Registry?

Roger Shackelton · Post by **Roger Shackelton** » 8 Jun 2006 1:28 am

I received a message Wednesday informing me that there is a problem with my registry. I was directed to go to www regfixit.com

Is this the correct way to fix a registry?

< edited by Wiz to deactivate link to slimeball spamming website >[This message was edited by Wiz Feinberg on 08 June 2006 at 08:45 AM.]

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 8 Jun 2006 2:07 am

Avoid the Registry repair programs like the plague. They generally tend to "break" more than they "fix".

That must have been some spyware notice you got.

Pat Kelly · Post by **Pat Kelly** » 8 Jun 2006 3:01 am

Don't touch it.

Dave Potter · Post by **Dave Potter** » 8 Jun 2006 4:54 am

Sounds to me like some form of hook from "regfixit.com" trying to get you to buy their product.

I'm unfamiliar with them, so can't recommend them or comment on it, but, I can, and will, recommend Registry Mechanic. It's not free, but it's not expensive either, and I've been using it at least weekly for a couple of years with absolutely NO problems.

It's quite common that when we uninstall applications, the uninstall routine is poorly coded, and fails to remove all the registry items related to that application. This can easily be confirmed by manual perusal of the registry after performing these "uninstalls".

The result, over time and after numerous incomplete uninstalls, is a registry that's filled with useless entries referring to non-existent files and other things that no longer exist on your hard drive. I happen to believe that a clean registry is a good thing.

If I were you, I would not take any action based on that "message". I offer these comments simply to make the point that never doing any kind of registry "hygiene" can lead to a bloated registry and possible reduced system efficiency, and that there is at least one utility available that can address these issues, without adverse effect.[This message was edited by Dave Potter on 08 June 2006 at 08:28 AM.]

Richard Bass · Post by **Richard Bass** » 8 Jun 2006 5:42 am

I have to agree with Dave, it sounds like a fake positive to get you to spend money.
I also use Registry Mechanic and have no problems at all.
Richard

Bill Miller · Post by **Bill Miller** » 8 Jun 2006 6:02 am

I have seen the same 'come-on' or something very similar. Ignore it...it's an advertisement. There are reputable PC utility software companies like 'Symantec' (makers of Norton Antivirus etc.)and I would trust something like that to repair registry problems, but such software is not free and they do not sell by infecting your system with adware like the one you describe. [This message was edited by Bill Miller on 08 June 2006 at 07:03 AM.]

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 8 Jun 2006 7:28 am

I received a message Wednesday informing me that there is a problem with my registry. I was directed to go to regfixit.com

Roger;
How exactly did the notice appear? It might reveal a vulnerability in your security settings if it was a Messenger Service popup.

Have a look at the screen captures of Messenger Service spam, on this website

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Bob "Wiz" Feinberg
Moderator of the SGF Computers Forum
Visit my Wiztunes Steel Guitar website at: http://www.wiztunes.com/
or my computer troubleshooting website: Wizcrafts Computer Services,
or my Webmaster Services webpage.
Learn about current computer virus and security threats here.
Read Wiz's Blog for security news and update notices[This message was edited by Wiz Feinberg on 08 June 2006 at 08:30 AM.][This message was edited by Wiz Feinberg on 08 June 2006 at 08:32 AM.]

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 8 Jun 2006 7:52 am

I have used Registry Mechanic and it's no different than the others. If you let it, it will delete needed startup items and registry items. It also installs various startup and "tune up" items.

I spent 4 hours fixing a customer's PC that Registry Mechanic had "fixed".

erik · Post by **erik** » 8 Jun 2006 1:02 pm

A few years ago after experiencing too many blue screens with varying error codes I investigated a solution. After doing a Google search a company located at healthycomputerclub.com provided an excellent pitch at their site on how their product would fix registry errors. I bought the product, PC Rescue and it ironed out all my problems. I was going to buy a whole new computer. It wasn't necessary. As regards "start up" files this does the opposite, it actually identifies what programs install start-up files and gives you the control to stop them from loading. I am very happy with this product, it saved me a lot of headaches and money. It is essential that I use this product with WIN98 and no one could convince me otherwise. I can't say it is useful for other O.S. but for 98, it's 2 thumbs up.

[edit]I just realized I never checked my start up options since downloading the security suite from Yahoo. Just found out I have 6 more programs trying to run at start-up. I unchecked them. 21 total programs nixed at start-up thanks to PC Rescue. I can uncheck them any time. BTW Jack, they offer 50% commission on affiliate.

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-johnson

[This message was edited by erik on 08 June 2006 at 02:03 PM.][This message was edited by erik on 08 June 2006 at 02:07 PM.][This message was edited by erik on 08 June 2006 at 02:23 PM.]

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 8 Jun 2006 8:34 pm

Roger's problem is not a cluttered Windows Registry, although it may in fact have useless leftover entries that could stand to be removed. The issue here is that Roger received a popup notice informing him that his computer has "Critical Registry Problems" that can only be fixed by purchasing the spamvertised phoney product (see O.P.).

His real problem is that his computer is probably not protected by either a hardware or software firewall. The tell-tale give-away is the popup system-like messages used by the purveyors of this type of sleazeware. These messages are usually Messenger Service popups that are caused by exploiting an unprotected UDP port on all unpatched Windows 2000 or XP SP1 computers. Messenger spam usually comes in over UDP Ports 1025 through 1031 (mostly 1026 and 1027). While these popup alerts are annoying they are an indication of a vulnerability that needs to be patched.

If they are not Messenger Service popups, they must be system tray area popups caused by an infection like SpyAxe, SpyFalcon, Spy Sherrif, SpywareQuake, or similar "rogue" products. If he is getting those popups he has worse problems than if they are just Messenger Service spam.

Roger; You had better get some good anti-spyware programs and scan for infections and pests, as soon as possible. I have links to the best of the bunch on the my Blog, on the right sidebar, near the top.

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Bob "Wiz" Feinberg
Moderator of the SGF Computers Forum
Visit my Wiztunes Steel Guitar website at: http://www.wiztunes.com/
or my computer troubleshooting website: Wizcrafts Computer Services,
or my Webmaster Services webpage.
Learn about current computer virus and security threats here.
Read Wiz's Blog for security news and update notices

[This message was edited by Wiz Feinberg on 08 June 2006 at 09:38 PM.]

Dave Potter · Post by **Dave Potter** » 9 Jun 2006 9:26 am

Roger's problem is not a cluttered Windows Registry

Agree. My point was simply that there are good reasons to use "registry cleaners", and that all of them are not useless.

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 9 Jun 2006 10:16 am

Dave;
My comment wasn't particularly directed at you. I'm just trying to keep this thread on-topic and help Roger figure out what is causing the false popup alerts. If you guys want to discuss Registry cleanup programs I believe that would be a great new thread for somebody to start.

------------------
Bob "Wiz" Feinberg
Moderator of the SGF Computers Forum
Visit my Wiztunes Steel Guitar website at: http://www.wiztunes.com/
or my computer troubleshooting website: Wizcrafts Computer Services,
or my Webmaster Services webpage.
Learn about current computer virus and security threats here.
Read Wiz's Blog for security news and update notices

Dave Potter · Post by **Dave Potter** » 9 Jun 2006 5:33 pm

Wiz - I knew my post didn't directly address the OP's question, but, it did address at least one of the responses.

I'll try avoid "OT" replies in the future.