Subscribe to our Get Registry First Aid 6 for Free
The Webtalk website is currently featuring a promotion where you can get a free license for Registry First Aid, a registry cleaner from the software developer Avanquest. The offer is for version 6 of the product not the current version 7.
http://www.webtlk.com/2009/09/07/download-registry-aid-6-with-full-license/
I've checked out the offer and appears to be perfectly legitimate. I say "appears" because the actual offer is on the Avanquest German website and I had to rely on the Google translation of the page as I don't speak German.
Although the website is in German I had little problem completing the necessary registration forms using the instructions provided on the Webtalk website.
I downloaded the program and installed it on a Windows XP test PC and it installed and worked perfectly. When you install the program it asks upfront what language you want to use. If you select "English" the program installs and runs using English. It scans 100% clean using AntiVir.
Some points to note:
1. In German "Nachname" means surname while "Vorname" means first name.
2. After installing the program you can register it via the help menu.
3. There is always a risk with any registry cleaner that it may mess up your PC. That's why you should always do a backup before erasing "erroneous" registry entries. Registry First Aid offers you a backup option right at the start; make sure you take it.
Gizmo
PS. Many thanks to Rhiannon for alerting me to this offer.
ADDENDUM: Looking at the various comments on registry cleaners below I figured I should add my two cents worth:
Over the years I've seen registry cleaners create just about as many problems as I've seen them fix. That's not to say you shouldn't use them; the trick is to use them wisely.
Using them wisely pretty much amounts to not using them all that often. The very worst way to use a registry cleaner is as part of your regular computer maintenance. I've seen users who run a registry cleaner every day. This is a sure recipe for trouble. And it's the worst kind of trouble; unnecessary trouble. The daily, weekly or even monthly use of a registry cleaner is highly unlikely to improve your PC's performance yet it is highly likely to sooner or later to mess up your PC.
So where should you use a registry cleaner?
Sometimes they are useful for cleaning up after a failed program installation.
Sometimes they can be used to rejuvenate a PC that is running really slowly.
Sometimes they represent a useful last resort to get in an erratically performing PC working again.
There are a lot of "sometimes" there and my usage is quite deliberate. Registry cleaners won't necessarily help any of the problems I've listed but sometimes they do. They are however, not a magic solution.
So do you need a registry cleaner?
Yes, I think they are a necessary tool you need to have available. Just make sure you always do a backup before you use one.
And what's the best registry cleaner?
In my books, the one that causes the fewest problems. Almost always the registry cleaners that cause the fewest problems are those that have regularly updated exception lists and are conservative in their operation.
This approach stands in stark contrast to those who evaluate registry cleaners according to the number of "errors" they find, with those products that find the most, rated most highly.
I disagree totally with this approach but my viewpoint is not widely shared by average users. Unfortunately this has put marketing pressure on software developers to come up with registry cleaners that find ever more "errors," an approach that is not in anyone's interest.
So what do I make of Registry First Aid?
Hard to say without using it over the longer term. What I can say is that it does have an exception list which is a good start -- many registry cleaners don't have such a list. How frequently they update this list I cannot say.
Registry First Aid seems to find a lot of errors compared to a couple of other registry cleaners I tried. But to its credit, it doesn't normally recommend you delete all those errors. Instead it suggests you only delete the errors rated as "safe." That strikes me as a pretty smart approach which balances marketing needs with practical requirements.
These are the however, just superficial observations. The proof of the pudding is in the eating and I haven't sampled this dish over a long enough time to make a judgement.
Gizmo
Delicious
Digg
StumbleUpon
Please rate this article
Don't like it. It created problems. I loaded it. Took a full registry backup. Ran it, it found 598 "safe" errors. I ran it and found that it took out some program serial numbers. Who knows what else? Restored and uninstalled it using Revo Uninstaller. I use UniBlue Registry Booster and Advanced System care Pro's registry cleaners with no problem.
why does prevx 3.0 identify this as medium risk malware?
I have a difficulty.
the cleaner only cleans 8 entries and does not allow me clean more.
I thought it could clean 000s at 1 sweep.
safe ones I mean.
got registered but it tells me I have not selected entries after 'next'
it does not let me select them even with shift home and end highlighted
so does not seem to work.
have registered with some difficulty.
seemed to ask for payment and said it was for 30 days.
From webtlk.com there is a link to download rfaset6_395.exe from pchome.de which seems to be a legitimate site. Once you follow the link to avanquest.com to get the license number you can download RegistryFirstAid6_BB.exe from there.
Any particular reason to use one over the other? Anyone know the differences? I usually use the one from the manufacturer's site given the choice. Which one did you use Gizmo?
Thanks,
Karl
The rfasetup6_395.exe from the Web Talk site is version 6.0.0 build 1386 and comes with an English help file. This seems to be distributed via Rose City Software which is the author. The RegistryFirstAid6_BB.exe is version 6.0.0 build 1468 and comes with a German help file. This appears to be distributed by Avanquest Software which is a re-band version. The Avanquest version prompts you for a backup location during the setup and the Rose City version does not. You can browse to the backup location of your choice so it’s not a critical difference. Beyond that they appear to have the same features.
