Windows Registry

Hi, I have a question here, I was running a Registry Utility "Reg Cure "( Trail) just to see what Results it would give, I have a older version of "Registry Mechanic" that I have been using for quite a time without any problems. Registry Mechanic shows no Problems after a scan, but this Reg Cure came up with 843 Problems overall. What I would like to know is has a Windows Repair Install any effect on the Registry?? my thoughts are as the Applications remain intact the Registry would be unchanged as well is that correct.
cheers
hawk22

 

RegCure is one program to stay away from. It is one of those that supposedly finds a bunch of errors then wants money for you to fix them. It has been known to cripple systems.

The only program I use for cleaning up after program uninstalls is CCleaner and then I check every entry that it recommends for cleaning.

 

In addition to copying a fresh set of system files, yes, the registry is updated as well. Most affected area is the HKLM\System hive. Applications and user profiles generally remain intact because the HKLM\Software hive and user hives are mostly untouched. Registry corruption alone can be serious enough to render a computer unbootable (and often does), and can usually be recovered via a repair installation.

 

Thanks Whiskeyman and Dave, I will give that RegCure a absolute miss in that case. And that the Registry will be to some extent refreshed during a Repair Install indikates to me that this might be a good practice to perform from time to time , especially now since I have Slipstreamed my XP-Pro with SP2.
What is your opinion on this practice rather than waiting for something to foul up completely.
cheers
hawk22

 

Personally, I don't recommend doing a repair installation unless the conditions warrant doing so .......... eg; system is unbootable, unstable, etc. Keep in mind that repair installations do not always go as planned. There is always a chance of losing data, or otherwise corrupting the system, as well as losing installed updates ( what is there now, like 70+ updates since SP2? ).

 

Hi ! Sorry, this is not my experience with Regcure who does a very nice job ; it detected also hundreds of errors , not detected by other programs including very good ones like Regmechanics which I use also but it never made any harm to my system ; on the contrary !!!! Usinc CCcleaner instead , whic is a good cleaner as well , suppresses keys which are valid and this gives alot of small ennoyances ; to use CC cleaner , you MUST esactly know what you are doing ; in RegCure, you may browse from one category to another and fix the errors but not all at one time which may be risky ; so I cannot follow your opinion ; Regcure si a very good cleaner also and I want to underline that as far as I am concerned , its detecttion is no mistakes ;this is not like REGISTRY SMART ....
best wishes OLIVIER GEBUHRER

 

It is usually unnecessary to clean the registry due to a false perceived notion of gaining performance. I only use CCleaner to remove leftovers of program removals and clear my Index.dat files. Registry Cleaners can do more harm than good. RegCure is one of those that finds many so called errors and then wants you to purchase the program to "fix" the registry. Many times the registry becomes crippled due to this cleaning. Show me one factual review of registry cleaning programs that isn't from either the developer, download site or other similar biased source. You can't because there isn't any.

Why I don’t use registry cleaners

 

I am extremely surprised by what I provoked unwillingly ; but that'OK ; let's go :
First of all , there is little doubt that cleaning MY registry on a regular basis did not improve "performance" which was NEVER what I aimed to , but to be able to keep my OS in good conditions ; I know the Book in Microsoft press about Registry and , not beeing an IT , it is clear to me that I have to be helped in the delicate operation consisting of bringing the registry basis in good condition ; that this is of the UTMOST importance , if one wants to lower the probability of a catastrophe/ and /or a complete reinstall, is something which every Windows user SHOULD learn from the very beginning . Yes , by using various registry cleaners I was able to REPAIR in a serious way my registry and YES it has a deep influence on the way Windows starts and the programs react .
Arie brought me to a forum where three complaints about Regcure are given ; first of all , I wish to thank him : I have TONS of complaints and was never able to find a place where to discuss these issues ; but for the moment beeing at least , I cannot follow these complaints : there are 3 , one out of three is devoted really to REGISTRY PROBLEMS ; I am very suspicious about that last one : the configuration he had before cleaning was probably in a very bad shape ; or he might have got a virus prior to clean ; registry cleaner is no magic ; I use ALSO RFA which is a great tool but can also Indicate Wrong positive !!!! So what would be of use here is some adavice for complete newbies : Be carefull about cleaning registry ! aso *
But even MORE usefull would be any serious explanation of why no two cleaners are finding the SAME errors on a given machine . Thanks OLIVIER GEBUHRER
*aso means a thorough INTRODUCTION of what is registry , what is a so called error , what it means "correcting" and finally why it is a veryu delicate operation .