can anyone recommend a Registry cleaning utility - XP

[clumsymum]

I've done a search on the threads here, but can't find any posts less than a year old about this, so I thought I would ask if anyone has anything up-to date.

I have a number of PC's on our network, my son (age 11) has found that his has become really slow recently.

Over the last couple of years it has had all sorts of games etc installed & taken off it, I reckon it's time for a clean-up.

So I'm looking for a decent utility -not too expensive- to give it the once over.

Any recommendations ?

[Kymmy]

ccleaner is always mentioned in these sorts of threads at least once

http://www.piriform.com/CCLEANER

I can recommend ccleaner as i use it myself,there are various settings for cleaning the entire drive if necessary and regular updates to this freeware.

[Dai]

I'll add my 'generic' warning. Registry cleaners are one of the quickest ways available to totally screw up a system. CCleaner is generally OK but some are not. Be careful out there.

If it's a juvenile's system I'd be far more inclined to suspect a malware infection of some sort as the culprit. Try running a scan with the free Malwarebytes Anti-malware as few anti-virus programs will pick up all the spyware type of stuff around.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free

Before you do that use ccleaner's 'cleaner' function to remove all temp and junk files. That's perfectly safe with the default settings although if you clean cookies you will lose some automatic login details. You may want to un-tick that option.

[AndyCambs]

I use this one after I have cleaned out the registry with Ccleaner.

Clearing out the registry is ok, but defragmenting it makes it like new.

[Halcyon]

Ccleaner and hijackThis.

Dont delete anything in HijackThis that you dont know about.
Ccleaner is great. I use it all the time.
Not only does ccleaner do registry but also clears out temporary files too.

[Itshim]

Get the "set" from Piriform
CC cleaner, Defragger & Recova

Works for me

[MetaWraith]

I swear by CC Cleaner, have recommended it to friends and such for years now. Have even donated to it.

[clumsymum]

Thanks so far guys. It looks like being CC Cleaner then.

We have AVG Business Internet Security on the system, which is updated every day, and SHOULD catch malware on it's way in. But I recognise that nothing is infallible. So I'll get DaiNasty's recommended Malware scanner too.

If I run that, CC cleaner, defrag, and reset all the switches/router on the network, it should help a bit. I guess my lad isn't going to get onto his PC tonight tho'

To be fair, we could really do with upgrading his hardware and getting him onto Windows 7. Anyone got a few hundred quid going spare ?

[Halcyon]

I regularly run Malwarebyres at work and it often catches things that our Antivirus doesnt.
It is very effective but do note it will take quite a while to run the entire scan.

[qasdfdsaq]

I would personally recommend against using any registry cleaner.

[Dai]

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

I would personally recommend against using any registry cleaner.

Shhhh.. It's a good revenue stream, don't say that..

Format C: normaly does the trick.

[qasdfdsaq]

Originally Posted by DaiNasty

Shhhh.. It's a good revenue stream, don't say that..

Not my revenue stream, to hell with it!

[clumsymum]

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

I would personally recommend against using any registry cleaner.

Well we all have our opinions.

To my mind, as long as you create a system restore point, and take a drive image first, it's worth using. much better than having to clear an re-install the whole PC.

I suppose it's partly because I have some background in IT, I believe I have the knowledge and ability to do this.
I wouldn't try to service my car tho' cos I wouldn't know where to start. Similarly, I wouldn't suggest anyone without any IT nous try cleaning up their operating system