The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.

Is there a good, free Vista registry cleaner?

NightslyrNightslyr Registered User regular
I've been having some issues during startup with my Vista Home Premium machine. If I try logging into the system immediately after it boots up, it tends to hang. My desktop will load, and I can move the mouse, but none of the startup programs load, and nothing else (Start Menu, desktop shortcuts, ctrl-alt-del, etc) works. If I log in after waiting ~1 minute, it tends to work fine.

I've scanned for viruses (AVG Security Suite 8.0), and neither it, nor Spybot, the free version of Spyware Doctor, or Threatfire have found anything. So, I'm thinking it could be a registry issue.

So, are there any good, free registry cleaners out there?

Nightslyr on

Posts

  • 1ddqd1ddqd Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    CCleaner is pretty good. Always finds stuff on a 2nd pass, so run it 3 times to be sure!

    1ddqd on
  • iTunesIsEviliTunesIsEvil Cornfield? Cornfield.Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Nightslyr wrote: »
    I've been having some issues during startup with my Vista Home Premium machine. If I try logging into the system immediately after it boots up, it tends to hang. My desktop will load, and I can move the mouse, but none of the startup programs load, and nothing else (Start Menu, desktop shortcuts, ctrl-alt-del, etc) works. If I log in after waiting ~1 minute, it tends to work fine.

    I've scanned for viruses (AVG Security Suite 8.0), and neither it, nor Spybot, the free version of Spyware Doctor, or Threatfire have found anything. So, I'm thinking it could be a registry issue.

    So, are there any good, free registry cleaners out there?
    Not exactly a registry cleaner, but I'd use Defender to take a look at your startup programs just in case:
    Open up Windows Defender (Start => type "defender", press Enter).

    Click "Tools" at the top and then choose the "Software Explorer". You'll get the full list of programs that are going to run at startup. Programs tend to put shit here that doesn't really need to be here. You might clean that list up and see if it helps you any.

    iTunesIsEvil on
  • NightslyrNightslyr Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Nightslyr wrote: »
    I've been having some issues during startup with my Vista Home Premium machine. If I try logging into the system immediately after it boots up, it tends to hang. My desktop will load, and I can move the mouse, but none of the startup programs load, and nothing else (Start Menu, desktop shortcuts, ctrl-alt-del, etc) works. If I log in after waiting ~1 minute, it tends to work fine.

    I've scanned for viruses (AVG Security Suite 8.0), and neither it, nor Spybot, the free version of Spyware Doctor, or Threatfire have found anything. So, I'm thinking it could be a registry issue.

    So, are there any good, free registry cleaners out there?
    Not exactly a registry cleaner, but I'd use Defender to take a look at your startup programs just in case:
    Open up Windows Defender (Start => type "defender", press Enter).

    Click "Tools" at the top and then choose the "Software Explorer". You'll get the full list of programs that are going to run at startup. Programs tend to put shit here that doesn't really need to be here. You might clean that list up and see if it helps you any.

    The only program that is new to me is something called "soft thinks Launcher." Quick Google research says that it tends to ship with HP computers. Only problem is that mine is a Gateway. I can't disable/remove it inside of Windows Defender. All of the options are grayed out.

    Nightslyr on
  • AyulinAyulin Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Do you have UAC enabled? If you do, try clicking the "View for all users" option (something along those lines, anyway), then allowing it through UAC, and see if you can disable it then.

    On my system, at least, I can't remove or disable anything in Defender unless I do that.

    Ayulin on
    steam_sig.png
  • NightslyrNightslyr Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Ayulin wrote: »
    Do you have UAC enabled? If you do, try clicking the "View for all users" option (something along those lines, anyway), then allowing it through UAC, and see if you can disable it then.

    On my system, at least, I can't remove or disable anything in Defender unless I do that.

    Ah, thanks. Will disabiling it keep it permanently disabled? Or would I have to remove it outright?

    Nightslyr on
  • AyulinAyulin Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Not actually sure, to be honest. I think disabling just stops it starting up, so you can see if it's causing any issues, and re-enable it if it is. Just guessing here, but removing it seems to be just like disabling, but without "undo".

    Ayulin on
    steam_sig.png
  • NightslyrNightslyr Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Ayulin wrote: »
    Not actually sure, to be honest. I think disabling just stops it starting up, so you can see if it's causing any issues, and re-enable it if it is. Just guessing here, but removing it seems to be just like disabling, but without "undo".

    Okay, cool. I don't want to remove it all together if it's not harmful.

    I just tried CCleaner. It seems to do the job, so yay! Now hopefully my login issues will be resolved.

    Nightslyr on
Sign In or Register to comment.