Removing orphaned registry entries

[Santander]

when we remove old registry entries with Registry Editor, and key contains a
few subfolders, which contains also subfolders,etc - should we expand the
listing and remove each subfolder separately, one by one, or we can just
remove main folder(without expanding the listing)?

S.

[glee]

"Santander" > wrote in message
...
> when we remove old registry entries with Registry Editor, and key contains a
> few subfolders, which contains also subfolders,etc - should we expand the
> listing and remove each subfolder separately, one by one, or we can just
> remove main folder(without expanding the listing)?

* They are not sub-folders (though the icon looks like a folder icon), they are
sub-keys.

* Removing a Registry key also removes all its sub-keys, so there is nothing gained
from expanding and removing the sub-keys separately.

* Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and sometimes
harmful.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
http://dts-l.net/
http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm

[glee]

"Santander" > wrote in message
...
> when we remove old registry entries with Registry Editor, and key contains a
> few subfolders, which contains also subfolders,etc - should we expand the
> listing and remove each subfolder separately, one by one, or we can just
> remove main folder(without expanding the listing)?

* They are not sub-folders (though the icon looks like a folder icon), they are
sub-keys.

* Removing a Registry key also removes all its sub-keys, so there is nothing gained
from expanding and removing the sub-keys separately.

* Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and sometimes
harmful.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
http://dts-l.net/
http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm

[Santander]

Is it harmful only when key may be used by shared resources?

Does it make sence run SCANREG /OPT /FIX periodically?

S.


"glee" > wrote in message
...
> "Santander" > wrote in message
> ...
>> when we remove old registry entries with Registry Editor, and key
>> contains a
>> few subfolders, which contains also subfolders,etc - should we expand the
>> listing and remove each subfolder separately, one by one, or we can just
>> remove main folder(without expanding the listing)?
>
> * They are not sub-folders (though the icon looks like a folder icon),
> they are sub-keys.
>
> * Removing a Registry key also removes all its sub-keys, so there is
> nothing gained from expanding and removing the sub-keys separately.
>
> * Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and
> sometimes harmful.
> --
> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
> http://dts-l.net/
> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>

[Santander]

Is it harmful only when key may be used by shared resources?

Does it make sence run SCANREG /OPT /FIX periodically?

S.


"glee" > wrote in message
...
> "Santander" > wrote in message
> ...
>> when we remove old registry entries with Registry Editor, and key
>> contains a
>> few subfolders, which contains also subfolders,etc - should we expand the
>> listing and remove each subfolder separately, one by one, or we can just
>> remove main folder(without expanding the listing)?
>
> * They are not sub-folders (though the icon looks like a folder icon),
> they are sub-keys.
>
> * Removing a Registry key also removes all its sub-keys, so there is
> nothing gained from expanding and removing the sub-keys separately.
>
> * Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and
> sometimes harmful.
> --
> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
> http://dts-l.net/
> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>

[glee]

"Santander" > wrote in message
...
> Is it harmful only when key may be used by shared resources?

There are a LOT of Registry keys and sub-keys. Some are strictly related to one
program or to one file type or group of file types. Others affect various portions
of the operating system, still others affect a number of different programs and/or
functions. Some keys actually don't seem to do anything or are redundant.

Unless you need to remove entries made by a particular program in order to
completely uninstall that program, there is little point or reason in just removing
entries that *appear* unneeded. I don't recommend it or registry "cleaners". The
best way I found to ensure clean uninstalls of programs is to monitor the
installation in order to record all file system and Registry changes.


> Does it make sence run SCANREG /OPT /FIX periodically?

In my opinion, yes. That probably is more useful than so-called "cleaning".

--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
http://dts-l.net/
http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm

>
>
> "glee" > wrote in message
> ...
>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> when we remove old registry entries with Registry Editor, and key contains a
>>> few subfolders, which contains also subfolders,etc - should we expand the
>>> listing and remove each subfolder separately, one by one, or we can just
>>> remove main folder(without expanding the listing)?
>>
>> * They are not sub-folders (though the icon looks like a folder icon), they are
>> sub-keys.
>>
>> * Removing a Registry key also removes all its sub-keys, so there is nothing
>> gained from expanding and removing the sub-keys separately.
>>
>> * Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and sometimes
>> harmful.
>> --
>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>> http://dts-l.net/
>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>
>

[glee]

"Santander" > wrote in message
...
> Is it harmful only when key may be used by shared resources?

There are a LOT of Registry keys and sub-keys. Some are strictly related to one
program or to one file type or group of file types. Others affect various portions
of the operating system, still others affect a number of different programs and/or
functions. Some keys actually don't seem to do anything or are redundant.

Unless you need to remove entries made by a particular program in order to
completely uninstall that program, there is little point or reason in just removing
entries that *appear* unneeded. I don't recommend it or registry "cleaners". The
best way I found to ensure clean uninstalls of programs is to monitor the
installation in order to record all file system and Registry changes.


> Does it make sence run SCANREG /OPT /FIX periodically?

In my opinion, yes. That probably is more useful than so-called "cleaning".

--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
http://dts-l.net/
http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm

>
>
> "glee" > wrote in message
> ...
>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> when we remove old registry entries with Registry Editor, and key contains a
>>> few subfolders, which contains also subfolders,etc - should we expand the
>>> listing and remove each subfolder separately, one by one, or we can just
>>> remove main folder(without expanding the listing)?
>>
>> * They are not sub-folders (though the icon looks like a folder icon), they are
>> sub-keys.
>>
>> * Removing a Registry key also removes all its sub-keys, so there is nothing
>> gained from expanding and removing the sub-keys separately.
>>
>> * Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and sometimes
>> harmful.
>> --
>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>> http://dts-l.net/
>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>
>

[Santander]

Program has been uninstalled, but left few registry keys, in particlular in
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ key, REG_SZ (value not set)
and
in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ key and few sub-keys, REG_SZ, have values

so there is a reson to remove it.

what's prferable way: scanreg /opt /fix or scanreg /fix /opt ?

S.


"glee" > wrote in message
...
> "Santander" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Is it harmful only when key may be used by shared resources?
>
> There are a LOT of Registry keys and sub-keys. Some are strictly related
> to one program or to one file type or group of file types. Others affect
> various portions of the operating system, still others affect a number of
> different programs and/or functions. Some keys actually don't seem to do
> anything or are redundant.
>
> Unless you need to remove entries made by a particular program in order to
> completely uninstall that program, there is little point or reason in just
> removing entries that *appear* unneeded. I don't recommend it or registry
> "cleaners". The best way I found to ensure clean uninstalls of programs
> is to monitor the installation in order to record all file system and
> Registry changes.
>
>
>> Does it make sence run SCANREG /OPT /FIX periodically?
>
> In my opinion, yes. That probably is more useful than so-called
> "cleaning".
>
> --
> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
> http://dts-l.net/
> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>
>>
>>
>> "glee" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> when we remove old registry entries with Registry Editor, and key
>>>> contains a
>>>> few subfolders, which contains also subfolders,etc - should we expand
>>>> the
>>>> listing and remove each subfolder separately, one by one, or we can
>>>> just
>>>> remove main folder(without expanding the listing)?
>>>
>>> * They are not sub-folders (though the icon looks like a folder icon),
>>> they are sub-keys.
>>>
>>> * Removing a Registry key also removes all its sub-keys, so there is
>>> nothing gained from expanding and removing the sub-keys separately.
>>>
>>> * Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and
>>> sometimes harmful.
>>> --
>>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>>> http://dts-l.net/
>>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>>
>>
>

[Santander]

Program has been uninstalled, but left few registry keys, in particlular in
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ key, REG_SZ (value not set)
and
in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ key and few sub-keys, REG_SZ, have values

so there is a reson to remove it.

what's prferable way: scanreg /opt /fix or scanreg /fix /opt ?

S.


"glee" > wrote in message
...
> "Santander" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Is it harmful only when key may be used by shared resources?
>
> There are a LOT of Registry keys and sub-keys. Some are strictly related
> to one program or to one file type or group of file types. Others affect
> various portions of the operating system, still others affect a number of
> different programs and/or functions. Some keys actually don't seem to do
> anything or are redundant.
>
> Unless you need to remove entries made by a particular program in order to
> completely uninstall that program, there is little point or reason in just
> removing entries that *appear* unneeded. I don't recommend it or registry
> "cleaners". The best way I found to ensure clean uninstalls of programs
> is to monitor the installation in order to record all file system and
> Registry changes.
>
>
>> Does it make sence run SCANREG /OPT /FIX periodically?
>
> In my opinion, yes. That probably is more useful than so-called
> "cleaning".
>
> --
> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
> http://dts-l.net/
> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>
>>
>>
>> "glee" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> when we remove old registry entries with Registry Editor, and key
>>>> contains a
>>>> few subfolders, which contains also subfolders,etc - should we expand
>>>> the
>>>> listing and remove each subfolder separately, one by one, or we can
>>>> just
>>>> remove main folder(without expanding the listing)?
>>>
>>> * They are not sub-folders (though the icon looks like a folder icon),
>>> they are sub-keys.
>>>
>>> * Removing a Registry key also removes all its sub-keys, so there is
>>> nothing gained from expanding and removing the sub-keys separately.
>>>
>>> * Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and
>>> sometimes harmful.
>>> --
>>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>>> http://dts-l.net/
>>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>>
>>
>

[glee]

The procedure that was recommended by a group of MVPs and MS support folks after a
long run of testing, is to run:
scanreg /opt /fix

It is suggested to run it 3 times in succession, as it will sometimes be able to do
more on the second and third try.

Obviously, this will not remove the keys you mentioned from the uninstalled
program...that you must do manually.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
http://dts-l.net/
http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm


"Santander" > wrote in message
...
> Program has been uninstalled, but left few registry keys, in particlular in
> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ key, REG_SZ (value not set)
> and
> in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ key and few sub-keys, REG_SZ, have values
>
> so there is a reson to remove it.
>
> what's prferable way: scanreg /opt /fix or scanreg /fix /opt ?
>
> S.
>
>
> "glee" > wrote in message
> ...
>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Is it harmful only when key may be used by shared resources?
>>
>> There are a LOT of Registry keys and sub-keys. Some are strictly related to one
>> program or to one file type or group of file types. Others affect various
>> portions of the operating system, still others affect a number of different
>> programs and/or functions. Some keys actually don't seem to do anything or are
>> redundant.
>>
>> Unless you need to remove entries made by a particular program in order to
>> completely uninstall that program, there is little point or reason in just
>> removing entries that *appear* unneeded. I don't recommend it or registry
>> "cleaners". The best way I found to ensure clean uninstalls of programs is to
>> monitor the installation in order to record all file system and Registry changes.
>>
>>
>>> Does it make sence run SCANREG /OPT /FIX periodically?
>>
>> In my opinion, yes. That probably is more useful than so-called "cleaning".
>>
>> --
>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>> http://dts-l.net/
>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "glee" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>> when we remove old registry entries with Registry Editor, and key contains a
>>>>> few subfolders, which contains also subfolders,etc - should we expand the
>>>>> listing and remove each subfolder separately, one by one, or we can just
>>>>> remove main folder(without expanding the listing)?
>>>>
>>>> * They are not sub-folders (though the icon looks like a folder icon), they are
>>>> sub-keys.
>>>>
>>>> * Removing a Registry key also removes all its sub-keys, so there is nothing
>>>> gained from expanding and removing the sub-keys separately.
>>>>
>>>> * Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and sometimes
>>>> harmful.
>>>> --
>>>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>>>> http://dts-l.net/
>>>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>>>
>>>
>>
>

[glee]

The procedure that was recommended by a group of MVPs and MS support folks after a
long run of testing, is to run:
scanreg /opt /fix

It is suggested to run it 3 times in succession, as it will sometimes be able to do
more on the second and third try.

