Register Cleaners

Erlqueen_2

Are register cleaners a con?

I recently encountered massive problems running WoW so I decided to do all the checks on my home computer that I let slip. I reinstalled Windows XP and did the updates (but not SP3), chkdsk f, disk clean up / defrag and updated all my drivers. I know - I did it all backwards but I'm fixed (fingers crossed) again. The OS is definitely loading faster and just about the only thing I haven't done yet is clean the register and check to see if ccApp is part of Norton or a virus that slipped through.

I have Norton Internet Security (I know, I know! but it's paid for now until the end of January >< ) and windows defender running on my system.

I did the 'free download' for 2 of these cleaners. 1 found 468 errors and the other found 917 but then you need to buy the keys to enable the cleaners to sort the register out.

I don't mind buying one of these (I'd prefer a free one though ) but before I spend pennies can I have your honest opinion of these please?

Are they a con or something you should invest in?

davejr

If you just reinstalled windows and a few pieces of software registry cleaners are probably pointless. The will make minimal impact to the speed of your system. If the system slows again it is much easier to just reinstall windows rather than trying to clean the registry and other stuff since old applications just get lodged around your computer.

Erlqueen_2

Oh, sorry, slight misdirection on my part. Didn't reinstall windows from scratch, I ran the repair but it sounds like it doesn't matter so cheers - I'll save my pennies then

.. and skip installing a free one as well

Exo

Hi, for various reasons, the Windows registry does get filled with redundant items. In normal circumstances, this has little or no effect on the operating system performance.
Some people will use registry cleaners whilst others do not touch with a barge pole.
For a reasonably balanced overview:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Registry_cleaner

Should you wish to try a reasonable one that is free:
http://www.eusing.com/free_registry_cleaner/registry_cleaner.htm

ccapp.exe is a process belonging to Norton AntiVirus.

LazyD

Hello, I would recommend using registRY cleaners simply because I have seen them remove many recurrent errors in the past. The simplest and best one I would recommend comes as part of ccleaner, go and download the program from ccleaner.com (be sure to uncheck install yahoo toolbar during installation). Run the cleaner and then go to the registy cleaner and search for issues, then remove issues but be sure to make a backup of the changes you are making to the registry (just in case of any problems you just need to double click that .reg file and it all gets added back in), I've never had problems with ccleaner and use it extensively.

Anyway, definitely don't buy one and get rid of norton, it's terrible, slows your pc down.

[Deleted User]

I personally wouldn't recommend that anyone uses anything to 'clean' their registry because:

a) There's no real improvements in using them
b) Unless you know exactly what it is doing to the registry and you understand the impact that this can have and how to undo it, you're playing with fire.

The registry should still inflict the fear of god into users and have you breaking out in a sweat even just typing regedit.exe in the run box.

What problems have you been having with WoW?

iviv

Alright is right, messing with the registry will do more harm than good. If you are getting a specific error which you know can be attributed to an registry error, then by all means fix it. But registry cleaners? One wrong move by them and windows won't load properly. And a registry full of old entries won't do much to slow you down.

Also, a windows repair install doesn't do too much, and can cause problems. Its better to wipe and start again, though it would mean backing everything up and starting again.