5
Anyone have a recommendation for a good (preferably free or multi-licensed) registry cleaner for Windows? I need to clean up the registries on both computers.
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Post by CkRtech on Feb 10, 2007 14:52:32 GMT -5
Off and on over the past seven or so years, I have used a registry cleaner called jv16 PowerTools. You can find this download at www.jv16.org/The downloaded version gives you a fully functional, 30 day trial. After this time, you must register the software. Those of you out there that have never done this sort of thing and want to try it, I do recommend cleaning out your system if you haven't done so in quite some time or even at all. A quick, simple checklist is to do the following: 1: Click your start menu, go to Settings, and then control panel 2: Punch up Add/Remove programs 3: Take some time to go through this list and uninstall things that you don't need anymore, don't use anymore, or that make you say "what the heck is that?" The chances of you screwing up your system are relatively slim. To be on the safe side, don't uninstall anything that is Microsoft (though you probably could on a few things...) & also think about all the programs you use on a daily or weekly basis. If they aren't used on a daily or weekly basis, you probably need to obtain a newer version anyway. 4: Close add/remove programs and control panel 5: Click your start menu, go to Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Restore & click it 6: Click on the "Create Restore Point" & Click next. Name your restore point something like "Before Registry Cleaner" and then click Create (or whatever the next button is) 7: Download and run the jv16 Powertools 2006 application using the link above, install it, and run the Registry Cleaner option. It helps out.
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Post by Darthfather2005 on Feb 10, 2007 22:00:08 GMT -5
I'm a little foggy on what this does. What does this actually do?
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Post by CkRtech on Feb 10, 2007 23:12:24 GMT -5
Whenever you install, uninstall, reinstall programs or when you access files inside applications, browse the net, work on projects of some sort, etc...etc... , information is written into the windows "registry."
The registry is essentially several system critical files for windows that are used to save this data. Say you install Adobe Photoshop. Adobe's install program actually puts information in your registry to tell Windows "Hey - Photoshop is installed now. Here is ALL the information you need to know that it is there as well as how to run it."
Over time, lots of information goes in and out of the registry...and sometimes things get left over. Actually...MOST of the time things get left over. As your registry grows in size, so does the amount of RAM that Windows needs in order to run.
Simply put - This is arguably the main reason why computers slow down.
Therefore, companies have released what are called registry cleaners. These applications take time to search your registry and remove unneeded information. What if you uninstalled Photoshop months ago but yet there are tons of references to "Photoshop" in your registry? This registry cleaner would let you know, and remove that left over information if you tell it to do so.
In the end, this will remove unneeded items, reduce the size of your registry (many programs have a "compact registry" option), and quite possibly speed up your computer.
It is also good to do if you are having trouble getting programs installed. Say for instance...you can never get Flash to work just right with your browser. Etc....
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Post by Devastator_2000 on Feb 11, 2007 13:11:25 GMT -5
To add to CK's earlier post. I use a program called Ccleaner. It is a free program. It does clean the registry, but I dont know how its registry cleaner stacks up next to the program CK was talking about. But it does have a lot of other neat features. You can uninstall program though it as well as remove programs from start up. It will let you clean up a lot of waisted space by deleting items from the recycle bin, cookies, temerary internet files and other things. You can get the program and learn more at www.ccleaner.com
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