PC Cleaning, Stage II

TM21 · Apr 9, 2023

I don't know, if it's fortunate or UN-fortunate, that Windows keeps a record of everything that happens on it, in its Registry. It's kind of Windows' Diary. In time it can get bloated, with old and out of date information.
Some years ago, I removed MS Word 2007 from my computer, using the MS Uninstaller.
Then just on a hunch, I ran a Registry Cleaner, and WOW, it removed 30MB of Word stuff that the uninstaller had left behind. That reduced the overall size of the registry by 1/3.
Since then, I've made Registry Cleaning a part of my weekly Windows Cleanup.
When I first started Cleaning my Registry, some years ago, I made sure I had a backup of my registry, before each cleaning. I never had a problem. So today, I use a program that I know and trust, and I still do my Registry Cleaning at least once a week, and right before all Backups.
The one program that I trust with my Registry is "WinUtilities"from "YLComputing".
I'm not sure why I hold a Lifetime Key, when the program can be downloaded for FREE.
I proved that just today, when I downloaded it again.

So, I'm just wondering if anyone else, regularly cleans their own registry?
TM

ThrashZone · Apr 9, 2023

Hi,
Not really.

TM21 · Apr 9, 2023

Thank you!

IanMosley · Apr 9, 2023

Ghot · Apr 9, 2023

I use CCLeaner's Registry tool.
I'm not sure how much it does, but I use it maybe once a day.

Back in the day I used JV16 Power Tools. The best reg cleaner, I've ever seen.
But like most software, they started tossing in everything including the kitchen sink and ruined it.

I always suspected that REVO Uninstaller stole some of JV16's code.
Because like REVO, JV16 got ALL the leftovers, long before REVO did.

For example... this a a pic of the software uninstaller from the XP days....

And this was JV16's Startup Manager from the Win 7 days, I believe...

kgarrett67 · Apr 9, 2023

TechnoMage2021 said:
I'm just wondering if anyone else, regularly cleans their own registry?

There seems to be varying opinions on if/how/when to clean your computer and whether it's worth using software to do this operation. Depending on the level of cleaning, one can render their Windows OS non bootable. With that said, use software from time to time to clean my registry, but not on a scheduled routine. Unless there are really serious issues, I probably can't really say that cleaning the registry does any noticeable difference in the performance of a computer. I've used CCleaner in the past and currently use jv16PowerTools. I do find a ton of leftover stuff in the registry after uninstalling software. Revo Uninstaller will clean your registry as well if you uninstall software using the app. As far as other routine cleaning, I would say that spending money on software is not really beneficial, except for may someone who isn't computer savvy. If you have some decent computer skills, you can clean the temp files and browser cache a few other odds and ends without the software. You have to be very careful with a lot of the software out there that is advertised to clean your system as they will install junk that you may not be aware it's installing.

glasskuter · Apr 9, 2023

Not in a very long time as there is no speed or performance benefit from doing it and the possibility of instability if one does do it. I use an uninstaller tp cut down on leftover app junk. Any other orphan can live in my registry as long as it wants unless it causes me a problem.
MS doesn't support using one either. Microsoft support policy for the use of registry cleaning utilities - Microsoft Support

FrancoDT · Apr 9, 2023

Interesting question that I'm sure will generate a lot of different opinions. Most people never need to touch the registry, and it is possible to do more harm than good. That said I do use two apps that clean up registry leftovers, Revo Uninstaller to remove uninstalled app left overs and Wise Care 365 that I run once a week. So far I've never had a problem with either and I keep backups as well as a full system backup for a worst case scenario. Maybe the OCD part of me just likes to keep a tidy registry. As mentioned already MS won't endorse cleaners so it's use at your own risk.

Wisewiz · Apr 9, 2023

I find that CCleaner does exactly and only what I want it to do, and it saves a .reg file containing every change it makes, so if (and I've never seen the if) there's a glitch, a couple of clicks will put the registry back the way it was. I think the important thing is to pick and choose what you think might be junk left behind in the reg, and fuggeddabaud the others. Who cares, for instance, about registry refs to fonts that aren't there anymore? Who bothers to remove fonts from a new installation nowadays, anyway?

Try3 · Apr 9, 2023

TechnoMage2021 said:
I'm just wondering if anyone else, regularly cleans their own registry?

I don't.

Several years ago, somebody conducted experiments that demonstrated that various Registry cleaners did not improve boot time [his chosen metric] any more than using Windows built-in Disk cleaner did.
Disk Cleanup - ElevenForumTutorials
my ditty - DiskCleanup is as effective as snake oil (Registry cleaners) - #6 - TenForums

All the best,
Denis

TM21 · Apr 9, 2023

After reading all the hype, several years ago, I did try CCleaner. Twice, and both times it left my OS UN-Bootable.
Well, so much for that. A Ghost Restore saved my bacon both times.
Since then I've tried a few other programs that claimed they could safely clean the registry.
The old AVG Tune Up did a pretty good job, but that was a few years ago.
Back in 98/XP days, there was a program called EasyCleaner, that did a really good job of cleaning out all sorts of junk from both the HD and the registry. It was abandoned, and never revived for the newer OS's. Too bad...I really liked that program.

