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.