Windows registry cleaners/optimizers

[bendejo]

My current Win7 installation dates back to Loy Krathong 2012. The system is still functional but there are annoying registry issues, and I'm finally gonna get off my arse and re-install. While I can't be entirely certain what brought it to this state I suspect running a slew of registry cleaners over the years had something to do with it.

So my plan is to use use only one such program to maintain the system. I have two that I like: CCleaner and an old version of Advanced Uninstaller. The latter also has a registry optimizer/compactor.

If you have a favorite do tell, and why.

There is one called YAC (Yet Another Cleaner). Avoid this at all costs! I'm not sure if it's malware but it sure behaves like it. Also when it installs it makes its registry entries read-only and you can't get rid of the damned thing.

[Stradavarius37]

CCleaner has always done a good job for my machines.

[CharlieH]

+1 for CCleaner ,

[Crossy]

+2 for CCleaner

[gk10002000]

Thumbs up to cccleaner. I don't think it is an uber powerful registry fixer upper, but I use it and it seems to remove some things. Use AVIRA up front as the free anti virus package. My friend had told me it was pretty much a European standard so I loaded it up 6 years ago and have few problems. The other freebie I use is Malwarebytes for malware. I don't run it in real time but I do runt it now and then to clean out some things. A few types of malware, mostly browser type things sometimes get past AVIRA

I haven't had any issues in years using these three applications. I am using a very old Toshiba portable satellite I bought used from Best Buy back in 2005., windows XP (yep, cheap engineer am I). The darn thing still works and does all I need.

[Daffy D]

I have been using CCleaner for years, works just fine.

I try and do a weekly cleanup and backup also using Glary Utilities and Advanced system Care which sometimes show a reg entry missed by CCleaner but all in all I think CCleaner is all you realy need.

If you have a specific problem that has just come up you think CCleaner has missed, go to 'Options" - "Advanced" and uncheck the "only delete files older than 24 hours" box.

Just a heads up if you don't know, you can do a re-install of Windows 7 without loosing all your data and programs.

This has to be done from Desktop, load up your installation disk and click install and choose the "upgrade" option.

This will install a clean Win 7 without loss of your data. Any settings you had in Windows will need to be reset and you will have to reinstall all the M$ updates.

As always Back-Up your data before doing anything.

[lostinisaan]

After using almost all available programs I'm only using the AVG Tune UP 2015 for such tasks. It cleans, defragments and rebuilds the registry in a very easy to use and effective way.

I also have CC cleaner, the pro version installed, but I tend to believe that AVG is much better structured.

You can do almost all maintenance with AVG Tune Up 2015, delete all your junk files, free a lot of space, fix shortcut errors, clean browsers, optimize system start up and shut down, plus many other tasks.

The program let's you find duplicate files on your machine and you'll be surprised how many files you've got twice, or thrice, plus so much junk you've got on your machine.

Please see attached image.

P.S. Might be worth to mention that there're plenty of other features, I really appreciate. When you go to AVG Tune Up system control, you can change many settings, such as "copy to"- "move to"- "send to" options by right clicking.

It's great to move, or only copy my folders from drive C to D without copying and pasting it. Please see second attachment, how to do this.

Edited January 20, 2015 by lostinisaan

[Chicog]

Is it free?

[bendejo]

Thanks to all who responded.

DaffyD, didn't know about that that 'upgrade' option, will check it out. I put my installation disk on a pen drive years ago, pre-SP1, and have been working from there.

In days of yore upgrades and patches usually were the stuff of nightmares, took a long time, required a checklist to see if things really were fixed, edit a little something here and there, etc, and a good chance whatever you were trying to solve would still be there (I feel the same way about incremental backups as well). I've long since taken the stance of wiping the whole damn thing and starting fresh.

[BB1950]

[lostinisaan]

Is it free?

Not really sure if you meant my post. It's not free and it's free at the same time. Depends on the way you're looking at it.

Just found out that it's also very useful for iPods, iPads, etc.....does CC cleaner offer all these features?

[lostinisaan]

Thanks a lot for sharing. Did you try that before? I'm really amazed.

[Chicog]

Is it free?

Not really sure if you meant my post. It's not free and it's free at the same time. Depends on the way you're looking at it.

