Info on best Registry cleaner any Free?

[smstock1]

Need info on the  best recommened registry cleaner,or if you know any free ones.My registry has been changed by a software named System Mechanic and my computer hasn't worked correctly since I installed it.I now have uninstalled it and my copmuter still doesn't work correctly.Please give me some suggestions about this issue,as I posted a week or so ago and no one will reply.My computer has windows XP home edition and is a Dell product.

[Dusty]

There is no such thing as the "best recommened registry cleaner", users will have different opinions of reg cleaners. 

My preference is for the registry tool which is part of CCleaner (http://www.ccleaner.com/download) and the registry optimiser NTREGOPT which is downloaded with the registry backup/recovery tool ERUNT (http://www.snapfiles.com/screenshots/erunt.htm) (all free and highly recommended not just by me).  No doubt other CH members will have their own preferences.

There is also no doubt that you must backup your registry (and, of course, know how to recover it) before running any registry "improvement" tool.   As for System Mechanic, you have the results already.

Did you create a System Recovery point before running with Sys Mech?

[smstock1]

Well excuse me for asking,as that is the reason I posted this question on here,because I knew  the techs on here would suggest one that is realiable.I'm a beginner and trying to learn,but very difficult to understand the lingo on here,and when the suggestions are posted,one would have to be a tech to understand some of them.

[Broni]

If you're a beginner, do NOT use any registry cleaners. They won't visible improve your computer performance, and they may mess something up.

[Dusty]

Well excuse me for asking,as that is the reason I posted this question on here,because I knew  the techs on here would suggest one that is realiable.

You seem to have taken offence at something I posted, no offence was intended and I apologise.

As a beginner you should seek advice before attempting to "improve" the performance of your system.  Advisers on the CH forums have wide experience of just about every piece of software which is suggested for improvement.  Had you mentioned System Mechanic before actually running it the advice may have been to steer clear due to historical problems with this software.

The best thing I can advise a beginner to do is to learn how to backup and recover system and data files using such tools as System Recovery, cloning software etc, and when to do this.  Taking backup of registry files before attempting any registry file modification, cleaning, optimising, whatever the process may be called, is a must do.  And it's not just for beginners, my registry is backed up automatically every day.

Good luck, we will try to help you to help yourself at any time.

[soybean]

I understand Broni's thinking on registry cleaners but I disagree with regard to CCleaner, even for inexperienced computer users.   I'm not aware of any other registry cleaners I'd feel comfortable recommending to beginners but CCleaner is an exception.  It just has very solid track record of being safe to use, probably because it's not as aggressive in removing registry entries as other registry cleaners.  This is proven by the fact that running other registry cleaners after running CCleaner will nearly always yield another list of registry entries to remove. 

I would agree that in many cases it may not make noticeable difference computer performance, but I believe it can make a difference in some cases.  And, beginners who normally don't use such a tool are the very ones for whom even CCleaner's  moderately aggressive cleaning will find hundreds of registry items that can be removed.  This is especially true if the computer has been in use for a long time and probably has never had any registry cleaning, which is typical for less knowledgeable users.

So, that's my view.  I know I'm expressing a different point of view here. 

[Broni]

Soybean
You're not alone. I do like CCleaner, and I always recommend it. I'm just trying to be extra careful when dealing with a beginner, and registry cleaners.

[smstock1]

  Ok,so I already know that I should have checked with you guys before I tried the System Mechanic,but I didn't so  now I need to know if the c cleaner will get my registry back to normal?If so,where do I get it ?Thanks Broni for trying to help me.

[Broni]

No, CCleaner won't fix your registry issue. What we're saying is, if you used CCleaner instead of System Mechanic, you should be OK.
Your best option....

Go Start>Run, type in:
sfc /scannow
Click OK.
Have Windows CD handy.
If System File Checker (sfc) will find any errors, it may ask you for the CD/DVD.
If sfc won't find any errors in Windows XP, it'll simply quit, without any message.

[smstock1]

Ok thanks Broni,I'm assuming you mean it may ask for the CD,or DVD recovery disc that came with my computer.Waiting for your reply before I do this.

[kpac]

Ok thanks Broni,I'm assuming you mean it may ask for the CD,or DVD recovery disc that came with my computer.Waiting for your reply before I do this.

I'm not Broni but, yes, the Windows CD is the recovery CD.

It will say "Product Recovery" or something similar on it.

[Broni]

Actually, no. It'll ask for Windows XP CD, not recovery CD. Two different animals.

[kpac]

Oh, sorry...

That's my new thing learned for the day...

