Combatting litter.

[AlanHo]

As I mentioned in another thread - my computer is misbehaving and intermittently crashes or freezes in a most inconsistent manner.

I need to reformat and reinstall windows and all my programs - an activity which must wait until my computer builder returns from holiday in another weeks time. I cannot do it because the machine has two SCSI drives and the Windows CD refuses to recognise them.

I have been having a wander through the register, My Programmes folder and the Windows folder today and I am surprised at the amount of litter lying about in there. I have always been very fastidious when removing software to use the proper uninstall method under the illusion that it would remove all traces of the program. It doesn't - I have found several hundred items in the registry and files on my hard drive for programs long since removed and hardware drivers I no longer need.

Is there any software that will keep a proper record of all files and registry entries for any program you install that will intervene during the uninstall process to ensure the machine is properly cleaned out of all unwanted files and registry entries. Perhaps I should mention that I have run Regscrub on several occasions - but on my evidence - it does not do a very thorough job.

What I hope to achieve the next time I install Windows is a computer that is devoid of litter and can be kept litter free without too much intervention.

[Alan2273]

I find Crap Cleaner a good program for getting rid of all sorts of dross.

http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/

[dadyassa]

Save the cookies you want though, or its a lot of re-signing in ;)

[AlanHo]

I use Crap Cleaner regularly and agree it removes a lot of dross - but not registry entries or dregs left in the Program Files folder when uninstalling programmes.

I am seeking a programme that will keep a record of every change made to a computer when software is installed - and then ensure every trace is removed when that programme is uninstalled. The normal Windows Control panel uninstall method fails to do that.

Try it yourself - uninstall a major programme using the control panel - then use regedit and windows explorer to search for any registry entries, folders or files bearing that programme's name. You might be surprised at the result.

[catgate]

CCleaner is very good at removing Registry Rubbish. I think it is labelled "Scan for Issues" (my Windows machine is switched off at the moment).

[AlanHo]

CCleaner is very good at removing Registry Rubbish. I think it is labelled "Scan for Issues" (my Windows machine is switched off at the moment).

Thanks for the tip - I have never before explored the button called "Issues" and done a registry scan. Even though I ran Regscrub this morning - it found quite a few anomalies which I let it correct.

Upon checking with regedit though - it still left behind a some entries from programmes I uninstalled ages ago.

[Thos]

CCleaner is very good at removing Registry Rubbish. I think it is labelled "Scan for Issues" (my Windows machine is switched off at the moment).

Yes. I use it often. I like the feature telling you what the issue is and the likely reason for it being there before you decide to delete. It will also back up the registry before deleting.

Thos.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

It will also back up the registry before deleting.

Not exactly; it will only back up the registry entries it deletes. These can be restored if required, but personally I am not fond of this method.

I much prefer ERUNT to regularly take a complete backup of the registry.