Criterion for Deleting Invalid Links in the Registry

My utility suite (SS5) contains a "Registry Fixer ", and I know there are other registry cleaners available that work a similar way (eg, JV16). When I run SS5, it identifies invalid registry links for possible deletion and provides a one line description of the link (most involve files that I deleted sometime earlier). Some of these links are marked "OK to delete" (marked green), and some say I need to "review before deletion" (marked red). But most of these invalid links look the same to me (often with identical descriptions) whether they're green or red....so how does the registry cleaner figure out what's red or green? Because all the red descriptions sound like the green ones (eg, long-gone files), I have no way of knowing whether the red ones are truly deleteable or not, so I just delete everything anyway...so far I've never had a problem, but I may be playing with fire. What would a red description of an invalid link say that might induce me not to delete that link?

 

Steve....but with that criterion, my registry will be jammed after a few years. What good is a registry cleaner if it can't give some guidance about what can be deleted (I don't think "delete green items" is an answer unless I know why it was green)?

 

If you are positive the program that is tied to the registry link has been deleted, you should be able to safely delete it. Make sure that the registry cleaner you are using makes a *backup* before you allow any changes. Also make sure you know how to *restore* the backup in case of any problems. The registry tool (or any registry tool for that matter) can only offer suggestions as to what's safe to delete. You have to make the final call. So if you're not sure... don't delete it until you've found out 'exactly' what it is. HTH

B

 

I agree with Mr. B about making sure the cleaning tool makes a backup.

And also learning about and testing the backup before making any questionable choices.

It also comes down to you as the USER to know what has been un-istalled/changed etc. WINDOWS nor ANY regcleaner can do it all. It requires a bit of user knowledge of his/her machine.

If in doubt leave the jam.

I just came home from a two week vacation, removed YAHOO, ( which is not supposed to be on here anyway ) and used RegSeeker to remove 90 entries from this XP Machine and no damage was done.

BillyBob

 

Hello chrisw,

Your criteria question can only be answered by the software authors. Using any software of this type that changes the system must at first be used with suspicion until you have history with it, and then from then on, with caution - meaning making sure that you can backtrack.

Keeping that in mind:

You have 3 ways of backing up the registry:

The registry cleaner backup - so that's 1
Regedit - export the registry to a user created file - named, say registry backup or whatever - so that's 2
System Restore if using ME or XP - create a manual Restore Point - so that's 3

Regards - Charles

 

As I said in a post by Arran, I have used RegScrub for several years, and it has never made a mistake or caused a problem. I trust it now, and delete all the links it calls up, but I run Erunt first!
Roger

 

Roger....does RegScrub divide them into greens (OK to delete) and reds (review before deleting)? And you just dump the reds?

All....I find this whole discussion very interesting (I really appreciate all comments) but very disconcerting. Like Charles and others said, I back up the registry before doing anything. But doesn't it bother anyone that these reg cleaners flag things as red but no-one really knows what red means or how to make the decison that's being asked of you (to delete or not to delete)? Maybe I really will try to contact the S/W developers.

 

The above is from jvPowerTools.

Explains nothing and essentially says you're on your own. The other reg cleaners I use, RegScrub - RegSeeker more or less say the same. So my answer and Rogers's, once you develop a history with the program, and if backed up, is that you can experiment.

One reason for these programs not explaining the criteria may be that's its proprietary information the revealing of which would help a competitor.

Regards - Charles

 

RegScrubXP doesn't colour code the findings, but does give a reason. Sometimes it takes the form of 'No values for this key' but there is always a reason given. I have a problem here!! Regscrub can't find a problem for me to use as an example. See!! It works!
Roger

 

Hi Roger,

RegScrub is a little different It will only show you what it "thinks" can be deleted. jvPT, for instance, will show all, the reds can be then ignored and not show up again.

All cleaners that I've used give you reasons for the flag.

Regars - Charles

 

But I can't help but say 'No values for this key' doesn't mean much to me.

 

chrisw,
I think probably the best advice I can offer is: don't mess with the registry until you understand it a little better. If you really feel you need to clean your registry... do some research. Get a book on the registry and read it. It will help you understand what you can or cannot delete. That's why these registry tools carry warnings, it's really easy to trash your computer. Until you are more comfortable working with the registry I would recommend leaving it alone. Here is a tutorial to start you out... WinGuides HTH

B

 

One of the jobs of the Registry is that of an Index.

Installed programs create Add/Remove Panel entries - KEYS - in the Registry which POINT to the uninstall exe. in the Program Files folder for that program. In order for Windows to initiate the removal, it has to know that the software is there and where it is. If for whatever reason, that program folder or the uninstall exe. is not there, there is a "useless and empty key" or "no values for this key" in the Registry.

Example, I and a lot of others had to remove SpyBot v1.2 manually because something happened to it's uninstall .exe. Afterwards, my registry cleaner removed that entry from the Add/Remove applet instead of removing it myself.

Getting back to "red" entries. "Green" entries are application entries, "red" entries are OS entries, if taken out, are potentially a whole lot more trouble.

Regards - Charles

 

RoseCity Software (owned by the same company that owns WindowsBBS)
http://www.rosecitysoftware.com/reg1aid/

 

Hi Jim,

Reg1stAid is my primary reg cleaner. I'd ask Arie for it if I didn't have a license for it already.

Regards - Charles