Obviously, this will not remove the keys you mentioned from the uninstalled
program...that you must do manually.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
http://dts-l.net/
http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm


"Santander" > wrote in message
...
> Program has been uninstalled, but left few registry keys, in particlular in
> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ key, REG_SZ (value not set)
> and
> in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ key and few sub-keys, REG_SZ, have values
>
> so there is a reson to remove it.
>
> what's prferable way: scanreg /opt /fix or scanreg /fix /opt ?
>
> S.
>
>
> "glee" > wrote in message
> ...
>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Is it harmful only when key may be used by shared resources?
>>
>> There are a LOT of Registry keys and sub-keys. Some are strictly related to one
>> program or to one file type or group of file types. Others affect various
>> portions of the operating system, still others affect a number of different
>> programs and/or functions. Some keys actually don't seem to do anything or are
>> redundant.
>>
>> Unless you need to remove entries made by a particular program in order to
>> completely uninstall that program, there is little point or reason in just
>> removing entries that *appear* unneeded. I don't recommend it or registry
>> "cleaners". The best way I found to ensure clean uninstalls of programs is to
>> monitor the installation in order to record all file system and Registry changes.
>>
>>
>>> Does it make sence run SCANREG /OPT /FIX periodically?
>>
>> In my opinion, yes. That probably is more useful than so-called "cleaning".
>>
>> --
>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>> http://dts-l.net/
>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "glee" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>> when we remove old registry entries with Registry Editor, and key contains a
>>>>> few subfolders, which contains also subfolders,etc - should we expand the
>>>>> listing and remove each subfolder separately, one by one, or we can just
>>>>> remove main folder(without expanding the listing)?
>>>>
>>>> * They are not sub-folders (though the icon looks like a folder icon), they are
>>>> sub-keys.
>>>>
>>>> * Removing a Registry key also removes all its sub-keys, so there is nothing
>>>> gained from expanding and removing the sub-keys separately.
>>>>
>>>> * Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and sometimes
>>>> harmful.
>>>> --
>>>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>>>> http://dts-l.net/
>>>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>>>
>>>
>>
>

[Santander]

scanreg /opt /fix
It need be run from DOS or from safe mode?

S.
------

"glee" > wrote in message
...
> The procedure that was recommended by a group of MVPs and MS support folks
> after a long run of testing, is to run:
> scanreg /opt /fix
>
> It is suggested to run it 3 times in succession, as it will sometimes be
> able to do more on the second and third try.
>
> Obviously, this will not remove the keys you mentioned from the
> uninstalled program...that you must do manually.
> --
> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
> http://dts-l.net/
> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>
>
> "Santander" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Program has been uninstalled, but left few registry keys, in particlular
>> in
>> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ key, REG_SZ (value not set)
>> and
>> in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ key and few sub-keys, REG_SZ, have
>> values
>>
>> so there is a reson to remove it.
>>
>> what's prferable way: scanreg /opt /fix or scanreg /fix /opt ?
>>
>> S.
>>
>>
>> "glee" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> Is it harmful only when key may be used by shared resources?
>>>
>>> There are a LOT of Registry keys and sub-keys. Some are strictly
>>> related to one program or to one file type or group of file types.
>>> Others affect various portions of the operating system, still others
>>> affect a number of different programs and/or functions. Some keys
>>> actually don't seem to do anything or are redundant.
>>>
>>> Unless you need to remove entries made by a particular program in order
>>> to completely uninstall that program, there is little point or reason in
>>> just removing entries that *appear* unneeded. I don't recommend it or
>>> registry "cleaners". The best way I found to ensure clean uninstalls of
>>> programs is to monitor the installation in order to record all file
>>> system and Registry changes.
>>>
>>>
>>>> Does it make sence run SCANREG /OPT /FIX periodically?
>>>
>>> In my opinion, yes. That probably is more useful than so-called
>>> "cleaning".
>>>
>>> --
>>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>>> http://dts-l.net/
>>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "glee" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>>>>> ...
>>>>>> when we remove old registry entries with Registry Editor, and key
>>>>>> contains a
>>>>>> few subfolders, which contains also subfolders,etc - should we expand
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> listing and remove each subfolder separately, one by one, or we can
>>>>>> just
>>>>>> remove main folder(without expanding the listing)?
>>>>>
>>>>> * They are not sub-folders (though the icon looks like a folder icon),
>>>>> they are sub-keys.
>>>>>
>>>>> * Removing a Registry key also removes all its sub-keys, so there is
>>>>> nothing gained from expanding and removing the sub-keys separately.
>>>>>
>>>>> * Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and
>>>>> sometimes harmful.
>>>>> --
>>>>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>>>>> http://dts-l.net/
>>>>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>

[Santander]

scanreg /opt /fix
It need be run from DOS or from safe mode?

S.
------

"glee" > wrote in message
...
> The procedure that was recommended by a group of MVPs and MS support folks
> after a long run of testing, is to run:
> scanreg /opt /fix
>
> It is suggested to run it 3 times in succession, as it will sometimes be
> able to do more on the second and third try.
>
> Obviously, this will not remove the keys you mentioned from the
> uninstalled program...that you must do manually.
> --
> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
> http://dts-l.net/
> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>
>
> "Santander" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Program has been uninstalled, but left few registry keys, in particlular
>> in
>> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ key, REG_SZ (value not set)
>> and
>> in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ key and few sub-keys, REG_SZ, have
>> values
>>
>> so there is a reson to remove it.
>>
>> what's prferable way: scanreg /opt /fix or scanreg /fix /opt ?
>>
>> S.
>>
>>
>> "glee" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> Is it harmful only when key may be used by shared resources?
>>>
>>> There are a LOT of Registry keys and sub-keys. Some are strictly
>>> related to one program or to one file type or group of file types.
>>> Others affect various portions of the operating system, still others
>>> affect a number of different programs and/or functions. Some keys
>>> actually don't seem to do anything or are redundant.
>>>
>>> Unless you need to remove entries made by a particular program in order
>>> to completely uninstall that program, there is little point or reason in
>>> just removing entries that *appear* unneeded. I don't recommend it or
>>> registry "cleaners". The best way I found to ensure clean uninstalls of
>>> programs is to monitor the installation in order to record all file
>>> system and Registry changes.
>>>
>>>
>>>> Does it make sence run SCANREG /OPT /FIX periodically?
>>>
>>> In my opinion, yes. That probably is more useful than so-called
>>> "cleaning".
>>>
>>> --
>>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>>> http://dts-l.net/
>>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "glee" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>>>>> ...
>>>>>> when we remove old registry entries with Registry Editor, and key
>>>>>> contains a
>>>>>> few subfolders, which contains also subfolders,etc - should we expand
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> listing and remove each subfolder separately, one by one, or we can
>>>>>> just
>>>>>> remove main folder(without expanding the listing)?
>>>>>
>>>>> * They are not sub-folders (though the icon looks like a folder icon),
>>>>> they are sub-keys.
>>>>>
>>>>> * Removing a Registry key also removes all its sub-keys, so there is
>>>>> nothing gained from expanding and removing the sub-keys separately.
>>>>>
>>>>> * Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and
>>>>> sometimes harmful.
>>>>> --
>>>>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>>>>> http://dts-l.net/
>>>>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>

[Bill in Co.]

From DOS. Safe mode is not needed.

Santander wrote:
> scanreg /opt /fix
> It need be run from DOS or from safe mode?
>
> S.
> ------
>
> "glee" > wrote in message
> ...
>> The procedure that was recommended by a group of MVPs and MS support
>> folks
>> after a long run of testing, is to run:
>> scanreg /opt /fix
>>
>> It is suggested to run it 3 times in succession, as it will sometimes be
>> able to do more on the second and third try.
>>
>> Obviously, this will not remove the keys you mentioned from the
>> uninstalled program...that you must do manually.
>> --
>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>> http://dts-l.net/
>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>
>>
>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Program has been uninstalled, but left few registry keys, in particlular
>>> in
>>> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ key, REG_SZ (value not set)
>>> and
>>> in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ key and few sub-keys, REG_SZ, have
>>> values
>>>
>>> so there is a reson to remove it.
>>>
>>> what's prferable way: scanreg /opt /fix or scanreg /fix /opt ?
>>>
>>> S.
>>>
>>>
>>> "glee" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>> Is it harmful only when key may be used by shared resources?
>>>>
>>>> There are a LOT of Registry keys and sub-keys. Some are strictly
>>>> related to one program or to one file type or group of file types.
>>>> Others affect various portions of the operating system, still others
>>>> affect a number of different programs and/or functions. Some keys
>>>> actually don't seem to do anything or are redundant.
>>>>
>>>> Unless you need to remove entries made by a particular program in order
>>>> to completely uninstall that program, there is little point or reason
>>>> in
>>>> just removing entries that *appear* unneeded. I don't recommend it or
>>>> registry "cleaners". The best way I found to ensure clean uninstalls
>>>> of
>>>> programs is to monitor the installation in order to record all file
>>>> system and Registry changes.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Does it make sence run SCANREG /OPT /FIX periodically?
>>>>
>>>> In my opinion, yes. That probably is more useful than so-called
>>>> "cleaning".
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>>>> http://dts-l.net/
>>>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "glee" > wrote in message
>>>>> ...
>>>>>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>>>>>> ...
>>>>>>> when we remove old registry entries with Registry Editor, and key
>>>>>>> contains a
>>>>>>> few subfolders, which contains also subfolders,etc - should we
>>>>>>> expand
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> listing and remove each subfolder separately, one by one, or we can
>>>>>>> just
>>>>>>> remove main folder(without expanding the listing)?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> * They are not sub-folders (though the icon looks like a folder
>>>>>> icon),
>>>>>> they are sub-keys.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> * Removing a Registry key also removes all its sub-keys, so there is
>>>>>> nothing gained from expanding and removing the sub-keys separately.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> * Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and
>>>>>> sometimes harmful.
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>>>>>> http://dts-l.net/
>>>>>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm

[Bill in Co.]

From DOS. Safe mode is not needed.