Today, I only use "WinUtilities" which gets regular updates.
Since the Windows Registry is not just a filing cabinet for data, it's also an active part of the OS, so I like to keep it as clean and efficient as I can.
Can I measure the efficiency of the registry? No, but my very old and incompatible PC runs Win-11 so nice, I must be doing something right. Eh?

Thank y'all for your responses.
Much appreciated,
TechnoMage

Dudeluv · Apr 9, 2023

No, I just reinstall. The longest I have had windows on a PC is 8 months before I wipe the HD or SSD and reinstall.

Wisewiz · Apr 9, 2023

What about your programs? You just set aside a whole day and re-install, re-install, re-install?

FrancoDT · Apr 9, 2023

Wisewiz said:
What about your programs? You just set aside a whole day and re-install, re-install, re-install?

I was gonna say, this is someone that doesn't spend much time customizing and optimizing their operating system, programs, browsers, desktop etc. to their personal taste and best performance. I always try to go the life of the computer without having to do a clean reinstall lol.

TM21 · Apr 9, 2023

I'd be doing that too, (reinstalling more often) if it were not for all the junk removal and reg. cleaning I do to maintain Win-11 is like new condition.
I do so many different things, to tweak and tune an OS, to get it to my liking, it literally takes days.
Sure, I can install Windows and be on the web and sending emails in less than three hours, and then the real work starts!

Every month, I download a new version of Win-11 and install it on a HD somewhere among my 12 computers, but here on my MAIN PC, I just keep this one neat, clean and running in Tip Top shape.

neves · Apr 9, 2023

Once in awhile yes, even manually.

Windows also records your activity using Windows Shell Bags:

"Windows Shell Bags were introduced into Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system and are yet present on all later Windows platform. Shellbags are registry keys that are used to improve user experience and recall user’s preferences whenever needed. The creation of shellbags relies upon the exercises performed by the user.

As a digital forensic investigator, with the help of shellbags, you can prove whether a specific folder was accessed by a particular user or not. You can even check whether the specific folder was created or was available or not. You can also find out whether external directories have been accessed on external devices or not.

For the most part, Shell Bags are intended to hold data about the user’s activities while exploring Windows. This implies that if the user changes icon sizes from large icons to the grid, the settings get updated in Shell Bag instantly. At the point when you open, close, or change the review choice of any folder on your system, either from Windows Explorer or from the Desktop, even by right-clicking or renaming the organizer, a Shellbag record is made or refreshed."

Forensic Investigation: Shellbags - Hacking Articles

In this article, we will be focusing on shellbags and its forensic analysis using shellbag explorer. Shellbags are created to enhance the users’ experience by

www.hackingarticles.in

Tho, you can clean those too - with an app like:

Download - Shellnags AnalyZer + Cleaner

privazer.com

TM21 · Apr 9, 2023

Hmmm! Never heard of those before. That bears looking into.

Just where do those little buggers hide?

Haydon · Apr 9, 2023

Some time ago, I created 80 GB worth of crud by mistake. The humongous amount of crud did not affect performance in any way, and I would never have noticed it, if I did not run Treesize Free for an unrelated reason.

It kind of cured me of my penchant to have a clean machine. Now it's more like 'who cares as long as the crud does not cause any practical negatives' <insert shrug shoulders emoji>

TM21 · Apr 9, 2023

That much superfluous data would surely effect performance, somehow, somewhere, even if you didn't personally notice it. Any scans would take much longer, and any backup would be much larger.
But if you don't do any scans, or backups, then yes, you may be oblivious to it.

It's only because of the quantum leaps in computing technology that we can get by with stuff like that and not have fire and smoke.

My first computer had only 64k of ram. It was a real chore, to write a program that would run in that little bit of ram.
One had to get really inventive with programming, in those days.
Nowadays, with Gigabytes of ram and Terrabytes of disk storage, we squander resources like crazy. I hate it!

The first actual computer that I ever worked on, had Vacuum Tubes in it, by the thousands. And not even one Transistor.
That came later, and I was there, to be trained on that one too.

Today, I'm running Microsoft's latest Operating System on a PC that is, according to MS, too old and too small to even run Win-11. But with good resource management, I have one very sweet running little PC.

Daily, I clean out junk files, and every few days I clean out my registry. Here's the report I got from my last HD Cleanup, using a little Batch File I wrote. I've discussed this batch file in other Threads.

And that's just the junk from a couple of days work. Think what that would be, after several months, or a year!!!
My poor little PC wouldn't even be running, by then.

Haydon · Apr 9, 2023

Dunno, it also affected my feelings about bloatware. Rather than craving a clean install, it's now more like 'uninstall the pesky ones' <insert shrug shoulders emoji' To each his own

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