"Bruce Chambers" <bchambers@cable0ne.n3t> wrote in message
news:%235Fo9AzEIHA.4712@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> goorambatman wrote:
>> Hi there, I have been an XP user and with that I have successfully used
>> PC Tools Registry Mechanic and Webroot Window Washer for maintaining my
>> system.
>>
>> Window washer is supposed to be fully Vista compatible and Registry
>> Mechanic is supposed to offer basic Vista support.
>>
>> Does any one recommend any other system maintaining software for Vista?
>>
>> Im wondering if there is good registry tool or system checking tool out
>> there to help heep my PC running fine?
>
>
> There's no such thing as a "good" registry cleaner for any OS. About
> the best that can be said for any of them is that they don't render the
> computer unusable each time you use one.
>
> Why do you think you'd ever need to clean your registry? What specific
> *problems* are you actually experiencing (not some program's bogus listing
> of imaginary problems) that you think can be fixed by using a registry
> cleaner?
>
> If you do have a problem that is rooted in the registry, it would be
> far better to simply edit (after backing up, of course) only the specific
> key(s) and/or value(s) that are causing the problem. After all, why use a
> chainsaw when a scalpel will do the job? Additionally, the manually
> changing of one or two registry entries is far less likely to have the
> dire consequences of allowing an automated product to make multiple
> changes simultaneously. The only thing needed to safely clean your
> registry is knowledge and Regedit.exe.
>
> The registry contains all of the operating system's "knowledge" of the
> computer's hardware devices, installed software, the location of the
> device drivers, and the computer's configuration. A misstep in the
> registry can have severe consequences. One should not even turning loose
> a poorly understood automated "cleaner," unless he is fully confident that
> he knows *exactly* what is going to happen as a result of each and every
> change.
>
> Having repeatedly seen the results of inexperienced people using
> automated registry "cleaners," I can only advise all but the most
> experienced computer technicians (and/or hobbyists) to avoid them all.
> Experience has shown me that such tools simply are not safe in the hands
> of the inexperienced user. If you lack the knowledge and experience to
> maintain your registry by yourself, then you also lack the knowledge and
> experience to safely configure and use any automated registry cleaner, no
> matter how safe they claim to be.
>
> More importantly, no one has ever demonstrated that the use of an
> automated registry cleaner, particularly by an untrained, inexperienced
> computer user, does any real good, whatsoever. There's certainly been no
> empirical evidence offered to demonstrate that the use of such products to
> "clean" WinXP's registry improves a computer's performance or stability.
> Given the potential for harm, it's just not worth the risk.
>
> Granted, most registry "cleaners" won't cause problems each and every
> time they're used, but the potential for harm is always there. And, since
> no registry "cleaner" has ever been demonstrated to do any good (think of
> them like treating the flu with chicken soup - there's no real medicinal
> value, but it sometimes provides a warming placebo effect), I always tell
> people that the risks far out-weigh the non-existent benefits.
>
> I will concede that a good registry *scanning* tool, in the hands of
> an experienced and knowledgeable technician or hobbyist can be a useful
> time-saving diagnostic tool, as long as it's not allowed to make any
> changes automatically. But I really don't think that there are any
> registry cleaners that are truly safe for the general public to use.
> Experience has proven just the opposite: such tools simply are not safe in
> the hands of the inexperienced user.
>
> For other cleaning and maintenance, Vista's built-in tools are more than
> sufficient.
>
>
> --
>
> Bruce Chambers
>
> Help us help you:
> http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
> They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
> safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin
>
> Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand
> Russell
>
> The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
> killed a great many philosophers.
> ~ Denis Diderot

That's some real good advice Bruce but are you taking into account that most
of the average users have NO idea of the ramifications of incorrectly
"editing the registry". Even with the backup you suggest, many users would
have no idea of how to restore it. Do YOU know what you're doing?