A way to totally clean the registry without reinstalling?

[tyro]

Hi

I'm looking for a way to totally clean out my registry without doing a clean install. I have used various registry cleaners but they don't seem to do a comprehensive job.
I have used three registry cleaners one right after the other and each one has picked up more invalid entries.

Thank you very much

 

[Enkrypted]

Let me start by asking what is the purpose of you trying to clean out the registry? Is Windows giving registry errors? Are you trying to gain space on your computer by removing programs you don't really use anymore? Please reply with some detailed information.

 

[tyro]

I only have the windows 98 upgrade cd so I can't easily do a clean install. also the work involved in reinstalling all the programs etc. is too much for me. IF I am not mistaken, I never had a clean install of 98 on my computer.
I was looking through my registry the other day and I noticed entries for programs that I uninstalled over 5 months ago. I have an older computer and recently I have noticed a slow down of my computer, especially at boot up. [I have removed all except essentials from my start up menu through msconfig as well as removed them from the startup folder in programs]
I looked at the properties of user.dat and system.dat and they are 1.5MB and 6.7MB respectively. I ran three registry cleaners in a row: regclean(from microsoft), regcleaner(freeware)and system mechanic's registry cleaner(shareware). every one found more invalid entries. I then looked through my registry and found more entries that were no longer needed.
I don't know enough about the registry to manually delete all the unneeded entries, so I am looking for some kind of utility or method to examine all registry entried and decide if they are needed or not, and if not, delete them.
In general, I am trying to speed up my computer as much as possible [I have a pentium 233 with 190 Megs of Ram and upgrading is not an option at the moment

I hope this will help you
Tyro

 

[Enkrypted]

I wouldn't recommend running through the registry deleting information out of it unless you know exactly what you are doing. I would try to run the setup program off that upgrade CD and just overwrite your existing operating system. It's not really going to remove your programs you've already installed. It's just going to overwrite the Windows files and should create a fresh registry for you. That would be the first thing I would do. If that doesn't work, maybe you should think about doing a clean install and/or upgrading the computer.

 

[matofthemint]

If you are sure of programmes you no longer have, you can delete them from the registry.

First make a back up copy of your registry in case you goof. When you open the Registry Editor click Registry then Export Registry File. Name it something you will remember what it is and send it to the desktop. Then just leave it there until you find that you haven't removed any thing to keep your machine running properly.

Then when you find something you think you no longer need, highlight it, click on Edit, Remove.

If you find you have made a mistake, you have the backup on your desktop. Click on it and you will be asked if you want to put it back. Just click yes.

You can make a backup of the entire registry or any part of it by highlighting it and exporting it.

 

[gargouille]

What I do (YMMV) is when I uninstall something I sweep the registry for references to the mfr. and the software names...and delete them.
Even this way, I probably miss things (have seen them later and deleted them).
The legacy descriptions won't let you delete them..and YES if you corrupt the registry your computer dies.
But (fingers crossed) it's been a long time since I caused any adversity and have moved on to creaing new messes!
Backup is an essential...

 

[cjhacon]

Why make things complicated? Enkrypted had a great solution.

When you install over top of the existing Win98 it resets the registry to only include the currently installed programs. As well, it replaces all the 98 system files leaving the data intact.

I do it once a year on all my 98 boxes. It quite often improves performance as well.

Much better than missing this or that in the registry and leaving yourself open to VXD errors.

 

[tyro]

cjhacon

I was under the impression that reinstalling the OS will only help clean the registry of programs that belong to microsoft. I think I read somewhere that for 3rd party software, reinstalling the OS doesn't help. I had tried reinstalling about a month ago but I didn't notice too much of a difference.

 

[MiklK]

cjhacon - i haven't been able to find "Enkrypted" using multiple engines inclluding Profusioon - wanna help me out re: access?

THX! ... then again, I could be wrong!

(A bird in the hand greatly interferes with typing.)
Mikl

 

[Enkrypted]

What's up??

 

[MiklK]

enkrypted - cjhacon sugggested above that youu had "a great solution" to sweeping the registry. Frankly i thought it was a software product but, since you are god anough to show up as an actual person (at leaast, that is my hope )...
maybe you'd share/describe what cjhacon was referring to?

mucho thx
(A bird in the hand greatly interferes with typing.)
Mikl

 

[Enkrypted]

I'm just suggesting ideas from personal experience. Anytime my system performance starts to slow or my registry starts give errors...I reload overtop itself and it seems to bring my system back to it's full potential. I'm not saying I know for a fact that it works on every system...but I know it works on mine...

 

[MiklK]

Do you mean, re-load the OS?
Or re-load OS plus everything you can,programs,NSW or other AV, etc etc?

thx for your help & experience - i bet this answer will enlighten me so I won't have another follow-up questiooon (or twenty! LOL)

ty
(A bird in the hand greatly interferes with typing.)
Mikl

 

[Enkrypted]

I normally just reload the operating system. That always seems to take care of it.

 

[Pickering]

Hi, wondering why you can't do a reinstall? Is it because you don't have a previous (older) copy of windows? If you do, a reinstall is relatively simple.

Clean temp files, re-cycle bin and shut down Virus program. Rename win.com (go to DOS prompt (c:\Windows), type "ren win.com win.bak&quot.

Put your win98 upgrade disk in CD-ROM and restart computer with Win98 boot disk, select "CD-ROM support".
Install the Upgrade CD in the normal EXCEPT....When it requests to install to "C:\Windows.000" edit the path to simply read "C:\Windows" (delete the "000&quot.
Proceed from there in the normal manner. None of your programs will be dropped but your new registry should only reflect current software and hardware.

One word of caution. It would be wise to back up your system in case something goes wrong. At minimum, back up your two main registry files; C:\Windows and Programs folder
If something goes wrong, use your boot disk and 1)copy back these files, 2) rename win.bak to win.com and reboot.

I have never bothered to back up and have never had a problem, but you may be more comfortable doing so,