[smstock1]

My CD says Windows XP Home edition,is this correct one?Just checking before I make a move this time   .Thanks to all   

[Broni]

It may/may not work, because sfc may want XP CD with exact same service pack as installed on your computer right now, but you won't break anything by trying.

[smstock1]

I think I have service pack 3 now,and CD says for service pack two.When I do what you have suggested and if it works,will any of my data be removed ?I know I'm a pain in the behind,but I appreciate all your help.

[Broni]

When I do what you have suggested and if it works,will any of my data be removed ?

No, your data is safe.
Don't worry about asking questions. It's better to be too careful, than sorry

[smstock1]

   Ok I ran th4e ccleaner and computer seems to be working better,do you think I should still try the sfc scan ?

[Broni]

It won't hurt.

[patio]

   Ok I ran th4e ccleaner and computer seems to be working better,do you think I should still try the sfc scan ?

Yes.

[smstock1]

  Ok got another problem.I ran the ccleaner and let it remove something I need to replace in registry and unsure how to do it.I backed up files and it went to my documents folder.How do I get it back in registry?Do I go back to ccleaner to get in registry?At a loss

[Broni]

In your Documents, you'll find a file, which looks like this:
cc_20080913_2256.reg
This is CCleaner registry back up.
"20080913" is a date, when you used CCleaner.
Right click on that file, and click "Merge".

[smstock1]

Ok seen that.Will clicking on merge put it back in registry,or do I have to do something else.I've learned to ask before I do anything.

[Broni]

Yes, it'll put everything back, but you need to restart computer for changes to take effect.

I've learned to ask before I do anything

Very smart

[smstock1]

Sorry didn't work.Right clicked on file and then clicked on merge and window showing file came up on  top left hand side of page,but didn't move file back to registry.Restarted computer.Now what?

[Broni]

didn't move file back to registry

It won't tell you. It just did.
Check registry for missing entry. It should be there.

[smstock1]

Sorry Broni,it isn't  moving it back to registry.I went to documents and right clicked on the file,window came up on left hand top side showing the data of what was removed  in registry,I clicked on Merge,then restarted my comp and ran the ccleaner,but it said all clear and file wasn't in there.

[Broni]

No. Did you go to registry to see, if missing entry is there?
Anyway, what entry are we talking about here?

[smstock1]

I let the ccleaner remove a registration entry by mistake and backed it up before removing and put it in my documents,then I ask on here how to put it back in registry and you guys said to go to my documents and right click on file ,then click on merge,but when I did that the file came up showing registry data file window on the top left hand corner of the page,then I clicked out and restarted my comp and checked registry,but data file trying to return to registry still isn't in there.Can't seem to get it back in registry.I'm such a dummy. ::)What am I doing wrong?

[Broni]

but data file trying to return to registry still isn't in there

How do you know, it's not there?
Once again....what registry item went missing after using CCleaner?

[smstock1]

  It is  registration data done by bellsouth  for my e-mail program,it worked before using the ccleaner,now it doesn't.I checked the registry using regedit.

[Broni]

Registration data is usually stored in cookies, not in registry.
What is your exact problem?

[patio]

CCleaner will clear your cookie info unless you take the time to make exceptions of the ones you want to keep...

[smstock1]

     Maybe it was cleared in cookies,if so I can forget about it and will just call bellsouth and have them to redo,as can't get into my e-mail on bellsouth since running the ccleaner.Thanks for trying to help.

[soybean]

  It is  registration data done by bellsouth  for my e-mail program

Which means what, your username and password?

[smstock1]

  When loging into Bellsouth e-mail,it goes directly to my yahoo e-mail address login screen,and doesn't go to my web mail with Att.I have two e-mail accounts,each one has a different username and password.

[soybean]

... doesn't go to my web mail with Att.

And, this is different from the way it worked before?  And, we're talking about two different email accounts here, or one account that accessed different ways?

[smstock1]

Yes different before I used the ccleaner,could access my e-mail on both accounts.One account is at bellsouth.net and one account is at yahoo.com.Both have different user names and passwords.Somehow since I ran the ccleaner when I login to the bellsouth account it doesn't go to my e-mail in that account and goes directly to my account login screen for the yahoo account.I talked to an agent from bellsouth and described the problem,she accessed my comp with my permission and somehow fixed the problem,but  ran the ccleaner and now my login with bellsouth account doesn't work again.Thanks for your patience.

[soybean]

This is probably your situation:

CCleaner will clear your cookie info unless you take the time to make exceptions of the ones you want to keep...

[smstock1]

     Thanks guys for all your help.The problem has been fixed.

[Broni]

Thanks for posting back