Best Registry Cleaner for Windows 7 - Comments Page 1

I have been using System Mechanic for several years. They produced a new version shortly after Windows 7 came out, and it seems to do a very good job.

Two used all the time on Windows 7, Vista & XP and both freeware versions with never a problem of aggressive cleaning causing problems: Glary Utilities from http://www.glarysoft.com/ and Little Registry Cleaner open source from http://sourceforge.net/projects/littlecleaner/ .

Glary Utilities ahs a suite of maintenance programs that includes a registry cleaner. It usually finds items it says should be "fixed" and I've never had a problem from it yet.

I'm not sure whether to hope that you haven't used Uniblue (which would make your review suspect), or to hope that you HAVE used Uniblue (which would make your judgement suspect). All readers should do themselves a favor and google "uniblue scam" before installing - even before the "free" registry check. The amount of horror stories about this company are so enormous that nothing I could say here could add to it. My virus checker even warned me to stop when I attempted to download their "free" check, and that's when I remembered the crazy issues I had with them a few years ago when I tried them previously. Mr. Rankin, for the sake of your reputation and integrity, you should amend your recommendation.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Ian, My integrity is not based on your opinion of me or of Uniblue. For the record, I have used the Uniblue Registry Booster, and found that it worked well. But I'm not alone in that assessment. CNET gives it 4 stars, Kim Komando recommends it, and PC World's Simcha Gralla wrote "if you're looking for absolute top-of-the-line cleaning, RegistryBooster is worth it." It's also worth noting what TopTenReviews says: "Uniblue RegistryBooster has greatly improved in the last few years and we are pleased to relate that they have corrected some glitches that reviewers and users complained about a few years ago."

You can find horror stories about any popular piece of software, but when you throw naive users with massively broken/infected computers into the mix, you are likely to get even more. It's also human nature to complain when you're upset with a product, but people rarely speak out when they're happy. I think it's safe to say that the vast majority of those who use Uniblue products are very satisfied. I'll stand by my recommendation for Uniblue Registry Booster.

Two recommendations: This one from our IT tech, who swears by it: http://www.pctools.com/registry-mechanic/ ; and the one I use regularly, PC Pitstop's PCMatic: http://www.pcpitstop.com/store/pcmatic.asp which is a suite. There are free scans on their Web site.

What do you think of "TweakNow RegCleaner 2011"?
It's free and seems to do no harm. It also cleans junk and optimizes.

I have used JV16 Power tools from Macecraft for several years now and in addition to cleaning the registry there are registry finder, registry find and replace, (I really like that feature), compactor, information, monitor and Manager. It is not free, it is the same price as Uniblue but is a onetime lifetime fee.

Other features that I have not tried are File Tools, System Tools, Privacy Tools, Backups, Settings, PC health and Registry health graphs.

I first use CCleaner then JV16 on monthly backups

Dear Bob,
As a reg. cleaner and it does a lot more, I use since a long time PCMatic from PCPitstop. It does a marvelous job.
Before shutting down, I use CCleaner every time. PCMatic every three or four weeks.
I like your advice.

KInd regards,
Paulus Kruijer

I noticed you did not list Registry Mechanic. Is it not as good?

Hii Bob

What about registry mechanic? I have been using that for years. Not sure though if there is a version for win 7. There

is a regular update I am not sure what the updates are for. This is not free.

Thanks

Prem

I assume these 4 cleaners are ok to use with XP and Vista?

CCleaner works great. I allso use Glary Utility's weekly.They both seem to do an exelent job keeping both of my systems clean.
Glary Utility's is allso free.

I use Ace Utility at http://www.acelogix.com/
Several years ago their software found the registry errors left over from an HP printer uninstall/reinstall that even HP's scrubber program didn't locate. After using Ace Utility all was well, and I continue to use it. btw, if you use ccleaner, and subsequently use ace utility you will see what I mean. Also be sure to select 'thorough' clean in option settings.

there are two programs i like the most "Glary Utilities" & "Windows Doctor".........
Windows doctor is good for windows 7 but better for windows xp

I've been using Eusing Free Registry Cleaner for years. No problems.

Bob,

CCleaner is an excellent product, but another superb and reliable product is Auslogics Register Cleaner. Also, for what it's worth, Auslogics has an excellent Disk Defrag.

http://www.auslogics.com/en/software/

Thanks

hi bob Windows Live OneCare safety scanner is a free

My favorite registry cleaner is http://www.ubuntu.com

EDITOR'S NOTE: I take it you wouldn't be running a dual boot system? :-)

I have a few comments on what I've just read here,
IMHO,
1- I've found AML to do the best Job of all free regcleaners as far as removing useless files without making the PC useless after. and I now have it installed on xp 32, xp pro 64,and win 7 64, works great on all, if installed "RUN as ADMIN."

2- Somehow, I'm a little skeptical of these high priced reg cleaners like PARITO regclean which promised to fix just about everything.(which I tried & was horrible) and uniblue!!??hmmm!.(30$yearly is quite expensive for a registry cleaner, I'll bet it sings and dances too at that price.I'm no programmer but,
Bob, aren't registry cleaners fairly unsophisticated software not requiring much updating wich do a fairly simple job albeit automatically...this would account for all the free ones out there...OH! I almost forgot, MS always blames free software for having corrupted their OS so it seems they would have to live up to this argument by charging you for simplest things that they should be handing out freely, especially when it is about the mess that their OS leaves behind after doing a little bit of work.
And I agree with Harold, Ubuntu cleans Windows off a drive real nice, and it leaves no traces of any newer version of windows, should you later want to re-install an older windows. Hint!
It will also sometimes format HDD when windows refuses due to encrypted spots, and after doing that, Windows will be able to format the drive to NTFS again...funny isn't it?
But getting back to REGstry cleaners, How can they justify re-selling you the same product every year!... the gall!
Now that I use mostly free software on all my PC's ,they just never break down!, whereas before it cost me a fortune in software and was always in the shop. Go figure!
IMO, Uniblue is for the gulible, who believe the more you pay the better the product. IMO
I use: Avira, mbam,SAS,AMLregcleaner, My defrag,
ERUNT(for recovery)KMPlayer(wow!)IZarc,Foxit,Firefox,Tixati, COMODO firewall.Open Office3.3,networx...etc...never a glitch or virus anymore.
BTW, I deleted Malicious software removal tool last week from /system 32, (MRT.exe)after re-reading the EULA... it's the best thing I have ever done.
Since then internet usage status numbers now stand still for hours on all my windows PC's whenever I'm connected but not browsing anywhere.
With MRT.exe in the PC, there was alway a very mysterious trickle in and out (up to 25 mb a day sometimes ). I think I may be on to something HERE!
What do you think BOB?
I know, it's a different subject, but I felt obliged to throw it in now, while I'm thinking about it.
Love your columns Bob,
Jack

I have used RegSeeker for a long time. It is free and can detect more registries than any of the registry cleaner mentioned by you. It also creates a backup copy of the registry before doing anything to it. It runs well on windows 7 and in all other windows operating systems.