Registry mechanic

[chrisbard]

OK, some of us know that using Norton System Tools is not the best thing to do. Using registry fix or registry mechanic tools is also not smart. Somehow these progs alter the reg in a manner that you have to reinstall windows. My question is this. Since you pay good money on NST or some other PCTools crap why this utilities (mainly reg tools) work not in a fashion that will make anyone who use them happy? I have no reg repair tools for many years now and I can tell you I am a lot happier. So what is wrong with these reg tools? Is the fact that they not tracking correctly what program is still there on my comp or what???

[Gizmo]

Any tool that allows you to mess with the registry has a lot of potential for bad karma. Any tool that automates ripping up the registry without specific and detailed knowledge of what is going on is just plain stupid, IMHO, an that is exactly what a lot of these 'registry fixer' tools do.

[dsio]

I would make an exception for "Regcleaner" which is a small app, particularly good for painlessly removing startup registry keys for useless software, removing uninstall entries, and generally removing simple stuff. Tells you exactly what its doing and gives backup options as well, but nothing too tricky.

[noob]

Most tools that are automatic look for time of install, some look for time Windows, or just the app accessed them, if they get it wrong, you need to either reinstall Windows or the app. Only use the ones that ask you what to delete, and only delete stuff that you know is safe.
Some keys for apps, only windows looks at, some only apps look at, and some keys for windows only apps look at, some only windows look at (obviously).
If you're not sure, don't delete. It can be damn confusing, like only windows can be.

EDIT: regcleaner is good, it basically checks what is in the registry against what is currently installed, and goes from there. Its about all you want anything like that to do.

[chrisbard]

Thanks, I gave up using them a long time ago and I am happy with the way it turned out. Win is more pleasant without any regtools. I didn't use word "stable", but I havent seen a bsod in a good and long time. Hope will remain that way !

[Chesso]

I usually edit the registry manually as i mostly know what should and shouldn't be there.

[chrisbard]

Originally Posted by Chesso

I usually edit the registry manually as i mostly know what should and shouldn't be there.

That is time consuming even if you know what is not suppose to be there. That's why if a program would have done it your way, imagine how faster would have been and how much time you would have gain. I can do what you said but, heck, the people are paying money for these programs and they are not working in a safe way. Those ppl many times, after using them, bug the seller saying that the PC they sell is crap....

[noob]

Either that or ring MS.

We get so many people that have done stupid things.

"My computer's not working"

Cause - either: downloading mp3's, looking for cheats, or kazaar, with no antivirus. Or using a reg cleaner. And third main cause, unwillingness to learn, after they have fiddled expecting it to stay the same.

[dsio]

Originally Posted by noob

Either that or ring MS.

We get so many people that have done stupid things.

"My computer's not working"

Cause - either: downloading mp3's, looking for cheats, or kazaar, with no antivirus. Or using a reg cleaner. And third main cause, unwillingness to learn, after they have fiddled expecting it to stay the same.

It takes a very special person to do what you do for a living. Just make sure you get out of it one day before you hang yourself How often do you get people complaining about their pirate copy of XP not updating correctly lol.

[Chesso]

Yeah i don't clean out my registry often suppose i'll get round to making a program to do it for me eventually and atleast i'll know exactly what it's doing.

[noob]

Originally Posted by dsio

It takes a very special person to do what you do for a living. Just make sure you get out of it one day before you hang yourself How often do you get people complaining about their pirate copy of XP not updating correctly lol.

Only while I can't get a job in electronics design, At uni doing electrotech now, so will definately get out asap!!

Not many, I think it's because most of those that know where to get it, know how to use it, and those copies update anyway. Also MS will allow critical updates on pirated copies.

The worst people are those who refuse to follow simple instructions, or those I have to spend 5min explaining how to 'right click'.

On the other side, I had a 89 yr old guy ring up for some product information, he wanted to know:
Whas his sidewinder pro the latest, and was MS flight sim the latest. Also wanted to know when was the next going to be released.
His rig (I'm really jealous):
AMD 64 x2 4800+
EPOX EP-9NPA+SLi
2x GeForce 7800 SLi mode
2GB OCZ EL DDR PC-4800 Platinum Elite Edition
4x 400GB 16MB Cache Western digital RAID 0+1
Audigy 4 Pro
24inch Viewsonic VP series LCD monitor
Sony surround sound amp and speakers
Watercooled
I was writing as fast as I could and almost couldn't keep up as he rattled off specs!

But he definately is in the minority!

Maybe the funniest was the lady who rang in a panic regarding something wrong with her computer. She was doing a virus scan and something happened, Her screen went blank, with the Windows logo flying around it.

And the worst, was the guy who wouldn't follow instructions, told me you don't do it that way, his way is better, told me Windows XP is the worst program ever (wrong, its Me), then continously swore at me, and told me I was an imbicile, and when I asked him not to use foul language, he hung up, later rang back and complained about me to a supervisor.
His problem: An error message
"Windows 98 has finished installing updates, To complete the update process Windows needs the installation media. Please insert the CD labelled "Windows 98" into the CDROM and then click 'OK'"
He didn't even have XP!

[Chesso]

LMAO! Sounds like you get alot of impatient idiots, i prefer to sort thing's out on my own unless i end up with no result then i ask questions(with detailed description).

I give alot of help with general pc use and thing's programming in vb, delphi etc and sometimes i get really stupid questions or they don't even attempt to find an answer for themselves, so i simply reply(google it).

I actually had someone ask me what google is once......i found that pretty funny.