subject: Do Experts Believe Registry Cleaners Truly Necessary? [print this page] Differing opinions exist about the need for using registry cleaners to boost the performance of computers. While some reviews state they are a necessary program for optimizing performance and speedy startup, others state that they do more damage than good. These naysayers state that they are not just unnecessary, but can cause more harm than good.
Registry cleaners basically scan your computers registry for entries like malaware, invalid or unused files, DLL files that may not be of use, and corrupted or fragmented files. They then delete these files, and the theory then is that your computer will run faster and will have less problems. However, the questions arise - is all this cleaning really necessary? Are you given the option of manually removing the files that are listed as unnecessary and harmful?
With one reviewer even calling registry cleaners 'snake oil, ' one has to wonder about using them. There are some experts who insist that using a cleaner is dangerous. Because it can isolate or remove files that are actually needed to run the operating system or programs, it can cause crashes or program malfunctions. The best result they can foresee is the possible gain of a bit of space, and perhaps a little quicker start up. However, the possible disk space gain is quite irrelevant with the huge disk space on our modern computers.
Many registry cleaners offer a free trial by way of a system scan. This is to induce you to buy the program to clean up the hundreds of errors found. Once you purchase it and run it, you just may find your computer speedier. However, you also may find it functions even less optimally that before. The program may have removed some necessary and critical entries, causing your new problems. In any case, you may even notice it runs slower, because the registry deletions have fragmented it.
Most of the registry cleaners on the market claim that you will need to run the program periodically in order to keep your registry clean and free of errors. However, just because there are a few orphaned entries and files, they do not affect your computer's speed or performance in a noticeable way. It may even mark some 'good' files as bad, and schedule them for removal.
Manual repair or alteration of your registry is a much safer way to go, if you are experiencing a problem. If your computer skills are not up to the task, then go hire an expert, or just leave it. With scant real data behind their claims, you should not trust software programs reviews.
Instead of using registry cleaners, start with a clean system. Install only licensed programs, and keep the original programs so you can reinstall them if necessary. Avoid installing trial software and uninstalling it. Back up your data, especially the critical stuff. Keep your anti-virus and malaware systems up to date and running. Run disk cleanup and defragment your system on a regular basis. By taking these basic steps, you will never need to think about cleaning out your registry.
