Registry cleaner?

bigpat

Hi,

My Toshiba laptop, approx 2 years old, has been running more and more slowly, and crashing, in the past month or so. It's running Windows Vista Home Premium. I downloaded and installed the free AVG software and it hasn't found anything,although it seems to slow things down even more when it's running.

The crashes tend to happen when running Office programs such as Access and Excel and often with what I would consider simple tasks such as copying/pasting or sorting data. I sometimes get programs not closing down properly, messages like "Windows Explorer has stopped working." Now I don't know anything about the "registry" (even what it is!) but various things I've read online seem to sugest that registry errors could be part of the problem. And it seems there are several registry cleaners out there.

But I'm wary of them. I've done a quick search in this forum and found very few hits, with conflicting opinions. And they're from quite a while back anyway.

So I suppose my questions are: Should I install a registry cleaner? If so, which one?

Grateful for any advice.

Pat.

Donnie

Download, install, update and run a Quick Scan with Malwarebytes' AntiMalware. When complete, choose 'Remove Selected' if there is anything to remove and Reboot your computer.

After restart, open the program again and go to 'Logs'. Double click on the log produced for today and post the contents here.

Next, download, install and run the HijackThis Version 2.0.3 installer and use the Quick Start guide to enable you to produce a log for posting here too.

busenbust

So I suppose my questions are: Should I install a registry cleaner? If so, which one?

^^^

ccleaner is excellent -- but I'd use it carefully; and careful with the install too -- untick any toolbar add-ons .

Donnie

A Registry cleaner will not help your situation at all unless it can detect Malware.

Also, let me know the full model number of the laptop. i.e PS***

busenbust

busenbust wrote: »

So I suppose my questions are: Should I install a registry cleaner? If so, which one?

^^^

ccleaner is excellent -- but I'd use it carefully; and careful with the install too -- untick any toolbar add-ons .

Also, imo, I'd avoid avg and migrate to the brilliant Avast.

bigpat

Hi,

Thanks for prompt replies. The model number is PSLB2E - 004007KS

I do have ccleaner already and run it fairly often, but - how stupid am I? - I've only just now seen that it has a registry thingy. I've always just clicked Run and let it do its thing and "sort of assumed" either the other bits weren't installed or weren't free or whatever. I've just run it now and found hundreds of things (though it doesn't seem to tell you exactly how many).

There's a bunch of missing shared DLLs to do with Google Earth, which my son installed and uninstalled ages ago, there's some "unused file extensions", some "Open with Application issue", some other bits and bobs and then a whole long list of "Installer reference issue"s connected with Microsoft Silverlight - whatever that is.

So should I just click "Fix selected issues" and see what happens? Will I still need to run the Malwarebytes Antimalware?

And I do remember being careful with the install. I detest all those toolbars and smileys and whatnot. I'd like to get the machine back to being as "clean" as possible.

Thanks,
Pat

fiddiwebb

Pat

Don't run CCleaner's registry cleaner just yet, follow Donnie's advice first concerning Malwarebytes & Hijack This.

PS.When you do run the regiistry cleaner in CCleaner it is important to let CCleaner make a backup first before making any registry changes.

Donnie

I didn't recommend that you run a Registry Cleaner. Are you going to ignore my advice and take my advice?

Decide if you want to do both, none or whichever you feel that is best for you.

You need more RAM. 1 GB is not enough for Vista Home Premium.

busenbust

busenbust wrote: »

Also, imo, I'd avoid avg and migrate to the brilliant Avast.

OP: Thread on avg here -- and potential problems. For u to peruse perhaps after the machine is rectified.

fiddiwebb

I think Busty above misspelt Avira :whistle:

busenbust

fiddiwebb wrote: »

I think Busty above misspelt Avira :whistle:

LOL. Oops ... I nearly took the bait fiddi