Santander wrote:
> scanreg /opt /fix
> It need be run from DOS or from safe mode?
>
> S.
> ------
>
> "glee" > wrote in message
> ...
>> The procedure that was recommended by a group of MVPs and MS support
>> folks
>> after a long run of testing, is to run:
>> scanreg /opt /fix
>>
>> It is suggested to run it 3 times in succession, as it will sometimes be
>> able to do more on the second and third try.
>>
>> Obviously, this will not remove the keys you mentioned from the
>> uninstalled program...that you must do manually.
>> --
>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>> http://dts-l.net/
>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>
>>
>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Program has been uninstalled, but left few registry keys, in particlular
>>> in
>>> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ key, REG_SZ (value not set)
>>> and
>>> in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ key and few sub-keys, REG_SZ, have
>>> values
>>>
>>> so there is a reson to remove it.
>>>
>>> what's prferable way: scanreg /opt /fix or scanreg /fix /opt ?
>>>
>>> S.
>>>
>>>
>>> "glee" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>> Is it harmful only when key may be used by shared resources?
>>>>
>>>> There are a LOT of Registry keys and sub-keys. Some are strictly
>>>> related to one program or to one file type or group of file types.
>>>> Others affect various portions of the operating system, still others
>>>> affect a number of different programs and/or functions. Some keys
>>>> actually don't seem to do anything or are redundant.
>>>>
>>>> Unless you need to remove entries made by a particular program in order
>>>> to completely uninstall that program, there is little point or reason
>>>> in
>>>> just removing entries that *appear* unneeded. I don't recommend it or
>>>> registry "cleaners". The best way I found to ensure clean uninstalls
>>>> of
>>>> programs is to monitor the installation in order to record all file
>>>> system and Registry changes.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Does it make sence run SCANREG /OPT /FIX periodically?
>>>>
>>>> In my opinion, yes. That probably is more useful than so-called
>>>> "cleaning".
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>>>> http://dts-l.net/
>>>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "glee" > wrote in message
>>>>> ...
>>>>>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>>>>>> ...
>>>>>>> when we remove old registry entries with Registry Editor, and key
>>>>>>> contains a
>>>>>>> few subfolders, which contains also subfolders,etc - should we
>>>>>>> expand
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> listing and remove each subfolder separately, one by one, or we can
>>>>>>> just
>>>>>>> remove main folder(without expanding the listing)?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> * They are not sub-folders (though the icon looks like a folder
>>>>>> icon),
>>>>>> they are sub-keys.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> * Removing a Registry key also removes all its sub-keys, so there is
>>>>>> nothing gained from expanding and removing the sub-keys separately.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> * Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and
>>>>>> sometimes harmful.
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>>>>>> http://dts-l.net/
>>>>>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm

[glee]

It must be run from a DOS boot.

- Start the computer and hold down the CTRL key till the Windows 98 Startup menu
(boot menu) appears.
OR
- Repeatedly tap the F8 key after the memory count to bring up the boot menu.
- Use the arrow keys to select "Command Prompt Only" and press Enter.
- At the command prompt, type the following and press Enter:
scanreg /opt /fix

When it is done, repeat the scanreg /opt /fix command twice more.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
http://dts-l.net/
http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm


"Santander" > wrote in message
...
> scanreg /opt /fix
> It need be run from DOS or from safe mode?
>
> S.
> ------
>
> "glee" > wrote in message
> ...
>> The procedure that was recommended by a group of MVPs and MS support folks after
>> a long run of testing, is to run:
>> scanreg /opt /fix
>>
>> It is suggested to run it 3 times in succession, as it will sometimes be able to
>> do more on the second and third try.
>>
>> Obviously, this will not remove the keys you mentioned from the uninstalled
>> program...that you must do manually.
>> --
>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>> http://dts-l.net/
>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>
>>
>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Program has been uninstalled, but left few registry keys, in particlular in
>>> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ key, REG_SZ (value not set)
>>> and
>>> in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ key and few sub-keys, REG_SZ, have values
>>>
>>> so there is a reson to remove it.
>>>
>>> what's prferable way: scanreg /opt /fix or scanreg /fix /opt ?
>>>
>>> S.
>>>
>>>
>>> "glee" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>> Is it harmful only when key may be used by shared resources?
>>>>
>>>> There are a LOT of Registry keys and sub-keys. Some are strictly related to
>>>> one program or to one file type or group of file types. Others affect various
>>>> portions of the operating system, still others affect a number of different
>>>> programs and/or functions. Some keys actually don't seem to do anything or are
>>>> redundant.
>>>>
>>>> Unless you need to remove entries made by a particular program in order to
>>>> completely uninstall that program, there is little point or reason in just
>>>> removing entries that *appear* unneeded. I don't recommend it or registry
>>>> "cleaners". The best way I found to ensure clean uninstalls of programs is to
>>>> monitor the installation in order to record all file system and Registry
>>>> changes.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Does it make sence run SCANREG /OPT /FIX periodically?
>>>>
>>>> In my opinion, yes. That probably is more useful than so-called "cleaning".
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>>>> http://dts-l.net/
>>>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "glee" > wrote in message
>>>>> ...
>>>>>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>>>>>> ...
>>>>>>> when we remove old registry entries with Registry Editor, and key contains a
>>>>>>> few subfolders, which contains also subfolders,etc - should we expand the
>>>>>>> listing and remove each subfolder separately, one by one, or we can just
>>>>>>> remove main folder(without expanding the listing)?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> * They are not sub-folders (though the icon looks like a folder icon), they
>>>>>> are sub-keys.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> * Removing a Registry key also removes all its sub-keys, so there is nothing
>>>>>> gained from expanding and removing the sub-keys separately.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> * Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and sometimes
>>>>>> harmful.
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>>>>>> http://dts-l.net/
>>>>>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>

[glee]

It must be run from a DOS boot.

- Start the computer and hold down the CTRL key till the Windows 98 Startup menu
(boot menu) appears.
OR
- Repeatedly tap the F8 key after the memory count to bring up the boot menu.
- Use the arrow keys to select "Command Prompt Only" and press Enter.
- At the command prompt, type the following and press Enter:
scanreg /opt /fix

When it is done, repeat the scanreg /opt /fix command twice more.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
http://dts-l.net/
http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm


"Santander" > wrote in message
...
> scanreg /opt /fix
> It need be run from DOS or from safe mode?
>
> S.
> ------
>
> "glee" > wrote in message
> ...
>> The procedure that was recommended by a group of MVPs and MS support folks after
>> a long run of testing, is to run:
>> scanreg /opt /fix
>>
>> It is suggested to run it 3 times in succession, as it will sometimes be able to
>> do more on the second and third try.
>>
>> Obviously, this will not remove the keys you mentioned from the uninstalled
>> program...that you must do manually.
>> --
>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>> http://dts-l.net/
>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>
>>
>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Program has been uninstalled, but left few registry keys, in particlular in
>>> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ key, REG_SZ (value not set)
>>> and
>>> in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ key and few sub-keys, REG_SZ, have values
>>>
>>> so there is a reson to remove it.
>>>
>>> what's prferable way: scanreg /opt /fix or scanreg /fix /opt ?
>>>
>>> S.
>>>
>>>
>>> "glee" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>> Is it harmful only when key may be used by shared resources?
>>>>
>>>> There are a LOT of Registry keys and sub-keys. Some are strictly related to
>>>> one program or to one file type or group of file types. Others affect various
>>>> portions of the operating system, still others affect a number of different
>>>> programs and/or functions. Some keys actually don't seem to do anything or are
>>>> redundant.
>>>>
>>>> Unless you need to remove entries made by a particular program in order to
>>>> completely uninstall that program, there is little point or reason in just
>>>> removing entries that *appear* unneeded. I don't recommend it or registry
>>>> "cleaners". The best way I found to ensure clean uninstalls of programs is to
>>>> monitor the installation in order to record all file system and Registry
>>>> changes.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Does it make sence run SCANREG /OPT /FIX periodically?
>>>>
>>>> In my opinion, yes. That probably is more useful than so-called "cleaning".
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>>>> http://dts-l.net/
>>>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "glee" > wrote in message
>>>>> ...
>>>>>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>>>>>> ...
>>>>>>> when we remove old registry entries with Registry Editor, and key contains a
>>>>>>> few subfolders, which contains also subfolders,etc - should we expand the
>>>>>>> listing and remove each subfolder separately, one by one, or we can just
>>>>>>> remove main folder(without expanding the listing)?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> * They are not sub-folders (though the icon looks like a folder icon), they
>>>>>> are sub-keys.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> * Removing a Registry key also removes all its sub-keys, so there is nothing
>>>>>> gained from expanding and removing the sub-keys separately.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> * Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and sometimes
>>>>>> harmful.
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>>>>>> http://dts-l.net/
>>>>>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>

[thanatoid]

"glee" > wrote in
:

> The procedure that was recommended by a group of MVPs and
> MS support folks after a long run of testing, is to run:
> scanreg /opt /fix
>
> It is suggested to run it 3 times in succession, as it will
> sometimes be able to do more on the second and third try.
>
> Obviously, this will not remove the keys you mentioned from
> the uninstalled program...that you must do manually.

Hi Glen,

What's the difference between the scanregw in Win \root and
scanreg in \command?
I ran "scanregw /?" and in a **split second** it said "no
problems found, would you like to backup?" or something. /VERY/
confidence-inspiring.

Can running "scanreg /fix" screw things up? Or is that a really
dumb question, and "anyone that doesn't back up the registry
deserves what they get" ?

Also, my /? does not display /OPT which I would ASSUME means
"optimize". Is that a hidden argument (is that the right word?)
or what?

Thanks.


--
"We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are."
Anais Nin

[thanatoid]

"glee" > wrote in
:

> The procedure that was recommended by a group of MVPs and
> MS support folks after a long run of testing, is to run:
> scanreg /opt /fix
>
> It is suggested to run it 3 times in succession, as it will
> sometimes be able to do more on the second and third try.
>
> Obviously, this will not remove the keys you mentioned from
> the uninstalled program...that you must do manually.

Hi Glen,

What's the difference between the scanregw in Win \root and
scanreg in \command?
I ran "scanregw /?" and in a **split second** it said "no
problems found, would you like to backup?" or something. /VERY/
confidence-inspiring.

Can running "scanreg /fix" screw things up? Or is that a really
dumb question, and "anyone that doesn't back up the registry
deserves what they get" ?

Also, my /? does not display /OPT which I would ASSUME means
"optimize". Is that a hidden argument (is that the right word?)
or what?

Thanks.


--
"We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are."
Anais Nin

[Santander]

Just one thing: it's a bit tricky to quit DOS mode properly, I tried enter
Escape, exit, quit commands and neither of them work. The only way was
restart PC via Ctrl+Alt+Del combination.

