What is THE best free registry cleaning software?

Guys,
Even if you change the default setting to how many times Windows ScanReg backs up the registry, let's say you change it to 10, it can only recognize and revert the last five anyway!

I don't recall where I read this but I tried it and it's true.
CHANGING THE DEFAULT VALUE OF SCANREG'S BACKUPS IS USELESS.

 

Yes. Scanregistry is a part of the OS. And it is by default set to run at every bootup or restart.

However if a backup has already been made for that calander day another will not be made.

The reference to " if it boots " refers to the fact of whether the user had unchecked it in MSCONFIG. In which case it will not run at bootup or restart.

Yes. It should be configured to invoked every time. It is very reliable in 98. even more reliable then Restore Points in XP.

I don't recall where I read this but I tried it and it's true.
CHANGING THE DEFAULT VALUE OF SCANREG'S BACKUPS IS USELESS.

I do not recall either. But I see no use for it either.

In fact if I am going to make changes to the system I usually delete all backups. restart Windows and let it make a new one. And when I get changes made and know all is going to be OK I repeat the process of delete/rebuild.

I know it is a user preference but I have yet to figure out what good a 2 day old backup is let alone a 10 day one.

And very important here is IF a system has been infected by a Virus or Trojan then the backups MUST BE DESTORYED.

musicollector

After you did all that cleaning I hope you deleted the old and made new backups ? Otherwise your time may be wasted.

BillyBob

 

Thanks for the response.

Yes, I noticed that yesterday when I went into MSCONFIG - it _was_ in Startup. That's good to know.

hehehe! Yep. I had learnt my lesson from experience some time ago. Yes, right after I got the registry squeaky clean, I not only saved the four files in question, but also exported the registry to a totally different computer on my home network, as well as burnt it on to a rewritable CD.

Also, you said:

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If scanregisrty is loading at boot up it makes ONE reg backup per calendar day at the first boot up or restart of Windows for the day. If neither event occurs there is no backup created.

It backs up the the four files mentioned prevously into a file named RB00x.cab ( x = 1-5 ) file and stored in the C:\Windows\Sysbckup folder. Unless the user makes changes there will be only 5 made. Then they start overwriting the oldest.

These files can be ( and need to be ) restored by booting up and using the F8 to get the menu and then selecting " Command Promt only " and typing Scanreg /restore. This REPLACE/OVERWRITES in total the four files.

You can also boot to the startup disk and type

C:\Windows\Command\Scanreg /restore.
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I gather the above restoration process you are mentioning is if the PC does NOT boot, in the first place, right? In that case, would not the 4 files already be corrupt, in which case we would need to use the backups saved elsewhere? If that is the case, how does the PC know where to look for the backup files? For example, my backup files are on the J: drive on a different PC. What is the best way I can point the PC to look in a location designated by me? Or can I invoke the CD...if the CD drive can be accessed, ie?

TIA.

BTW, I am using both Registry First Aid and RegSeeker. Neither of them does the job best on its own, but both together, do a bang-up job! I appreciate all the suggestions. Thanks.

Cheers.

 

First and foremost. I strongly believe the BEST thing to do with Win98 Scanregistry is TO LEAVE IT AS IT IS SET BY DEFAULT And the files stored in the DEFAULT location of C:\WINDOWS\SYSBCKUP.

Win98 and 98SE have ONE OF THE BEST and most dependable Reg backup systems of any version of Windows. But it still requires a little user checkup to make sure it has done what it is supposed to.

And sorry to say that includes Windows XP. XP is nowhere near as depencable in the reg backups ( Restore Points if you will ) as 98. That is why I check and make my own BEFORE making ANY changes in XP.

If you wish to COPY the four files to somewhere else that is fine. But the ONLY way they can be COPIED back in to do it in DOS. They will not copy back PROPERLY if done within Windows.

And everytime you make reg changes ( or any change in hard or software ) you would have to COPY NEW ONES to keep them current.

In that case, would not the 4 files already be corrupt,

NO Not necessarily. What the user has done during the day ( after the backup was made ) could cause the problem.

If there were a boot problem it would not have booted before the backups were made.

Now if the PC does not boot then you would use and older backup. Say a day or two back.

You mention burning the four files to a CD or to some other partition. Nothing could be more useless. You may ask why ?

OK. You put the files on a CD this morning. Now during the day you either add or remove some software. Maybe you do both.

You now wait a day or two to make sure all is well.

