Looking at speeding up my computer and even after cleaning out the malware, spyware, virus, etc., the computer still runs kind of slow. My next step is to clean out the registry file. Any recommendations out there for a good, safe program to use for this. Retail or Freeware, it doesn't matter.
Comodo Registry Cleaner. I use it along with CCleaner. Each program finds issues the other misses.
jeffw11
Senior Member
posted: Nov. 3, 2009 @ 7:00p
Good info. Thanks everyone. I realize reinstalling is the best option but I have alot of friends who ask me to help speed up their computers so I'm looking for a quick fix until they decide to take the plunge into reinstalling.
There is no cure all for speeding up a computer and repairing or cleaning the registry is the least effective.
Xnarg
Senior Member - 5K
posted: Nov. 3, 2009 @ 8:47p
MajorDarkside said: There is no cure all for speeding up a computer and repairing or cleaning the registry is the least effective.ITA. That's why I said earlier that it scares me when someone says he needs to clean the registry.
That's sort of like saying, "My car is getting poor mileage, I'd better power-wash the engine compartment."
Usually a system is running slowly because there are too many programs running in the background. Or it might be due to malware, or there being too little free disk space, or disk corruption. Cleaning the registry won't fix any of those things and it may make things a LOT worse.
Sometimes it can be something simple, like disabling a few stupid resource-hogs like the MS Office program OSA.EXE which runs in the background but is not necessary.
Reinstalled Windows XP Pro and formatted the 2nd hard drive this spring on my Dell P4 3.2GHz built in 2003, runs very snappy again, best cleanup you can do. Only thing I didn't do was to backup iTunes correctly and almost lost 25GB of music; Pod to PC app fixed that.
jeffw11 said: Looking at speeding up my computer and even after cleaning out the malware, spyware, virus, etc., the computer still runs kind of slow. My next step is to clean out the registry file. Any recommendations out there for a good, safe program to use for this. Retail or Freeware, it doesn't matter.
Thanks.
Try DOS 3.0. A very stable platform that nobody writes viruses for anymore.
jeffw11
Senior Member
posted: Nov. 4, 2009 @ 2:51p
Try DOS 3.0. A very stable platform that nobody writes viruses for anymore.
Thanks for the imput but I think I stay with what I've got. I've used computers since the early '80s so I do know my way around dos. Do I want to go back that direction? No way.
Xnarg
Senior Member - 5K
posted: Nov. 4, 2009 @ 3:09p
jeffw11 said: ...I've used computers since the early '80s..And yet you want to clean the registry as a way to speed up a computer... ?
jeffw11
Senior Member
posted: Nov. 4, 2009 @ 3:40p
Xnarg said: jeffw11 said: ...I've used computers since the early '80s..And yet you want to clean the registry as a way to speed up a computer... ?
Only asking for info here. I seem to get friends and family computers when they are not working correctly. When things look real bad, I don't give them an option but to do a reinstall. No one wants that and it is a real pain but I do know that this is the best solution.
But I've run across computers with malware/spyware/virus problems and when cleaning them up, some non-commercial sites suggest cleaning out the registry. Since I have very little knowledge of the registry, and knowing how important it is, was wondering if there were suggestions.
As I have stated, I agree that a clean install is the way to go. I was only looking for alternatives that were safe to use. And yes, some computer fix-it sites do state that cleaning out the registry file will increase the speed of the computer.
Xnarg
Senior Member - 5K
posted: Nov. 4, 2009 @ 3:55p
jeffw11 said: Xnarg said: jeffw11 said: ...I've used computers since the early '80s..And yet you want to clean the registry as a way to speed up a computer... ?Only asking for info here. I seem to get friends and family computers when they are not working correctly. When things look real bad, I don't give them an option but to do a reinstall. No one wants that and it is a real pain but I do know that this is the best solution.
But I've run across computers with malware/spyware/virus problems and when cleaning them up, some non-commercial sites suggest cleaning out the registry. Since I have very little knowledge of the registry, and knowing how important it is, was wondering if there were suggestions.
As I have stated, I agree that a clean install is the way to go. I was only looking for alternatives that were safe to use. And yes, some computer fix-it sites do state that cleaning out the registry file will increase the speed of the computer.There are plenty more choices than just reinstalling and cleaning the registry. I may clean the registry after solving the underlying problem.