S.
--------



"glee" > wrote in message
...
> It must be run from a DOS boot.
>
> - Start the computer and hold down the CTRL key till the Windows 98
> Startup menu (boot menu) appears.
> OR
> - Repeatedly tap the F8 key after the memory count to bring up the boot
> menu.
> - Use the arrow keys to select "Command Prompt Only" and press Enter.
> - At the command prompt, type the following and press Enter:
> scanreg /opt /fix
>
> When it is done, repeat the scanreg /opt /fix command twice more.
> --
> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
> http://dts-l.net/
> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>
>
> "Santander" > wrote in message
> ...
>> scanreg /opt /fix
>> It need be run from DOS or from safe mode?
>>
>> S.
>> ------
>>
>> "glee" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> The procedure that was recommended by a group of MVPs and MS support
>>> folks after a long run of testing, is to run:
>>> scanreg /opt /fix
>>>
>>> It is suggested to run it 3 times in succession, as it will sometimes be
>>> able to do more on the second and third try.
>>>
>>> Obviously, this will not remove the keys you mentioned from the
>>> uninstalled program...that you must do manually.
>>> --
>>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>>> http://dts-l.net/
>>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>>
>>>
>>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> Program has been uninstalled, but left few registry keys, in
>>>> particlular in
>>>> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ key, REG_SZ (value not set)
>>>> and
>>>> in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ key and few sub-keys, REG_SZ, have
>>>> values
>>>>
>>>> so there is a reson to remove it.
>>>>
>>>> what's prferable way: scanreg /opt /fix or scanreg /fix /opt ?
>>>>
>>>> S.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "glee" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>>>>> ...
>>>>>> Is it harmful only when key may be used by shared resources?
>>>>>
>>>>> There are a LOT of Registry keys and sub-keys. Some are strictly
>>>>> related to one program or to one file type or group of file types.
>>>>> Others affect various portions of the operating system, still others
>>>>> affect a number of different programs and/or functions. Some keys
>>>>> actually don't seem to do anything or are redundant.
>>>>>
>>>>> Unless you need to remove entries made by a particular program in
>>>>> order to completely uninstall that program, there is little point or
>>>>> reason in just removing entries that *appear* unneeded. I don't
>>>>> recommend it or registry "cleaners". The best way I found to ensure
>>>>> clean uninstalls of programs is to monitor the installation in order
>>>>> to record all file system and Registry changes.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Does it make sence run SCANREG /OPT /FIX periodically?
>>>>>
>>>>> In my opinion, yes. That probably is more useful than so-called
>>>>> "cleaning".
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>>>>> http://dts-l.net/
>>>>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "glee" > wrote in message
>>>>>> ...
>>>>>>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>>>>>>> ...
>>>>>>>> when we remove old registry entries with Registry Editor, and key
>>>>>>>> contains a
>>>>>>>> few subfolders, which contains also subfolders,etc - should we
>>>>>>>> expand the
>>>>>>>> listing and remove each subfolder separately, one by one, or we can
>>>>>>>> just
>>>>>>>> remove main folder(without expanding the listing)?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> * They are not sub-folders (though the icon looks like a folder
>>>>>>> icon), they are sub-keys.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> * Removing a Registry key also removes all its sub-keys, so there is
>>>>>>> nothing gained from expanding and removing the sub-keys separately.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> * Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and
>>>>>>> sometimes harmful.
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>>>>>>> http://dts-l.net/
>>>>>>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>

[Santander]

Just one thing: it's a bit tricky to quit DOS mode properly, I tried enter
Escape, exit, quit commands and neither of them work. The only way was
restart PC via Ctrl+Alt+Del combination.

S.
--------



"glee" > wrote in message
...
> It must be run from a DOS boot.
>
> - Start the computer and hold down the CTRL key till the Windows 98
> Startup menu (boot menu) appears.
> OR
> - Repeatedly tap the F8 key after the memory count to bring up the boot
> menu.
> - Use the arrow keys to select "Command Prompt Only" and press Enter.
> - At the command prompt, type the following and press Enter:
> scanreg /opt /fix
>
> When it is done, repeat the scanreg /opt /fix command twice more.
> --
> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
> http://dts-l.net/
> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>
>
> "Santander" > wrote in message
> ...
>> scanreg /opt /fix
>> It need be run from DOS or from safe mode?
>>
>> S.
>> ------
>>
>> "glee" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> The procedure that was recommended by a group of MVPs and MS support
>>> folks after a long run of testing, is to run:
>>> scanreg /opt /fix
>>>
>>> It is suggested to run it 3 times in succession, as it will sometimes be
>>> able to do more on the second and third try.
>>>
>>> Obviously, this will not remove the keys you mentioned from the
>>> uninstalled program...that you must do manually.
>>> --
>>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>>> http://dts-l.net/
>>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>>
>>>
>>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> Program has been uninstalled, but left few registry keys, in
>>>> particlular in
>>>> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ key, REG_SZ (value not set)
>>>> and
>>>> in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ key and few sub-keys, REG_SZ, have
>>>> values
>>>>
>>>> so there is a reson to remove it.
>>>>
>>>> what's prferable way: scanreg /opt /fix or scanreg /fix /opt ?
>>>>
>>>> S.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "glee" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>>>>> ...
>>>>>> Is it harmful only when key may be used by shared resources?
>>>>>
>>>>> There are a LOT of Registry keys and sub-keys. Some are strictly
>>>>> related to one program or to one file type or group of file types.
>>>>> Others affect various portions of the operating system, still others
>>>>> affect a number of different programs and/or functions. Some keys
>>>>> actually don't seem to do anything or are redundant.
>>>>>
>>>>> Unless you need to remove entries made by a particular program in
>>>>> order to completely uninstall that program, there is little point or
>>>>> reason in just removing entries that *appear* unneeded. I don't
>>>>> recommend it or registry "cleaners". The best way I found to ensure
>>>>> clean uninstalls of programs is to monitor the installation in order
>>>>> to record all file system and Registry changes.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Does it make sence run SCANREG /OPT /FIX periodically?
>>>>>
>>>>> In my opinion, yes. That probably is more useful than so-called
>>>>> "cleaning".
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>>>>> http://dts-l.net/
>>>>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "glee" > wrote in message
>>>>>> ...
>>>>>>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>>>>>>> ...
>>>>>>>> when we remove old registry entries with Registry Editor, and key
>>>>>>>> contains a
>>>>>>>> few subfolders, which contains also subfolders,etc - should we
>>>>>>>> expand the
>>>>>>>> listing and remove each subfolder separately, one by one, or we can
>>>>>>>> just
>>>>>>>> remove main folder(without expanding the listing)?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> * They are not sub-folders (though the icon looks like a folder
>>>>>>> icon), they are sub-keys.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> * Removing a Registry key also removes all its sub-keys, so there is
>>>>>>> nothing gained from expanding and removing the sub-keys separately.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> * Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and
>>>>>>> sometimes harmful.
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>>>>>>> http://dts-l.net/
>>>>>>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>

[Buffalo]

Santander wrote:
> Just one thing: it's a bit tricky to quit DOS mode properly, I tried
> enter Escape, exit, quit commands and neither of them work. The only
> way was restart PC via Ctrl+Alt+Del combination.
>
> S.
> --------
>
I think typing win and pressing Enter also works if you want to go into
Windows instead of shutting down.
Ctrl-Alt-Del always seems to work to shut down real DOS, as you stated.
Buffalo

[Buffalo]

Santander wrote:
> Just one thing: it's a bit tricky to quit DOS mode properly, I tried
> enter Escape, exit, quit commands and neither of them work. The only
> way was restart PC via Ctrl+Alt+Del combination.
>
> S.
> --------
>
I think typing win and pressing Enter also works if you want to go into
Windows instead of shutting down.
Ctrl-Alt-Del always seems to work to shut down real DOS, as you stated.
Buffalo

[Buffalo]

wrote:
> On Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:42:21 -0500, "glee" >
> wrote:
>
>> * Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and
>> sometimes harmful.
>
> I dont totally agree with this. Everything in the registry has to
> load and it eats resources. Why load garbage from old trial software
> and uninstalled programs? Not only that, but the registry contains a
> lot of other useless crap. When I run RegSeeker, it shows not only
> uninstalled programs, but everytime I run winzip the filename.zip that
> I unzipped gets stored in the registry, and if I delete "lecture.txt"
> from my harddrive, that filename and location shows up in a registry
> cleanup as C:\temp\lecture.txt is "not found". I always wondered why
> the registry saves all that crap anyhow, and why is the reg entry not
> removed when the file is deleted.
>
> In my opinion, NOT cleaning the registry is about the same things as
> an office worker tossing all the obsolete and outdated paperwork on
> their desk and the floor next to their desk, until eventually they
> cant even get to their desk chair.
>
> Since MS wasn't smart enough to make the registry automatically remove
> unneeded reg entries, we users got to do the job. Maybe those that
> dont clean the registry are the same people who say they have to
> reinstall windows from scratch every 2 years or so??????
> I clean the registry every 2 or 3 weeks, and Ive used the same install
> of Win98 for almost 10 years, and it works well. I have never had any
> problems running reg cleaners, but I read EVERYTHING it wants to
> remove before I let it remove it. Yet, I have never found anything
> that it wanted to remove that was wrong, except the few times I copied
> a program to a backup to gain drive space, and planned to put the
> program back, thus I wanted to save the registry entry.
>
> Just my 2 cents.

I also have had good luck with Regseeker, but I did have a problem one time
and it was because of one of the Red entries that I deleted.
I had just backed up the Registry before I used Regseeker, and I simply
restored that Registry and everything was fine.
That was a few years ago and I don't remember what that key was.
However, now I don't delete the keys in Red unless I am sure that I don't
need them.
I do, however, delete most of the keys in Green, but I look at all of them
first.
Buffalo

[Buffalo]

wrote:
> On Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:42:21 -0500, "glee" >
> wrote:
>
>> * Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and
>> sometimes harmful.
>
> I dont totally agree with this. Everything in the registry has to
> load and it eats resources. Why load garbage from old trial software
> and uninstalled programs? Not only that, but the registry contains a
> lot of other useless crap. When I run RegSeeker, it shows not only
> uninstalled programs, but everytime I run winzip the filename.zip that
> I unzipped gets stored in the registry, and if I delete "lecture.txt"
> from my harddrive, that filename and location shows up in a registry
> cleanup as C:\temp\lecture.txt is "not found". I always wondered why
> the registry saves all that crap anyhow, and why is the reg entry not
> removed when the file is deleted.
>
> In my opinion, NOT cleaning the registry is about the same things as
> an office worker tossing all the obsolete and outdated paperwork on
> their desk and the floor next to their desk, until eventually they
> cant even get to their desk chair.
>
> Since MS wasn't smart enough to make the registry automatically remove
> unneeded reg entries, we users got to do the job. Maybe those that
> dont clean the registry are the same people who say they have to
> reinstall windows from scratch every 2 years or so??????
> I clean the registry every 2 or 3 weeks, and Ive used the same install
> of Win98 for almost 10 years, and it works well. I have never had any
> problems running reg cleaners, but I read EVERYTHING it wants to
> remove before I let it remove it. Yet, I have never found anything
> that it wanted to remove that was wrong, except the few times I copied
> a program to a backup to gain drive space, and planned to put the
> program back, thus I wanted to save the registry entry.
>
> Just my 2 cents.

