Registry optimizers

[xs750]

I have seen a lot of ads recently for "registry optimizing software". Specifically, ARO (Automatic Registry Optimizer).
Question: What does this program actually do?
Will it, as the ads claim, speed up my computer by "fixing" the registry?
What are the downsides to this program? Can it cause me any problems?
Is it worth the money? (About $40)?
Do I need this software, or is their some utility in my system (Widows XP, Office Suite, Service Pack 5, all current patches and security updates), or available for free that will do the same thing (safely)?
Thanks
Kirt

[Broni]

Do I need this software, or is their some utility in my system (Widows XP, Office Suite, Service Pack 5, all current patches and security updates), or available for free that will do the same thing (safely)?

No.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Is it worth the money? (About $40)?

No

Question: What does this program actually do?

Besides possibly screwing up the computer, absolutely nothing.

There are no such things as Registry Boosters or Optimizers.

On the off chance it does speed up the registry, how faster would it be? A couple ms?
Absolutely useless.

[soybean]

I agree with previous posts.  But, if you still want to optimize your registry, I suggest NTREGOPT; it's freeware.  But, as stated in previous posts, don't expect noticeable performance gain from this.  However, a bit of additional free hard drive space can be obtained by using it; it does this by compacting the registry.   

[patio]

Plus you get ERUNT with it...the best Registry backup out there...

[spacecat9]

registry optimisers remove dead links. they clean out information telling the computer to go here do that when theres no need to do so. and yes they stop the execution of certain programs that reinstall them selves after you uninstall them. but i wont go there will i.

[hejo]

I think Wise registry cleaner is an OK registry cleaner (optimizer).Easy to use & freeware.  Personally I wouldn't pay for this kind of software.
As spacecat9 wrote,it removes dead links and the downside of that is that sometimes information needed by some program to work properly might be removed as well.Usually solved by some minor re-installation.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

As I said, registry optimizers do  NOTHING but screw up the computer.

If you want to use a registry cleaner to remove so called dead links, use a commercial, trusted, free one CCleaner.

[kpac]

commercial, trusted, free one CCleaner.

CCleaner commercial?

[soybean]

NTREGOPT will NOT screw up the computer. 

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

NTREGOPT will NOT screw up the computer. 

Was talking about Hejo's comment. I use NTREGOPT myself.

commercial, trusted, free one CCleaner.

CCleaner commercial?

Hmmmmm....Bad choice of words?