JasonD
New member
I love poking around on download.com to see what new tricks and tools they have, and found a program called Registry Mechanic. This is a really cool tool that keeps your registry maintained, and your computer in top performance. Here's a quote from download.com:
Software Publisher's Description
Registry Mechanic is an advanced registry cleaner for Windows that allows you to safely scan, clean, and repair registry problems with a few simple mouse clicks. Problems with the Windows Registry are a common cause of Windows crashes and error messages. By using PC tune-up utilities such as registry cleaners regularly, your system will be more stable, your software will run quicker, and your operating system will boot faster. Registry problems can occur for many reasons, including references left behind after uninstallation; incorrect removal of software; missing or corrupt hardware drivers; or orphaned start-up programs. With a few easy steps, Registry Mechanic will scan your entire registry for any invalid entries and provide a list of the errors found. You then can choose to clean each item or automatically repair them all after making a backup without the need for a registry editor such as Regedit. PC Tools products are free of spyware and adware.
Version 4.0 improves scanning speed and problem detection, includes a customizable ignore list for selective scan, and features an online Live Update facility.
Download.com Review of Registry Mechanic 5
Although not feature rich, this simple utility checks your registry for errors that can slow down and even crash your computer. Registry Mechanic finds a wide range of defects, including references to already uninstalled programs, missing help files, broken shortcuts, virtual devices, start-up programs, fonts, and configuration files. It also can automatically repair invalid entries at Windows start-up. If removing an entry causes problems with your system, you can restore the registry from backups. Users have a choice of Quick Scan or a more comprehensive Deep Scan, as well as a custom scan option. The aesthetically appealing interface is uncomplicated and easy to use, but Registry Mechanic is a one-trick pony. It does a great job on registry maintenance, but we would like to see other features to help keep computers running smoothly. Any computer user will find Registry Mechanic easy to run and a good way of keeping Windows in tip-top shape.
I'm usually skeptical about programs like this locking up my computer, but it didn't do that at all. My computer is running about 25% faster, and shuts down in a fraction of the time it used to. Before running RM, and applying the tweaks I was running a memory load of 23% at idle. Now, after the tweaks applied, registry cleaned, and defragmented I am at a 20% load at idle. 3% doesn't sound like much, but the computer is certainly responding to it. The trial version pretty much tells you how many errors you have, but it doesn't really make any performace increases. I got bit by the bug and went ahead and purchased the full program, which was a little steep, but in the end was worth it, IMO.
I haven't found a program that made this much of a difference since someone posted a link to the new Microsoft AntiSpyware program, which is awesome too by the way.
Anyway, if you're one of those guys that just can't leave your computer alone and wants an easy tweak, this is it. Have fun!
By the way, my computer is less than six months old and I had over 400 errors that RM found and repaired.
Software Publisher's Description
Registry Mechanic is an advanced registry cleaner for Windows that allows you to safely scan, clean, and repair registry problems with a few simple mouse clicks. Problems with the Windows Registry are a common cause of Windows crashes and error messages. By using PC tune-up utilities such as registry cleaners regularly, your system will be more stable, your software will run quicker, and your operating system will boot faster. Registry problems can occur for many reasons, including references left behind after uninstallation; incorrect removal of software; missing or corrupt hardware drivers; or orphaned start-up programs. With a few easy steps, Registry Mechanic will scan your entire registry for any invalid entries and provide a list of the errors found. You then can choose to clean each item or automatically repair them all after making a backup without the need for a registry editor such as Regedit. PC Tools products are free of spyware and adware.
Version 4.0 improves scanning speed and problem detection, includes a customizable ignore list for selective scan, and features an online Live Update facility.
Download.com Review of Registry Mechanic 5
Although not feature rich, this simple utility checks your registry for errors that can slow down and even crash your computer. Registry Mechanic finds a wide range of defects, including references to already uninstalled programs, missing help files, broken shortcuts, virtual devices, start-up programs, fonts, and configuration files. It also can automatically repair invalid entries at Windows start-up. If removing an entry causes problems with your system, you can restore the registry from backups. Users have a choice of Quick Scan or a more comprehensive Deep Scan, as well as a custom scan option. The aesthetically appealing interface is uncomplicated and easy to use, but Registry Mechanic is a one-trick pony. It does a great job on registry maintenance, but we would like to see other features to help keep computers running smoothly. Any computer user will find Registry Mechanic easy to run and a good way of keeping Windows in tip-top shape.
I'm usually skeptical about programs like this locking up my computer, but it didn't do that at all. My computer is running about 25% faster, and shuts down in a fraction of the time it used to. Before running RM, and applying the tweaks I was running a memory load of 23% at idle. Now, after the tweaks applied, registry cleaned, and defragmented I am at a 20% load at idle. 3% doesn't sound like much, but the computer is certainly responding to it. The trial version pretty much tells you how many errors you have, but it doesn't really make any performace increases. I got bit by the bug and went ahead and purchased the full program, which was a little steep, but in the end was worth it, IMO.
I haven't found a program that made this much of a difference since someone posted a link to the new Microsoft AntiSpyware program, which is awesome too by the way.
Anyway, if you're one of those guys that just can't leave your computer alone and wants an easy tweak, this is it. Have fun!
By the way, my computer is less than six months old and I had over 400 errors that RM found and repaired.
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Oh well, if it keeps my computer safer, no big deal. I don't notice any difference in performance anyway. :spot
) It's very versatile, easy to customize and Ad-Aware ALWAYS picks up stuff that MSAS and SB don't. Granted they are usually tracking cookies, but I think it would be well worth a try before you shell out for SpySweeper.
So far, so good. Thanks for the thread (I think