I also have had good luck with Regseeker, but I did have a problem one time
and it was because of one of the Red entries that I deleted.
I had just backed up the Registry before I used Regseeker, and I simply
restored that Registry and everything was fine.
That was a few years ago and I don't remember what that key was.
However, now I don't delete the keys in Red unless I am sure that I don't
need them.
I do, however, delete most of the keys in Green, but I look at all of them
first.
Buffalo

[ziber]

So what is best Registry cleaner(freeware) for windows 98, that provide us
with correct information about obsolete and unused registry keys, safe to
remove?

ziber
************


"Buffalo" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> wrote:
>> On Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:42:21 -0500, "glee" >
>> wrote:
>>
>>> * Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and
>>> sometimes harmful.
>>
>> I dont totally agree with this. Everything in the registry has to
>> load and it eats resources. Why load garbage from old trial software
>> and uninstalled programs? Not only that, but the registry contains a
>> lot of other useless crap. When I run RegSeeker, it shows not only
>> uninstalled programs, but everytime I run winzip the filename.zip that
>> I unzipped gets stored in the registry, and if I delete "lecture.txt"
>> from my harddrive, that filename and location shows up in a registry
>> cleanup as C:\temp\lecture.txt is "not found". I always wondered why
>> the registry saves all that crap anyhow, and why is the reg entry not
>> removed when the file is deleted.
>>
>> In my opinion, NOT cleaning the registry is about the same things as
>> an office worker tossing all the obsolete and outdated paperwork on
>> their desk and the floor next to their desk, until eventually they
>> cant even get to their desk chair.
>>
>> Since MS wasn't smart enough to make the registry automatically remove
>> unneeded reg entries, we users got to do the job. Maybe those that
>> dont clean the registry are the same people who say they have to
>> reinstall windows from scratch every 2 years or so??????
>> I clean the registry every 2 or 3 weeks, and Ive used the same install
>> of Win98 for almost 10 years, and it works well. I have never had any
>> problems running reg cleaners, but I read EVERYTHING it wants to
>> remove before I let it remove it. Yet, I have never found anything
>> that it wanted to remove that was wrong, except the few times I copied
>> a program to a backup to gain drive space, and planned to put the
>> program back, thus I wanted to save the registry entry.
>>
>> Just my 2 cents.
>
> I also have had good luck with Regseeker, but I did have a problem one
> time
> and it was because of one of the Red entries that I deleted.
> I had just backed up the Registry before I used Regseeker, and I simply
> restored that Registry and everything was fine.
> That was a few years ago and I don't remember what that key was.
> However, now I don't delete the keys in Red unless I am sure that I don't
> need them.
> I do, however, delete most of the keys in Green, but I look at all of them
> first.
> Buffalo
>
>

[ziber]

So what is best Registry cleaner(freeware) for windows 98, that provide us
with correct information about obsolete and unused registry keys, safe to
remove?

ziber
************


"Buffalo" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> wrote:
>> On Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:42:21 -0500, "glee" >
>> wrote:
>>
>>> * Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and
>>> sometimes harmful.
>>
>> I dont totally agree with this. Everything in the registry has to
>> load and it eats resources. Why load garbage from old trial software
>> and uninstalled programs? Not only that, but the registry contains a
>> lot of other useless crap. When I run RegSeeker, it shows not only
>> uninstalled programs, but everytime I run winzip the filename.zip that
>> I unzipped gets stored in the registry, and if I delete "lecture.txt"
>> from my harddrive, that filename and location shows up in a registry
>> cleanup as C:\temp\lecture.txt is "not found". I always wondered why
>> the registry saves all that crap anyhow, and why is the reg entry not
>> removed when the file is deleted.
>>
>> In my opinion, NOT cleaning the registry is about the same things as
>> an office worker tossing all the obsolete and outdated paperwork on
>> their desk and the floor next to their desk, until eventually they
>> cant even get to their desk chair.
>>
>> Since MS wasn't smart enough to make the registry automatically remove
>> unneeded reg entries, we users got to do the job. Maybe those that
>> dont clean the registry are the same people who say they have to
>> reinstall windows from scratch every 2 years or so??????
>> I clean the registry every 2 or 3 weeks, and Ive used the same install
>> of Win98 for almost 10 years, and it works well. I have never had any
>> problems running reg cleaners, but I read EVERYTHING it wants to
>> remove before I let it remove it. Yet, I have never found anything
>> that it wanted to remove that was wrong, except the few times I copied
>> a program to a backup to gain drive space, and planned to put the
>> program back, thus I wanted to save the registry entry.
>>
>> Just my 2 cents.
>
> I also have had good luck with Regseeker, but I did have a problem one
> time
> and it was because of one of the Red entries that I deleted.
> I had just backed up the Registry before I used Regseeker, and I simply
> restored that Registry and everything was fine.
> That was a few years ago and I don't remember what that key was.
> However, now I don't delete the keys in Red unless I am sure that I don't
> need them.
> I do, however, delete most of the keys in Green, but I look at all of them
> first.
> Buffalo
>
>

[MEB[_16_]]

There is no "best" registry cleaner.

There ARE a number of registry cleaners which can provide useful
information to the user on what can POTENTIALLY be removed.
ALL cleaners require the user make an effort to actually determine whether
the entry CAN be safely removed.

I have used/tested several dozen over the course of time, and presently
RegSeeker seems to be relatively safe PROVIDED the user understands that
THEY must do their own research on viability of the entry's removal.
Any cleaner which automatically removes or cleans a registry WITHOUT
providing the user with the ability to view potential removals BEFORE they
are removed is a tantamount to disaster.
Regseeker does provide a preview of potential removable entries, though it
has no idea of the ActiveX *placeholder* 'disablements' now found in the
registry/hives [required by some applications which check for the entry but
not if it actually provides anything]. Regseeker also provides automatic
backup of the removed entry as long as you leave the checked box enabled and
remove the entry FROM regseeker rather than regedit, which it opens to allow
you to view the entry PRIOR to removal when you double click the found
entry..

CCleaner is another which seems to have its following of users.

Many cleaners have difficulty with the excessively long entries found in
registry/hives in the Windows environment and truncate those entries
[causing failures if modified or removed], OR have difficulty with
excessively long directory/file physical locations on disks [claiming
invalid entries or missing files/directories].

Others may require the user setup the ignore areas or areas which might
contain log entries or other aspects which the program may not recognize
properly or otherwise need configured.

--
~
--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
Windows Diagnostics, Security, Networking
http://peoplescounsel.org
The *REAL WORLD* of Law, Justice, and Government
_______



"ziber" > wrote in message
...
> So what is best Registry cleaner(freeware) for windows 98, that provide us
> with correct information about obsolete and unused registry keys, safe to
> remove?
>
> ziber
> ************
>
>
> "Buffalo" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> >
> > wrote:
> >> On Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:42:21 -0500, "glee" >
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >>> * Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and
> >>> sometimes harmful.
> >>
> >> I dont totally agree with this. Everything in the registry has to
> >> load and it eats resources. Why load garbage from old trial software
> >> and uninstalled programs? Not only that, but the registry contains a
> >> lot of other useless crap. When I run RegSeeker, it shows not only
> >> uninstalled programs, but everytime I run winzip the filename.zip that
> >> I unzipped gets stored in the registry, and if I delete "lecture.txt"
> >> from my harddrive, that filename and location shows up in a registry
> >> cleanup as C:\temp\lecture.txt is "not found". I always wondered why
> >> the registry saves all that crap anyhow, and why is the reg entry not
> >> removed when the file is deleted.
> >>
> >> In my opinion, NOT cleaning the registry is about the same things as
> >> an office worker tossing all the obsolete and outdated paperwork on
> >> their desk and the floor next to their desk, until eventually they
> >> cant even get to their desk chair.
> >>
> >> Since MS wasn't smart enough to make the registry automatically remove
> >> unneeded reg entries, we users got to do the job. Maybe those that
> >> dont clean the registry are the same people who say they have to
> >> reinstall windows from scratch every 2 years or so??????
> >> I clean the registry every 2 or 3 weeks, and Ive used the same install
> >> of Win98 for almost 10 years, and it works well. I have never had any
> >> problems running reg cleaners, but I read EVERYTHING it wants to
> >> remove before I let it remove it. Yet, I have never found anything
> >> that it wanted to remove that was wrong, except the few times I copied
> >> a program to a backup to gain drive space, and planned to put the
> >> program back, thus I wanted to save the registry entry.
> >>
> >> Just my 2 cents.
> >
> > I also have had good luck with Regseeker, but I did have a problem one
> > time
> > and it was because of one of the Red entries that I deleted.
> > I had just backed up the Registry before I used Regseeker, and I simply
> > restored that Registry and everything was fine.
> > That was a few years ago and I don't remember what that key was.
> > However, now I don't delete the keys in Red unless I am sure that I
don't
> > need them.
> > I do, however, delete most of the keys in Green, but I look at all of
them
> > first.
> > Buffalo
> >
> >
>

[MEB[_16_]]

There is no "best" registry cleaner.

There ARE a number of registry cleaners which can provide useful
information to the user on what can POTENTIALLY be removed.
ALL cleaners require the user make an effort to actually determine whether
the entry CAN be safely removed.

I have used/tested several dozen over the course of time, and presently
RegSeeker seems to be relatively safe PROVIDED the user understands that
THEY must do their own research on viability of the entry's removal.
Any cleaner which automatically removes or cleans a registry WITHOUT
providing the user with the ability to view potential removals BEFORE they
are removed is a tantamount to disaster.
Regseeker does provide a preview of potential removable entries, though it
has no idea of the ActiveX *placeholder* 'disablements' now found in the
registry/hives [required by some applications which check for the entry but
not if it actually provides anything]. Regseeker also provides automatic
backup of the removed entry as long as you leave the checked box enabled and
remove the entry FROM regseeker rather than regedit, which it opens to allow
you to view the entry PRIOR to removal when you double click the found
entry..

CCleaner is another which seems to have its following of users.

Many cleaners have difficulty with the excessively long entries found in
registry/hives in the Windows environment and truncate those entries
[causing failures if modified or removed], OR have difficulty with
excessively long directory/file physical locations on disks [claiming
invalid entries or missing files/directories].

Others may require the user setup the ignore areas or areas which might
contain log entries or other aspects which the program may not recognize
properly or otherwise need configured.

--
~
--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
Windows Diagnostics, Security, Networking
http://peoplescounsel.org
The *REAL WORLD* of Law, Justice, and Government
_______



"ziber" > wrote in message
...
> So what is best Registry cleaner(freeware) for windows 98, that provide us
> with correct information about obsolete and unused registry keys, safe to
> remove?
>
> ziber
> ************
>
>
> "Buffalo" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> >
> > wrote:
> >> On Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:42:21 -0500, "glee" >
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >>> * Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and
> >>> sometimes harmful.
> >>
> >> I dont totally agree with this. Everything in the registry has to
> >> load and it eats resources. Why load garbage from old trial software
> >> and uninstalled programs? Not only that, but the registry contains a
> >> lot of other useless crap. When I run RegSeeker, it shows not only
> >> uninstalled programs, but everytime I run winzip the filename.zip that
> >> I unzipped gets stored in the registry, and if I delete "lecture.txt"
> >> from my harddrive, that filename and location shows up in a registry
> >> cleanup as C:\temp\lecture.txt is "not found". I always wondered why
> >> the registry saves all that crap anyhow, and why is the reg entry not
> >> removed when the file is deleted.
> >>
> >> In my opinion, NOT cleaning the registry is about the same things as
> >> an office worker tossing all the obsolete and outdated paperwork on
> >> their desk and the floor next to their desk, until eventually they
> >> cant even get to their desk chair.
> >>
> >> Since MS wasn't smart enough to make the registry automatically remove
> >> unneeded reg entries, we users got to do the job. Maybe those that
> >> dont clean the registry are the same people who say they have to
> >> reinstall windows from scratch every 2 years or so??????
> >> I clean the registry every 2 or 3 weeks, and Ive used the same install
> >> of Win98 for almost 10 years, and it works well. I have never had any
> >> problems running reg cleaners, but I read EVERYTHING it wants to
> >> remove before I let it remove it. Yet, I have never found anything
> >> that it wanted to remove that was wrong, except the few times I copied
> >> a program to a backup to gain drive space, and planned to put the
> >> program back, thus I wanted to save the registry entry.
> >>
> >> Just my 2 cents.
> >
> > I also have had good luck with Regseeker, but I did have a problem one
> > time
> > and it was because of one of the Red entries that I deleted.
> > I had just backed up the Registry before I used Regseeker, and I simply
> > restored that Registry and everything was fine.
> > That was a few years ago and I don't remember what that key was.
> > However, now I don't delete the keys in Red unless I am sure that I
don't
> > need them.
> > I do, however, delete most of the keys in Green, but I look at all of
them
> > first.
> > Buffalo
> >
> >
>

[Buffalo]

ziber wrote:
> So what is best Registry cleaner(freeware) for windows 98, that
> provide us with correct information about obsolete and unused
> registry keys, safe to remove?
>
> ziber
> ************
>
I really don't know.
If you don't know how to restore your old Registry from DOS,(or from a
complete backup) if your computer won't boot into Windows, you can get
yourself in a world of hurt.
Many of the real knowledgeable people here say the benefit from doing
Registry cleaning is almost negligable while the chances of messing up your
computer is high.
Even though many of the 'registry cleaners' backup what you delete, if you
cannot boot into Windows it may be very difficult or impossible to use that
backup.