Just found out that it's also very useful for iPods, iPads, etc.....does CC cleaner offer all these features?

What do you mean? There's a free version and a paid version?

[lostinisaan]

Is it free?

Not really sure if you meant my post. It's not free and it's free at the same time. Depends on the way you're looking at it.

Just found out that it's also very useful for iPods, iPads, etc.....does CC cleaner offer all these features?

What do you mean? There's a free version and a paid version?

...A short ferry ride across the bay, or pay,or maybe both, working in the same way. A friend of a friend's friend bought the program for a friend, who didn't know how to use it and gave it to me to give it a try. Please don't ask me why.

But there's a free trial version: http://www.tune-up.com/

Edited January 22, 2015 by lostinisaan

[BB1950]

Thanks a lot for sharing. Did you try that before? I'm really amazed.

Yes, a few years ago. It fixed some problems that had occurred over the years with the installation.

[lostinisaan]

Thanks a lot for sharing. Did you try that before? I'm really amazed.

Yes, a few years ago. It fixed some problems that had occurred over the years with the installation.

So any installation CD will be okay, when you have your serial number saved, right? Will give it a try for a friend's machine, running the W 7 64 bit version tomorrow. Thanks a lot.

[BB1950]

So any installation CD will be okay, when you have your serial number saved, right? Will give it a try for a friend's machine, running the W 7 64 bit version tomorrow. Thanks a lot.

No! I'm not sure what you mean by having the serial number saved. You must enter the product key when performing the repair update and enter it when prompted. Copy and paste is not allowed. You must have the same installation CD which matches the product key, i.e.: RTM vs SP1, in particular. If the RTM installation was upgraded to SP1, you must uninstall the SP1 upgrade as pointed out in the video.

If the original installation CD was SP1, there is no update to uninstall.

I'm not sure if it matters regarding 32bit vs 64bit as I've never tried it. Some installation folders are different on 32bit vs 64bit, so I assume the upgrade repair will fail. My Windows 7 Ultimate came with both a 32bit installation CD and a 64bit installation CD. I find several things I use don't work with 64bit, particularly with drivers so my main boot system is a 32bit system. In my case, I don't see the need to go to a 64bit system. I rarely use more than 2 GB of memory and I don't have any speed issues.

If you are using a 32bit system and want to install a 64bit system, I would recommend a clean install should be done and all the applications be reinstalled. That way, they'll make the best use of the 64bit system.

Also note: The product key determines which features are installed with Windows 7, so that matters too. However since Windows 7 Ultimate has all the features enabled, it's possible a Windows 7 Ultimate Installation ISO can be modified to handle the other installations like Home Premium, etc... There are easy instructions on the WEB how to do this and burn a 'special' installation CD.

If I recall, I did a test to see if a SP1 CD could be use rather than uninstalling the SP1 update and using the RTM installation CD. It worked for me, but I see on the WEB, it doesn't always work. So just to be safe, I'll go with the video recommendation. I don't know what others did or used that had problems.

As with anything that involves major changes, be sure to perform an image backup first, in case something should go wrong. Remember: backup, backup, backup... that's the FIRST thing you do before making any major changes!

Edited January 24, 2015 by BB1950

[WhamBam]

I use Advanced System Care.

No real problems with it.

IObit uninstaller with the option or powerful cleaner to get rid of the debris left behind when a prog is uninstalled. Surprising how much shit is left behind after the 'normal' uninstall has run.

[MAJIC]

I have been using CCleaner for years, works just fine.

I try and do a weekly cleanup and backup also using Glary Utilities and Advanced system Care which sometimes show a reg entry missed by CCleaner but all in all I think CCleaner is all you realy need.

If you have a specific problem that has just come up you think CCleaner has missed, go to 'Options" - "Advanced" and uncheck the "only delete files older than 24 hours" box.

Just a heads up if you don't know, you can do a re-install of Windows 7 without loosing all your data and programs.

This has to be done from Desktop, load up your installation disk and click install and choose the "upgrade" option.

This will install a clean Win 7 without loss of your data. Any settings you had in Windows will need to be reset and you will have to reinstall all the M$ updates.

As always Back-Up your data before doing anything.

I will second Glary Utilities,one of the best of a bad bunch!