New Computer With Vista

[lufbra]

I just got a new computer (HP) with Vista on it, and I was wondering if anyone can suggest a good registry cleaner that'll work with it, and also a program that can enable/disablee programs/files running at start up?

Thanks in advance. :)

[AnnMarie]

Hi Dave. You can use the Startup tab options in msconfig to enable/disable startups just as you could in previous versions of Windows. To access it, click on Start > Start Search and type msconfig. Msconfig will appear at the top of the Menu. Rightclick on it and choose "Run as Administrator".

I dont recommend that you use a registry cleaner at all unless you have real problems caused by incorrect removal of software. Most programs will leave registry entries behind after an uninstall and they very rarely cause problems.

[lufbra]

Thanks AM. :)

Do you have a website with a list of what needs to be running at start up, and what can safely be shut down? I have a lot of HP stuff showing that can possibly be disabled, and there's sound card files running too.

The reason for asking about a registry cleaner was because I'd uninstalled a few programs. They were HP stuff and Norton's too, I was just hoping to clean out the "unused" files.

[AnnMarie]

Do you have a website with a list of what needs to be running at start up, and what can safely be shut down? I have a lot of HP stuff showing that can possibly be disabled, and there's sound card files running too.

Yep, see here (http://www.castlecops.com/modules.php?name=StartupList&query=km/h).

The reason for asking about a registry cleaner was because I'd uninstalled a few programs. They were HP stuff and Norton's too, I was just hoping to clean out the "unused" files.

Norton have a utility that will get rid of any leftover registry entries and files. Go here (http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039) and run the online Norton Removal Utility. It should get rid of Norton traces. HP, I wouldnt worry about unless the files are causing problems.

[syklitengutt]

Im an huge fan of CCleaner.
I just have to say that.

I have never had any problems, and it does allot more than just registry fixes.
Instead of deleting startup items, disable them with Windows Defender.
Works like a charm.

[AnnMarie]

Hi syklitengutt. Regarding CCleaner, I am going to quote a post a fellow MVP, Bill Castner made in July last year.

You do not remember when CCleaner caused tens of thousands of Windows computers to have to do an in-place upgrade / reinstallation becaused it corrupted all the index.dat files found on the computer? That you had to make a bootable floppy to start the computer again, had to reinstall OE, had to search through the Recycle bin for now missing .INF files, and delete thousands of files named OEM*.INF caused by CCleaner installing a bad driver wininit.dll?

That under Vista it deletes the WIC low integrity folders in the user TEMP folder used by IE, making you unable to print?

I certainly do.

I would not let CCleaner touch my hard drive, much less my registry hives.

I agree with Bill. While the above Vista issue has probably been fixed, there have been too many problems caused by this particular software for me to recommend it (there have been other issues aside from those quoted).

[syklitengutt]

Hmmm. Thats interesting.
Do you have any fully good substitute for CCleaner?
I don't want to risk reinstalling.

[AnnMarie]

I dont use a registry cleaner at all anymore syklitengutt. Any problems I edit manually although that has not been necessary with Vista yet.

See below for what one highly respected software guru had to say about this issue:

Mark Russinovich (Author of the "Bible", Windows Internals, co-founder of Winternals and Sysinternals, and since both companies were bought by Microsoft, now a senior Microsoft employee) was asked:

Quote: "Hi Mark, do you really think that Registry junk left by uninstalled programs could severely slow down the computer? I would like to 'hear' your opinion. "

Quote: "No, even if the registry was massively bloated there would be little impact on the performance of anything other than exhaustive searches (ed. of the registry itself).

"On Win2K Terminal Server systems, however, there is a limit on the total amount of Registry data that can be loaded and so large profile hives can limit the number of users that can be logged on simultaneously.

"I haven't and never will implement a Registry cleaner since it's of little practical use on anything other than Win2K terminal servers and developing one that's both safe and effective requires a huge amount of application-specific knowledge."

[freakinprince]

i would have to agree..i keep hearing about CCleaner and have installed it..used it once..and i got problems!!! but i knew what it what was changed and so on....i have yet to uninstall it..i am not even bothering going to try it out again....

Plus being a computer geek here, i rather go thru the hassle of fixing things up myself and learn so i can pass on the knowledge to other people that may come across it....

that's just my two cents

[lufbra]

Thanks. :)

I'm now wondering if I can uninstall any of the programs that came with the computer. I know some are related to the printer that came with the computer, but here's a list of what I'm not sure about...

HP Solutions Center
HP Photosmart Esential
HP Onscreen Cap/Num/Scroll Lock Indicator
HP Imaging Device Functions
HP Customer Participation Program
HP Active Support Library
Smart Data Fax Modem With SmartCP
muvee auto producer
Cyberlink DVD Suite Deluxe

I may also post a HJT list, just to see if everything is okay. :)

[AnnMarie]

Dave unless you are running short of hard drive space, just leave them. The main issue is to sort out your startups and you have the link for that.

[bol1]

I have to say I've used CCleaner many times on Windows XP SP2 and never ever had a problem with registry. I've not tried it on Vista yet.

But two questions then:

If CCleaner is so bad for you is there a registry cleaner that is better?

And what about the cookie cleaning part of CCleaner. Would I be better using something else to get rid of all the cookie junk that quickly builds up?

Mike

[freakinprince]

as far as cookies, most of them are good..its good to have cookies for websites that you frequently visit.... otherwise its just keep on loading and loading...

however, the only bad time to have cookies is when you are infected...then yeah its best to get rid of them cause it can contain the virus there and destory your machine!!! heh


that's just my expereince

[AnnMarie]

If CCleaner is so bad for you is there a registry cleaner that is better?

I can only repeat that I do not use a registry cleaner at all.

Would I be better using something else to get rid of all the cookie junk that quickly builds up?

Try ATF Cleaner. It's a simple little program and we use it extensively in the Cyber Safety Forum without any problems at all. You can download it here (http://www.majorgeeks.com/ATF_Cleaner_d4949.html) (do not download the Recommended Download on the mirror site). It can be used to remove all Temp Files, Cookies and Temp Internet Files, Java Cache and any others that you would like to remove. If you also use Opera or Firefox, also click on the cleaning options for each browser.