Solved Registry Cleaning

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Pyro

PCHF Advisor
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Jan 12, 2019
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Hello again!

Programs shuffle in an out as expected, while taking a peak at my registry I noticed a lot of old files and names. The cause of this was a residual tile on my Apps & Programs page that would not leave or disappear (Upon attempting to uninstall, it would site that the file(s) no longer exist), I removed the one with Regedit, but I don't dare go through and attempt to clean up all the old product keys/files.

Should I be worrying about this? Some sources claim a registry can go the life of a computer without ever being touched, while others claim the opposite.

If it is recommended, what programs are safe and reputable?

Thanks as always,
P
 
an old link, but still true.

Microsoft support policy for the use of registry cleaning utilities - Microsoft Support

Microsoft support policy for customers who use registry cleaning utilities.
support.microsoft.com support.microsoft.com

yes, there have been times when a quick Registry hack has fixed things for me BUT I can also equally state there have also been times when I have made things worse, requiring a complete reinstall.

there is no black and white answer on this one.

unless you have to, leave it well alone.
all I do now is every two years, reload Windows 'just because'.
I get the rig back to lean and clean, it's an opportunity to check my backups, and clean out old software.
plus it removes all the registry rot that has accumulated.
 
Bruce,

I did read that article, that being said, a lot of common practices for computer owners aren't by Microsoft's 'book' per say :ROFLMAO:
hence why I asked. (I did back up recently, so ideally any issues that come of it will be reversible.)

That makes sense, I perform system images as opposed to backups, so it might be necessary for me to complete a fresh install if I were to clean out the unnecessary entries.

Thank you for your advice,
 
system images are great for going back to a snapshot in time and resurrecting the whole PC as it was.
not good, in this case, if you want to remove registry rot. :)

we have all been there, playing around in the registry, wondering what this little tweak will do, only to find out at the next reboot that we cut just that little too deep. fun times!
 
That's what I meant, in the event I broke something worse than expected, I could jump the entire pc back. Redundancy! :cool:

That being said, a system restart later and everything seems to be working.

That has happened to me many of times, most recently being a system wipe with MacOS, stressful as it is, it's great for learning if one has that luxury.

However, I don't fancy a complete system refresh at the time being, so maybe it's just best to leave them, it will probably do more harm trying to clear them than not.
 
Thank you for your time, Bruce, good health to you and yours.

This thread can be marked as resolved by anyone with the power to do so, thank you!
 
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