Having said that, I have never had a problem with EasyCleaner and only one
problem with RegSeeker.
I also have never seen an improvement in my PC after doing a registry
cleaning, so I sometimes wonder why I do it.
Still, I have only installed Win98 on top of itself (not recommended) once
in the last 10yrs (worked out fine) and it is still snappy.
Buffalo

PS: I occasionally also use the scanreg \opt \fix (three times in a
row) command at a real DOS prompt.

[Buffalo]

ziber wrote:
> So what is best Registry cleaner(freeware) for windows 98, that
> provide us with correct information about obsolete and unused
> registry keys, safe to remove?
>
> ziber
> ************
>
I really don't know.
If you don't know how to restore your old Registry from DOS,(or from a
complete backup) if your computer won't boot into Windows, you can get
yourself in a world of hurt.
Many of the real knowledgeable people here say the benefit from doing
Registry cleaning is almost negligable while the chances of messing up your
computer is high.
Even though many of the 'registry cleaners' backup what you delete, if you
cannot boot into Windows it may be very difficult or impossible to use that
backup.

Having said that, I have never had a problem with EasyCleaner and only one
problem with RegSeeker.
I also have never seen an improvement in my PC after doing a registry
cleaning, so I sometimes wonder why I do it.
Still, I have only installed Win98 on top of itself (not recommended) once
in the last 10yrs (worked out fine) and it is still snappy.
Buffalo

PS: I occasionally also use the scanreg \opt \fix (three times in a
row) command at a real DOS prompt.

[Franc Zabkar]

On Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:02:38 -0600, put finger
to keyboard and composed:

>On Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:42:21 -0500, "glee" >
>wrote:
>
>>* Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and sometimes
>>harmful.
>
>I dont totally agree with this. Everything in the registry has to
>load and it eats resources. Why load garbage from old trial software
>and uninstalled programs? Not only that, but the registry contains a
>lot of other useless crap. When I run RegSeeker, it shows not only
>uninstalled programs, but everytime I run winzip the filename.zip that
>I unzipped gets stored in the registry, and if I delete "lecture.txt"
>from my harddrive, that filename and location shows up in a registry
>cleanup as C:\temp\lecture.txt is "not found". I always wondered why
>the registry saves all that crap anyhow, and why is the reg entry not
>removed when the file is deleted.

I find it annoying that programs insist on storing their configuration
settings in the registry when they could store them in an INI file. In
fact I use one particular VoIP program that stores your personal
phonebook entries, unencrypted, in the registry. Where's the sense in
that?

- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

[Franc Zabkar]

On Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:02:38 -0600, put finger
to keyboard and composed:

>On Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:42:21 -0500, "glee" >
>wrote:
>
>>* Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and sometimes
>>harmful.
>
>I dont totally agree with this. Everything in the registry has to
>load and it eats resources. Why load garbage from old trial software
>and uninstalled programs? Not only that, but the registry contains a
>lot of other useless crap. When I run RegSeeker, it shows not only
>uninstalled programs, but everytime I run winzip the filename.zip that
>I unzipped gets stored in the registry, and if I delete "lecture.txt"
>from my harddrive, that filename and location shows up in a registry
>cleanup as C:\temp\lecture.txt is "not found". I always wondered why
>the registry saves all that crap anyhow, and why is the reg entry not
>removed when the file is deleted.

I find it annoying that programs insist on storing their configuration
settings in the registry when they could store them in an INI file. In
fact I use one particular VoIP program that stores your personal
phonebook entries, unencrypted, in the registry. Where's the sense in
that?

- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

[glee]

When you boot to "Command Prompt Only" or Safe Mode Command Prompt Only" from the
boot menu as I described, the correct method to exit DOS and reboot is to press
Ctrl+Alt+Delete. The other methods do not work, as you found out. That is as it
should be.

EXIT only works from a DOS box in Windows, or from a DOS boot using "Start>
Shutdown> Restart in MS-DOS Mode", from Windows.

Although Bill's suggestion of using "WIN" will work, I don't recommend it.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
http://dts-l.net/
http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm


"Santander" > wrote in message
...
> Just one thing: it's a bit tricky to quit DOS mode properly, I tried enter Escape,
> exit, quit commands and neither of them work. The only way was restart PC via
> Ctrl+Alt+Del combination.
>
> S.
> --------
>
>
>
> "glee" > wrote in message
> ...
>> It must be run from a DOS boot.
>>
>> - Start the computer and hold down the CTRL key till the Windows 98 Startup menu
>> (boot menu) appears.
>> OR
>> - Repeatedly tap the F8 key after the memory count to bring up the boot menu.
>> - Use the arrow keys to select "Command Prompt Only" and press Enter.
>> - At the command prompt, type the following and press Enter:
>> scanreg /opt /fix
>>
>> When it is done, repeat the scanreg /opt /fix command twice more.
>> --
>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>> http://dts-l.net/
>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>
>>
>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> scanreg /opt /fix
>>> It need be run from DOS or from safe mode?
>>>
>>> S.
>>> ------
>>>
>>> "glee" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> The procedure that was recommended by a group of MVPs and MS support folks
>>>> after a long run of testing, is to run:
>>>> scanreg /opt /fix
>>>>
>>>> It is suggested to run it 3 times in succession, as it will sometimes be able
>>>> to do more on the second and third try.
>>>>
>>>> Obviously, this will not remove the keys you mentioned from the uninstalled
>>>> program...that you must do manually.
>>>> --
>>>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>>>> http://dts-l.net/
>>>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>> Program has been uninstalled, but left few registry keys, in particlular in
>>>>> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ key, REG_SZ (value not set)
>>>>> and
>>>>> in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ key and few sub-keys, REG_SZ, have values
>>>>>
>>>>> so there is a reson to remove it.
>>>>>
>>>>> what's prferable way: scanreg /opt /fix or scanreg /fix /opt ?
>>>>>
>>>>> S.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "glee" > wrote in message
>>>>> ...
>>>>>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>>>>>> ...
>>>>>>> Is it harmful only when key may be used by shared resources?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> There are a LOT of Registry keys and sub-keys. Some are strictly related to
>>>>>> one program or to one file type or group of file types. Others affect various
>>>>>> portions of the operating system, still others affect a number of different
>>>>>> programs and/or functions. Some keys actually don't seem to do anything or
>>>>>> are redundant.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Unless you need to remove entries made by a particular program in order to
>>>>>> completely uninstall that program, there is little point or reason in just
>>>>>> removing entries that *appear* unneeded. I don't recommend it or registry
>>>>>> "cleaners". The best way I found to ensure clean uninstalls of programs is
>>>>>> to monitor the installation in order to record all file system and Registry
>>>>>> changes.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Does it make sence run SCANREG /OPT /FIX periodically?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> In my opinion, yes. That probably is more useful than so-called "cleaning".
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>>>>>> http://dts-l.net/
>>>>>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> "glee" > wrote in message
>>>>>>> ...
>>>>>>>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>>>>>>>> ...
>>>>>>>>> when we remove old registry entries with Registry Editor, and key contains
>>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>>> few subfolders, which contains also subfolders,etc - should we expand the
>>>>>>>>> listing and remove each subfolder separately, one by one, or we can just
>>>>>>>>> remove main folder(without expanding the listing)?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> * They are not sub-folders (though the icon looks like a folder icon), they
>>>>>>>> are sub-keys.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> * Removing a Registry key also removes all its sub-keys, so there is
>>>>>>>> nothing gained from expanding and removing the sub-keys separately.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> * Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and
>>>>>>>> sometimes harmful.
>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>>>>>>>> http://dts-l.net/
>>>>>>>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>

[glee]

When you boot to "Command Prompt Only" or Safe Mode Command Prompt Only" from the
boot menu as I described, the correct method to exit DOS and reboot is to press
Ctrl+Alt+Delete. The other methods do not work, as you found out. That is as it
should be.

EXIT only works from a DOS box in Windows, or from a DOS boot using "Start>
Shutdown> Restart in MS-DOS Mode", from Windows.

Although Bill's suggestion of using "WIN" will work, I don't recommend it.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
http://dts-l.net/
http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm


"Santander" > wrote in message
...
> Just one thing: it's a bit tricky to quit DOS mode properly, I tried enter Escape,
> exit, quit commands and neither of them work. The only way was restart PC via
> Ctrl+Alt+Del combination.
>
> S.
> --------
>
>
>
> "glee" > wrote in message
> ...
>> It must be run from a DOS boot.
>>
>> - Start the computer and hold down the CTRL key till the Windows 98 Startup menu
>> (boot menu) appears.
>> OR
>> - Repeatedly tap the F8 key after the memory count to bring up the boot menu.
>> - Use the arrow keys to select "Command Prompt Only" and press Enter.
>> - At the command prompt, type the following and press Enter:
>> scanreg /opt /fix
>>
>> When it is done, repeat the scanreg /opt /fix command twice more.
>> --
>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>> http://dts-l.net/
>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>
>>
>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> scanreg /opt /fix
>>> It need be run from DOS or from safe mode?
>>>
>>> S.
>>> ------
>>>
>>> "glee" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> The procedure that was recommended by a group of MVPs and MS support folks
>>>> after a long run of testing, is to run:
>>>> scanreg /opt /fix
>>>>
>>>> It is suggested to run it 3 times in succession, as it will sometimes be able
>>>> to do more on the second and third try.
>>>>
>>>> Obviously, this will not remove the keys you mentioned from the uninstalled
>>>> program...that you must do manually.
>>>> --
>>>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>>>> http://dts-l.net/
>>>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>> Program has been uninstalled, but left few registry keys, in particlular in
>>>>> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ key, REG_SZ (value not set)
>>>>> and
>>>>> in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ key and few sub-keys, REG_SZ, have values
>>>>>
>>>>> so there is a reson to remove it.
>>>>>
>>>>> what's prferable way: scanreg /opt /fix or scanreg /fix /opt ?
>>>>>
>>>>> S.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "glee" > wrote in message
>>>>> ...
>>>>>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>>>>>> ...
>>>>>>> Is it harmful only when key may be used by shared resources?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> There are a LOT of Registry keys and sub-keys. Some are strictly related to
>>>>>> one program or to one file type or group of file types. Others affect various
>>>>>> portions of the operating system, still others affect a number of different
>>>>>> programs and/or functions. Some keys actually don't seem to do anything or
>>>>>> are redundant.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Unless you need to remove entries made by a particular program in order to
>>>>>> completely uninstall that program, there is little point or reason in just
>>>>>> removing entries that *appear* unneeded. I don't recommend it or registry
>>>>>> "cleaners". The best way I found to ensure clean uninstalls of programs is
>>>>>> to monitor the installation in order to record all file system and Registry
>>>>>> changes.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Does it make sence run SCANREG /OPT /FIX periodically?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> In my opinion, yes. That probably is more useful than so-called "cleaning".
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>>>>>> http://dts-l.net/
>>>>>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> "glee" > wrote in message
>>>>>>> ...
>>>>>>>> "Santander" > wrote in message
>>>>>>>> ...
>>>>>>>>> when we remove old registry entries with Registry Editor, and key contains
>>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>>> few subfolders, which contains also subfolders,etc - should we expand the
>>>>>>>>> listing and remove each subfolder separately, one by one, or we can just
>>>>>>>>> remove main folder(without expanding the listing)?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> * They are not sub-folders (though the icon looks like a folder icon), they
>>>>>>>> are sub-keys.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> * Removing a Registry key also removes all its sub-keys, so there is
>>>>>>>> nothing gained from expanding and removing the sub-keys separately.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> * Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and
>>>>>>>> sometimes harmful.
>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
>>>>>>>> http://dts-l.net/
>>>>>>>> http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>

[Buffalo]

glee wrote:
> When you boot to "Command Prompt Only" or Safe Mode Command Prompt
> Only" from the boot menu as I described, the correct method to exit
> DOS and reboot is to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete. The other methods do not
> work, as you found out. That is as it should be.
>
> EXIT only works from a DOS box in Windows, or from a DOS boot using
> "Start> Shutdown> Restart in MS-DOS Mode", from Windows.
>
> Although Bill's suggestion of using "WIN" will work, I don't
> recommend it.
>
Just curious about why you don't recommend it.
Buffalo (no, not Buffalo Bill) :)
PS: Does it have something about not completing the Registry or something
else?