Question;

What good are the files you put on the CD or other partition ? To the best of my thinking THEY ARE USELESS. And so are the previous RB00x.cab files. Unless you wish to start ALL OVER again.

Not the reg backup files I hope. Pretty much any other backup you can safely mess with but not the reg backup files.

BillyBob

 

I was just going over this thread and noticed this so I feel I have to clear something up here BEFORE you get a big surprise.

EXPORT is not the same as the backups that scanregistry makes. And also I believe it does not get the System and Win.ini.

It is important to keep the four files syncronized.

IMPORT Does not completely overwrite the old with the new. Some things may only get APPENDED to the existing.

Scanregisrty not only backs up the four files but Scanreg /restore REPLACES IN TOTAL all four files. That is why it has to be done from DOS.

BillyBob

 

I'm sorry, but I need to clarify this even more.

When BillyBos is referring to ScanRegistry, he is actually referring to a file called scanreg.

The best way to back up (BillyBob, I'm not even sure as to why you delete all the backups and reboot windows to create new ones) is to first, make sure scanreg is loading at startup, as that will make a backup at the start of each calendar day. The next thing to do, is if you're using windows 98, to go into DOS (either bye clicking on start and shutdown and going to restart in MS DOS, pushing F8 at computer start up or using a boot disk). Eitherway get to dos, and type in scanreg /backup at the command prompt. Or you can type in scanreg by itself, and it will check the 4 files that BillyBob mentions and then tells you if you want to back it up or not, hit yes. I don't think it's a good idea to delete the backups and have windows recreate a new one as in BillyBob's post, but everyone has their own view. I think running scanreg /backup is enough to create a backup point of the current state of all 4 files. It is not necessary to do anything else. This is just my opinion though.

 

I'm sorry, but I need to clarify this even more

That clears up nothing. It just makes the waters more muddy.

I am sorry to dissapoint you but by default Scangistry running at boot up runs a file named SCANREGW From a command line C:\WINDOWS\SCANREGW.EXE /AUTORUN which is in the Msconfig Startup group unless the USER has made changes.

I just now checked TWO 98SE machines using msconfig startup tab to make sure. And if I recall correctly 98 and 98SP1 were the same.

If you were to remove the /autorun you would more than likely get a little windows coming up asking if you wish to make a backup the same as it does if you type scanregw at the start~run line.

I'm not even sure as to why you delete all the backups and reboot windows to create new ones)

I have said why many times. THEY ARE USELESS and could even be dangerous to the health of the system.

OK lets get down to a more critical point as to why I do what I do.

First off I learned the Windows she no boot HARD WAY.

I changed Video Cards ( cards not just drivers ) to a different Brand. Something went astray and I used a RB00x.cab file from two days back. OUCH !!! WRONG VIDEO DRIVER REFERENCES Even the wrong card was being looked for. 640x480 16bit video is ALL I had. I can not print the names I called myself

Adding, Removing, Upgrading software can have the same basic effect of messing things up. By looking for somrthing that is not there because it has been removed. Or not finding something new that is there.

The next thing to do, is if you're using windows 98, to go into DOS (either bye clicking on start and shutdown and going to restart in MS DOS, pushing F8 at computer start up or using a boot disk). Either way get to dos, and type in scanreg /backup at the command prompt.

In my opinion and experience that is a total and un-necessary waste of time. Also I believe it makes a file that scanreg /restore will not use. Also that does not make a backup of a reg that has been used to start Windows.

Somewhere I have seen the message about " This reg has not been used to start Windows and may not be reliable." Or at least something along those lines. I can not be 100% sure but I believe it was when I ran Scanreg /restore

The more I get into this I am thinking more strongly that scanregw makes the backup AFTER Winodws has booted. After all scanregw is a Windows file not DOS and is in the Windows folder. And it is in the Windows Startup list.

HHMMMM !! Maybe I just might start a SE machine with bootlog enabled. That might give me a clue as to when Scanregistry run. Reads like a good idea.

BillyBob

 

A light bulb just lit. It may be dim or bright but it is lit.

I was just looking at a 98SE machine and ran the logged boot up. I saw no reference to scanregw.

Now I think my idea of it running after Windows loads might be correct.

If it were to run from DOS the command would need to be in the Autoexec.bat I believe.

Once the boot gets past the Autoexec ( if it even exists ) it is out of DOS and into the Windows boot section and loading/running Windows files.

BillyBob