Look into Hijackthis and its many log analysis sites. Have you used that?
jeffw11
Senior Member
posted: Nov. 4, 2009 @ 4:48p
Xnarg said: jeffw11 said: Xnarg said: jeffw11 said: ...I've used computers since the early '80s..And yet you want to clean the registry as a way to speed up a computer... ?Only asking for info here. I seem to get friends and family computers when they are not working correctly. When things look real bad, I don't give them an option but to do a reinstall. No one wants that and it is a real pain but I do know that this is the best solution.
But I've run across computers with malware/spyware/virus problems and when cleaning them up, some non-commercial sites suggest cleaning out the registry. Since I have very little knowledge of the registry, and knowing how important it is, was wondering if there were suggestions.
As I have stated, I agree that a clean install is the way to go. I was only looking for alternatives that were safe to use. And yes, some computer fix-it sites do state that cleaning out the registry file will increase the speed of the computer.There are plenty more choices than just reinstalling and cleaning the registry. I may clean the registry after solving the underlying problem.
Look into Hijackthis and its many log analysis sites. Have you used that?
burgerwars said: Try DOS 3.0. A very stable platform that nobody writes viruses for anymore.Wasn't there some big bug in 3.0 that resulted in a quick release of 3.1?
larrymoencurly said: burgerwars said: Try DOS 3.0. A very stable platform that nobody writes viruses for anymore.Wasn't there some big bug in 3.0 that resulted in a quick release of 3.1?and then 3.11
qcumber98 said: larrymoencurly said: burgerwars said: Try DOS 3.0. A very stable platform that nobody writes viruses for anymore.Wasn't there some big bug in 3.0 that resulted in a quick release of 3.1?and then 3.11
jeffw11 said: And yes, some computer fix-it sites do state that cleaning out the registry file will increase the speed of the computer.
Snake oil. Seriously. The registry contains a brazilian items. Cleaning out a few hundred does nothing. Nothing. Do I do it? Yes, but not expecting to see an increase in computer speed.
MajorDarkside said: qcumber98 said: larrymoencurly said: burgerwars said: Try DOS 3.0. A very stable platform that nobody writes viruses for anymore.Wasn't there some big bug in 3.0 that resulted in a quick release of 3.1?and then 3.11
Only if you were in a workgroup.
That were Windows releases, not DOS.
We still use DOS 3 and 386DX processors on the production tools I support at work. It's interesting to open a drawer and see basically a desktop PC from 1990 in there.
Put me in with the "clean install" crowd. CCleaner is a awesome program, but if you don't know what you are doing, you'll just be doing a clean install anyway.
someone said: We still use DOS 3 and 386DX processors on the production tools I support at work. It's interesting to open a drawer and see basically a desktop PC from 1990 in there.
Got a 386 still at home with DOS 5.0 (I upgraded it from 4.01), but it hasn't been turned on in years. The thing always booted immediately, ready to start PC Write or anything else I can throw at it. If there was a web browser that could run on DOS, I might still be using it. I'm hoping FatWallet would mirror on a Gopher site one day. That way I can drop my expensive internet connection, start up my 386 again, and go back to living the good life with no more constant Windows updates that eventually slow PCs down until they just stop.
Pour baking soda and water into the machine, it'll be clean in no time!
Xnarg
Senior Member - 5K
posted: Nov. 5, 2009 @ 12:21p
katzmandoo said: Pour baking soda and water into the machine, it'll be clean in no time!Oops, I thought it was supposed to be vinegar! Next time I'll try your method.
Xnarg said: katzmandoo said: Pour baking soda and water into the machine, it'll be clean in no time!Oops, I thought it was supposed to be vinegar! Next time I'll try your method.
no that's for salad dressing
Skipping 3 Messages...
jeffw11
Senior Member
posted: Nov. 5, 2009 @ 12:55p
ppatin said: jeffw11 said: Try DOS 3.0. A very stable platform that nobody writes viruses for anymore.
Thanks for the imput but I think I stay with what I've got. I've used computers since the early '80s so I do know my way around dos. Do I want to go back that direction? No way.
Ah, the days of having a tall stack of boot disks...
And the days when adding my 1st 5.25 floppy drive to my Atari 1200XL system cost me $400. My 1st 30MB harddrive was another $400. The hobby wasn't cheap but it was alot of fun.
Disclaimer: By providing links to other sites, FatWallet.com does not guarantee, approve or endorse the information or products available at these sites, nor does a link indicate any association with or endorsement by the linked site to FatWallet.com.
Members of our community may attach files to a post in accordance with the User Agreement. FatWallet is not responsible for the content, accuracy, completeness or validity of any information contained in any attached file. Files have *not* been scanned for viruses. Be especially wary of Excel files which may contain malicious content.