[Buffalo]

glee wrote:
> When you boot to "Command Prompt Only" or Safe Mode Command Prompt
> Only" from the boot menu as I described, the correct method to exit
> DOS and reboot is to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete. The other methods do not
> work, as you found out. That is as it should be.
>
> EXIT only works from a DOS box in Windows, or from a DOS boot using
> "Start> Shutdown> Restart in MS-DOS Mode", from Windows.
>
> Although Bill's suggestion of using "WIN" will work, I don't
> recommend it.
>
Just curious about why you don't recommend it.
Buffalo (no, not Buffalo Bill) :)
PS: Does it have something about not completing the Registry or something
else?

[glee]

"Buffalo" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> glee wrote:
>> When you boot to "Command Prompt Only" or Safe Mode Command Prompt
>> Only" from the boot menu as I described, the correct method to exit
>> DOS and reboot is to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete. The other methods do not
>> work, as you found out. That is as it should be.
>>
>> EXIT only works from a DOS box in Windows, or from a DOS boot using
>> "Start> Shutdown> Restart in MS-DOS Mode", from Windows.
>>
>> Although Bill's suggestion of using "WIN" will work, I don't
>> recommend it.
>>
> Just curious about why you don't recommend it.
> Buffalo (no, not Buffalo Bill) :)
> PS: Does it have something about not completing the Registry or something
> else?

Sorry...I thought it was Bill in Co. that had mentioned WIN, but it was you. It's
just a general non-recommendation for me. It applies mostly to when one boot to DOS
mode using the Restart in MS-DOS Mode method , or more especially when one uses a
DOS shortcut (.pif) using the "Specify a new...." option, where an alternate DOS
environment can be set up in the .pif, which may not be suitable for running Windows
atop.
So, I just generally avoid using the option of typing WIN altogether, as I see too
many opportunities for it to lead to a dirty Windows session, depending on the
circumstances. I haven't started Windows with a WIN command since the days of
Windows 3.x :-)
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
http://dts-l.net/
http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm

[glee]

"Buffalo" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> glee wrote:
>> When you boot to "Command Prompt Only" or Safe Mode Command Prompt
>> Only" from the boot menu as I described, the correct method to exit
>> DOS and reboot is to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete. The other methods do not
>> work, as you found out. That is as it should be.
>>
>> EXIT only works from a DOS box in Windows, or from a DOS boot using
>> "Start> Shutdown> Restart in MS-DOS Mode", from Windows.
>>
>> Although Bill's suggestion of using "WIN" will work, I don't
>> recommend it.
>>
> Just curious about why you don't recommend it.
> Buffalo (no, not Buffalo Bill) :)
> PS: Does it have something about not completing the Registry or something
> else?

Sorry...I thought it was Bill in Co. that had mentioned WIN, but it was you. It's
just a general non-recommendation for me. It applies mostly to when one boot to DOS
mode using the Restart in MS-DOS Mode method , or more especially when one uses a
DOS shortcut (.pif) using the "Specify a new...." option, where an alternate DOS
environment can be set up in the .pif, which may not be suitable for running Windows
atop.
So, I just generally avoid using the option of typing WIN altogether, as I see too
many opportunities for it to lead to a dirty Windows session, depending on the
circumstances. I haven't started Windows with a WIN command since the days of
Windows 3.x :-)
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
http://dts-l.net/
http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm

[Bill in Co.]

glee wrote:
> "Buffalo" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>>
>> glee wrote:
>>> When you boot to "Command Prompt Only" or Safe Mode Command Prompt
>>> Only" from the boot menu as I described, the correct method to exit
>>> DOS and reboot is to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete. The other methods do not
>>> work, as you found out. That is as it should be.
>>>
>>> EXIT only works from a DOS box in Windows, or from a DOS boot using
>>> "Start> Shutdown> Restart in MS-DOS Mode", from Windows.
>>>
>>> Although Bill's suggestion of using "WIN" will work, I don't
>>> recommend it.
>>>
>> Just curious about why you don't recommend it.
>> Buffalo (no, not Buffalo Bill) :)
>> PS: Does it have something about not completing the Registry or something
>> else?
>
> Sorry...I thought it was Bill in Co. that had mentioned WIN, but it was
> you.

Nope, it sure wasn't me. :-)

> It's just a general non-recommendation for me. It applies mostly to when
> one
> boot to DOS mode using the Restart in MS-DOS Mode method , or more
> especially
> when one uses a DOS shortcut (.pif) using the "Specify a new...." option,
> where an alternate DOS environment can be set up in the .pif, which may
> not
> be suitable for running Windows atop.
> So, I just generally avoid using the option of typing WIN altogether, as I
> see too many opportunities for it to lead to a dirty Windows session,
> depending on the circumstances. I haven't started Windows with a WIN
> command since the days of Windows 3.x :-)

Same here, Glen. Rebooting is the best way: the most complete, and least
potentially problematic, method. With no reliance of what's in memory at
the time, or whatever. IOW, it's the cleanest approach (short of doing a
COLD reboot)

[Bill in Co.]

glee wrote:
> "Buffalo" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>>
>> glee wrote:
>>> When you boot to "Command Prompt Only" or Safe Mode Command Prompt
>>> Only" from the boot menu as I described, the correct method to exit
>>> DOS and reboot is to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete. The other methods do not
>>> work, as you found out. That is as it should be.
>>>
>>> EXIT only works from a DOS box in Windows, or from a DOS boot using
>>> "Start> Shutdown> Restart in MS-DOS Mode", from Windows.
>>>
>>> Although Bill's suggestion of using "WIN" will work, I don't
>>> recommend it.
>>>
>> Just curious about why you don't recommend it.
>> Buffalo (no, not Buffalo Bill) :)
>> PS: Does it have something about not completing the Registry or something
>> else?
>
> Sorry...I thought it was Bill in Co. that had mentioned WIN, but it was
> you.

Nope, it sure wasn't me. :-)

> It's just a general non-recommendation for me. It applies mostly to when
> one
> boot to DOS mode using the Restart in MS-DOS Mode method , or more
> especially
> when one uses a DOS shortcut (.pif) using the "Specify a new...." option,
> where an alternate DOS environment can be set up in the .pif, which may
> not
> be suitable for running Windows atop.
> So, I just generally avoid using the option of typing WIN altogether, as I
> see too many opportunities for it to lead to a dirty Windows session,
> depending on the circumstances. I haven't started Windows with a WIN
> command since the days of Windows 3.x :-)

Same here, Glen. Rebooting is the best way: the most complete, and least
potentially problematic, method. With no reliance of what's in memory at
the time, or whatever. IOW, it's the cleanest approach (short of doing a
COLD reboot)

[glee]

"thanatoid" > wrote in message
...
> "glee" > wrote in
> :
>
>> The procedure that was recommended by a group of MVPs and
>> MS support folks after a long run of testing, is to run:
>> scanreg /opt /fix
>>
>> It is suggested to run it 3 times in succession, as it will
>> sometimes be able to do more on the second and third try.
>>
>> Obviously, this will not remove the keys you mentioned from
>> the uninstalled program...that you must do manually.
>
> Hi Glen,
>
> What's the difference between the scanregw in Win \root and
> scanreg in \command?
> I ran "scanregw /?" and in a **split second** it said "no
> problems found, would you like to backup?" or something. /VERY/
> confidence-inspiring.
>
> Can running "scanreg /fix" screw things up? Or is that a really
> dumb question, and "anyone that doesn't back up the registry
> deserves what they get" ?
>
> Also, my /? does not display /OPT which I would ASSUME means
> "optimize". Is that a hidden argument (is that the right word?)
> or what?
>
> Thanks.

Scanregw is the Windows protected mode Registry tool, which is set via the startup
axis with the /autorun switch, to backup the Registry once a day at first boot.
Scanregw checks the Registry for errors, backs it up automatically and also on
demand, and will optimize it automatically when enabled, if the Registry files
contain more than 500 KB of empty space. Scanregw.exe scans the Registry in memory
for damage when Windows starts, and if damage is found, it orders a restart so that
the DOS-mode scanreg.exe can repair the damage.

Scanreg.exe is used to restore the Registry from DOS mode, as well as to backup, fix
and/or to optimize the Registry files on demand.

Scanreg /fix and /opt work very well and I personally have never seen any problems
from running them. YMMV, so yes, a backup should always be made first.

The /opt parameter is not shown when you run scanreg /?. It is a hidden switch,
what is usually referred to as an undocumented switch...though it has subsequently
been heavily documented since. :-)


Description of the Windows Registry Checker Tool (Scanreg.exe)
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=183887

Command-Line Switches for the Registry Checker Tool
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=184023

How to Manually Restore the Windows 98 Registry
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=221512

How to Customize Registry Checker Tool Settings
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=183603

Registry Backup Not Listed in Registry Checker Tool
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=182841

Registry Checker Continues to Detect Registry Damage
http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=186909

"Error Message: You Have Restored a Good Registry..."
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=201655

Out of Memory" Error Running Scanreg.exe with /Fix or /Restore
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=187680

Cannot Complete Setup After Receiving Scanreg Error Message
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=183091

Error Message: Restore Operation Failed:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=220878

"System Restore Operation Failed" Error Message When Restoring Previous Registry:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=245412

--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
http://dts-l.net/
http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm

[glee]

"thanatoid" > wrote in message
...
> "glee" > wrote in
> :
>
>> The procedure that was recommended by a group of MVPs and
>> MS support folks after a long run of testing, is to run:
>> scanreg /opt /fix
>>
>> It is suggested to run it 3 times in succession, as it will
>> sometimes be able to do more on the second and third try.
>>
>> Obviously, this will not remove the keys you mentioned from
>> the uninstalled program...that you must do manually.
>
> Hi Glen,
>
> What's the difference between the scanregw in Win \root and
> scanreg in \command?
> I ran "scanregw /?" and in a **split second** it said "no
> problems found, would you like to backup?" or something. /VERY/
> confidence-inspiring.
>
> Can running "scanreg /fix" screw things up? Or is that a really
> dumb question, and "anyone that doesn't back up the registry
> deserves what they get" ?
>
> Also, my /? does not display /OPT which I would ASSUME means
> "optimize". Is that a hidden argument (is that the right word?)
> or what?
>
> Thanks.

Scanregw is the Windows protected mode Registry tool, which is set via the startup
axis with the /autorun switch, to backup the Registry once a day at first boot.
Scanregw checks the Registry for errors, backs it up automatically and also on
demand, and will optimize it automatically when enabled, if the Registry files
contain more than 500 KB of empty space. Scanregw.exe scans the Registry in memory
for damage when Windows starts, and if damage is found, it orders a restart so that
the DOS-mode scanreg.exe can repair the damage.

Scanreg.exe is used to restore the Registry from DOS mode, as well as to backup, fix
and/or to optimize the Registry files on demand.

Scanreg /fix and /opt work very well and I personally have never seen any problems
from running them. YMMV, so yes, a backup should always be made first.

The /opt parameter is not shown when you run scanreg /?. It is a hidden switch,
what is usually referred to as an undocumented switch...though it has subsequently
been heavily documented since. :-)


Description of the Windows Registry Checker Tool (Scanreg.exe)
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=183887

Command-Line Switches for the Registry Checker Tool
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=184023

How to Manually Restore the Windows 98 Registry
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=221512

How to Customize Registry Checker Tool Settings
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=183603

Registry Backup Not Listed in Registry Checker Tool
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=182841

Registry Checker Continues to Detect Registry Damage
http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=186909

"Error Message: You Have Restored a Good Registry..."
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=201655

Out of Memory" Error Running Scanreg.exe with /Fix or /Restore
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=187680

Cannot Complete Setup After Receiving Scanreg Error Message
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=183091

Error Message: Restore Operation Failed:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=220878

"System Restore Operation Failed" Error Message When Restoring Previous Registry:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=245412

--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
http://dts-l.net/
http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm

[glee]

> wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:42:21 -0500, "glee" >
> wrote:
>
>>* Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and sometimes
>>harmful.
>
> I dont totally agree with this. Everything in the registry has to
> load and it eats resources. Why load garbage from old trial software
> and uninstalled programs? Not only that, but the registry contains a
> lot of other useless crap. When I run RegSeeker, it shows not only
> uninstalled programs, but everytime I run winzip the filename.zip that
> I unzipped gets stored in the registry, and if I delete "lecture.txt"
> from my harddrive, that filename and location shows up in a registry
> cleanup as C:\temp\lecture.txt is "not found". I always wondered why
> the registry saves all that crap anyhow, and why is the reg entry not
> removed when the file is deleted.
>
> In my opinion, NOT cleaning the registry is about the same things as
> an office worker tossing all the obsolete and outdated paperwork on
> their desk and the floor next to their desk, until eventually they
> cant even get to their desk chair.
>
> Since MS wasn't smart enough to make the registry automatically remove
> unneeded reg entries, we users got to do the job. Maybe those that
> dont clean the registry are the same people who say they have to
> reinstall windows from scratch every 2 years or so??????
> I clean the registry every 2 or 3 weeks, and Ive used the same install
> of Win98 for almost 10 years, and it works well. I have never had any
> problems running reg cleaners, but I read EVERYTHING it wants to
> remove before I let it remove it. Yet, I have never found anything
> that it wanted to remove that was wrong, except the few times I copied
> a program to a backup to gain drive space, and planned to put the
> program back, thus I wanted to save the registry entry.
>
> Just my 2 cents.

Actually, it is more likely the people that use Registry cleaners that find it
necessary to reinstall every two years....at least those who do not take great care
in what they allow to be removed. I have used Registry cleaners to search after a
program is uninstalled, and find them of mixed value. Far better to monitor
installations so one knows exactly what Registry changes were made and what files
were added or changed in the file system.

I have a few Win98 and Win95 systems, some of which are at least 12 years old and
were never reinstalled, and no Registry cleaners were used or required.

BTW, your contention that "Everything in the registry has to load and it eats
resources" is not exactly the case, and even after "cleaning" and compacting the
Registry, there is negligible change in performance. The main reason to ensure
programs are removed completely is so that the optimization process (which is
actually compacting) can help keep the Registry below the maximum workable size,
IMO. It is the compaction process of the /opt switch that rids the Registry files
of dead space and may speed registry access, while allowing for a sort of
defragmentation of the Registry files.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
http://dts-l.net/
http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm

[glee]

> wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:42:21 -0500, "glee" >
> wrote:
>
>>* Removing supposed "old registry entries" is rarely necessary and sometimes
>>harmful.
>
> I dont totally agree with this. Everything in the registry has to
> load and it eats resources. Why load garbage from old trial software
> and uninstalled programs? Not only that, but the registry contains a
> lot of other useless crap. When I run RegSeeker, it shows not only
> uninstalled programs, but everytime I run winzip the filename.zip that
> I unzipped gets stored in the registry, and if I delete "lecture.txt"
> from my harddrive, that filename and location shows up in a registry
> cleanup as C:\temp\lecture.txt is "not found". I always wondered why
> the registry saves all that crap anyhow, and why is the reg entry not
> removed when the file is deleted.
>
> In my opinion, NOT cleaning the registry is about the same things as
> an office worker tossing all the obsolete and outdated paperwork on
> their desk and the floor next to their desk, until eventually they
> cant even get to their desk chair.
>
> Since MS wasn't smart enough to make the registry automatically remove
> unneeded reg entries, we users got to do the job. Maybe those that
> dont clean the registry are the same people who say they have to
> reinstall windows from scratch every 2 years or so??????
> I clean the registry every 2 or 3 weeks, and Ive used the same install
> of Win98 for almost 10 years, and it works well. I have never had any
> problems running reg cleaners, but I read EVERYTHING it wants to
> remove before I let it remove it. Yet, I have never found anything
> that it wanted to remove that was wrong, except the few times I copied
> a program to a backup to gain drive space, and planned to put the
> program back, thus I wanted to save the registry entry.
>
> Just my 2 cents.

Actually, it is more likely the people that use Registry cleaners that find it
necessary to reinstall every two years....at least those who do not take great care
in what they allow to be removed. I have used Registry cleaners to search after a
program is uninstalled, and find them of mixed value. Far better to monitor
installations so one knows exactly what Registry changes were made and what files
were added or changed in the file system.

I have a few Win98 and Win95 systems, some of which are at least 12 years old and
were never reinstalled, and no Registry cleaners were used or required.

BTW, your contention that "Everything in the registry has to load and it eats
resources" is not exactly the case, and even after "cleaning" and compacting the
Registry, there is negligible change in performance. The main reason to ensure
programs are removed completely is so that the optimization process (which is
actually compacting) can help keep the Registry below the maximum workable size,
IMO. It is the compaction process of the /opt switch that rids the Registry files
of dead space and may speed registry access, while allowing for a sort of
defragmentation of the Registry files.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
http://dts-l.net/
http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm

[thanatoid]

"glee" > wrote in
:

> "thanatoid" > wrote in message
> ...

>> Hi Glen,
>>
>> What's the difference between the scanregw in Win \root
>> and scanreg in \command?

<SNIP>

Thank you very much for your comprehensive and informative
answer.
I have saved it for future reference.

(Yes, "switch" was the word... Gray cells dying as I type...)



--
"We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are."
Anais Nin

[thanatoid]

"glee" > wrote in
:

> "thanatoid" > wrote in message
> ...

>> Hi Glen,
>>
>> What's the difference between the scanregw in Win \root
>> and scanreg in \command?

<SNIP>

Thank you very much for your comprehensive and informative
answer.
I have saved it for future reference.

(Yes, "switch" was the word... Gray cells dying as I type...)



--
"We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are."
Anais Nin

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

In message >,
writes:
[]
>Ok, thanks for the info. I just ran regseeker because I knew it would
>find a pile of junk. A friend is trying to repair a very old computer
>and needed some old dos utilities. I have hundreds of old dos utils.
>But I had to unzip a bunch of them to find the right ones, and I
>created several folders to unzip to. After I found what he needed, I
>emailed him the files and deleted all the unzipped files and temp
>folders. Running Regseeker found ALL these folders and references to
>all this stuff I had just deleted as well as winzip storing a list of
>all the stuff I unzipped, despite the fact I have winzip set to the
>most minimal number of files saved. This is the sort of junk that I
>have never understood why this stuff is even put into the registry in
>the first place. I wasn't installing any programs, just dorting thru
>a bunch of files to determine what I needed. Dumb dumb dumb on
>Microsoft's part... Besides cluttering the registry, there can be

To be fair, Winzip isn't part of Windows. (There _is_ a .zip handler
built into XP, though I've found its behaviour inconsistent [sometimes
it shows them as imitation directories, and sometimes it doesn't].)
[]
But I do agree, far more goes into the registry than ought - IMO, only
things to do with the OS ought to be there, with anything specific to a
particular application being in its own .ini file or similar. (And
_those_ should be in its own area, not \windows or one of its sub's,
too.) OK, they can arrange for the .ini or whatever - or the settings it
represents - to stay in memory to speed things up, but they shouldn't be
part of the registry.

But it ain't gonna happen ... )-:

Actually, I think there are utilities that monitor changes to the
registry and ask you to approve them - but I imagine that they are a
wright payne to use, as they'll ask you about every little thing.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL(+++)IS-P--Ch+(p)Ar+T[?]H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

"When I was young I used to scintillate
now I only sin 'til ten past three" (Ogden Nash) [via Andy Breen]

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

In message >,
writes:
[]
>Ok, thanks for the info. I just ran regseeker because I knew it would
>find a pile of junk. A friend is trying to repair a very old computer
>and needed some old dos utilities. I have hundreds of old dos utils.
>But I had to unzip a bunch of them to find the right ones, and I
>created several folders to unzip to. After I found what he needed, I
>emailed him the files and deleted all the unzipped files and temp
>folders. Running Regseeker found ALL these folders and references to
>all this stuff I had just deleted as well as winzip storing a list of
>all the stuff I unzipped, despite the fact I have winzip set to the
>most minimal number of files saved. This is the sort of junk that I
>have never understood why this stuff is even put into the registry in
>the first place. I wasn't installing any programs, just dorting thru
>a bunch of files to determine what I needed. Dumb dumb dumb on
>Microsoft's part... Besides cluttering the registry, there can be

To be fair, Winzip isn't part of Windows. (There _is_ a .zip handler
built into XP, though I've found its behaviour inconsistent [sometimes
it shows them as imitation directories, and sometimes it doesn't].)
[]
But I do agree, far more goes into the registry than ought - IMO, only
things to do with the OS ought to be there, with anything specific to a
particular application being in its own .ini file or similar. (And
_those_ should be in its own area, not \windows or one of its sub's,
too.) OK, they can arrange for the .ini or whatever - or the settings it
represents - to stay in memory to speed things up, but they shouldn't be
part of the registry.

But it ain't gonna happen ... )-:

Actually, I think there are utilities that monitor changes to the
registry and ask you to approve them - but I imagine that they are a
wright payne to use, as they'll ask you about every little thing.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL(+++)IS-P--Ch+(p)Ar+T[?]H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

"When I was young I used to scintillate
now I only sin 'til ten past three" (Ogden Nash) [via Andy Breen]