If you are afraid of registry tools that is a healthy fear. Backup your registry before you do any operation and you are safe. You can backup your registry via RegEdit Export, System Restore point, ERUNT or the tools in RFA6. If you have any problems then just restore the backup and you’re good to go. Be sure to test your important apps and reboot afterwards to make sure all is good. If you’re feeling good then run NTREGOPT followed immediately by a reboot and PageDefrag on reboot to really clean your registry. NTREGOPT compresses your registry and PageDefrag defragments your page file and registry. IMO these last two operations are safer than changing registry values.
Karl
A word of caution on this one folks! I installed and ran this program on my home PC. The next time I turned it on I had one of those mystery programs that would not stop trying to install. After some research, I found out it was an HP printer piece of software that I suppose had been damaged by Registry First Aid. It did find alot of issues in my registry, but it may have also caused this one.
Locks up computer and is very hard to uninstall. Pass on this one.
I've seen some dramatic results for good with Reg Cleaners. I'm a laptop rebuilder and rely heavily on Freeware to provide people with software builds at point of sale. I have no affiliation with any product line and care only about how a set of programs provides a new to relatively able user the ability to do "housecleaning" and simple fixes without a call to a predatory techie (note the guy the other evening complaining to me how he had to drop his rates from $100 to $60 per hour for a while until the "gravy days" returned). I've been using CCleaner regularly on one of my test machines (about once a week) for about 6 months now. Resisting the urge to impose my personal autobiography on the poor little program, I've left it on default settings, and done a backup every time it's used, and never edited its editing. Problems = 0. I've gotten nothing but gratitude from my clients for the install. I suppose it's time to take little Mister Dell e1405, (now that he's recovered from the abuse from his last owner) with XP Pro Vienna installed. and let him review the Reg First Aid app, being cautious to avoid the Red Cross and stay in the Green.
FYI: JV16PowerTools has brought back their FREE Registry Cleaner
DUH...Sorry
http://www.macecraft.com/ptlite/
Before using a registry cleaner, you should familiarize yourself with the various hives of the registry and a basic knowledge of how to read the registry strings. Quite often these registry cleaners delete Winsock strings, and then you can have problems connecting to the net on the next bootup.
This is program Is RUBBISH and dangerous only use if you are technically skilled
I've used Registry First Aid for years and it's made by Rose City Software, where this Avanquest entered the picture I don't know. In my experience you'd have to be a bit dumb to screw anything up if you follow the instructions. Only fix the green entries and you can't go wrong. If you go through the yellow and red ones it's on you to decide what's safe. And since it automatically makes a restore point before it even runs it's hard to figure how people have problems with it.
Vit Registry fix combines everything into one complete package! And it's free!
Used to use CCleaner but after using Vit Registry fix, never go back to CCleaner, no comparison. CCleaner too basic. Vit Registry Fix includes everything CCLeaner has plus more! Registry backup, Registry Optimizer, better registry and disk cleaner than CCleaner, also startup manager and uninstall manager (CCleaner has I know but Vit Registry Fix is like much better CCleaner + ERUNT in one program (portable version available as well) Don't be confused if it shows up 1000 errors on first run. Vit Registry Fix is a powerful program for fixing registry errors! It never cause a problem either! The reviews are great. It's like better CCleaner plus more. I've been using it for a few months and will never uninstall it or download another registry cleaner. Try it if you want to see what I say.
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Registry-Tweak/Vit-Registry-Fix.shtml
Moderators comment:
One link is sufficient for the freeware product mentioned thank you.
Sounds too much like an employee's sales pitch, free or not. Runs counter to Gizmos sound logic...how could this person have a good feel for how well it works only having used it for a few months. What errors does it pick up? What does s/he use their computer for? I've never used a reg cleaner so I can't comment specifically on this one or any other. Gizmo's narrative has given me the confidence I was needing to try one. The only thing the article was missing that I would have liked to see without having to search, is the typical backup process and how to recover should you delete something that you shouldn't have. Guess I'll just have to dig a little.
Vit Registry Fix is too aggressive !
There are very good FREE Registry Cleaners like 1) Eusing 2) MV RegClean.
Have been using Wise Registry Cleaner Free for some time now, and very satisfied. Like Registry First Aid, it also only cleans files that are "safe" to clean, and will do a complete backup each time if you set it that way.
I have RFA Version 6 Platinum and I swear by it, does its job and has not caused me a single problem.
You want the whole Pc maintenance program.Down load ASC3 by IObit. It has all the bells and whistles. Its a freeware program and it does every thing. They have a fantastic forum that will answer any question you can think of. ASC3 is highly recommended by the people that know whats going on in the PC world.
ill never use a reg cleaner again....just use disk imaging software to re-install OS and your basic programs from time to time and you wont have any reason to use a reg cleaner, and wont have much to worry about in terms of rootkits, virus etc....
which talking-head recommended jv16power tools? been using it for many years
with no problems. (as a registry cleaner)
most Microsoft wags, say leave it alone, then go pimp some magic fix-all program.
what is a total newbie to computers to do an think?
I use Glary, and uncheck four of the choices: obsolete software, custom controls, file extensions, and file associations. (Also leave off file extensions with CCleaner.) Seems to speed things up slightly without making trouble.
This is the first time that I could honestly say that I can see a noticeable difference since running this cleaner...and I have tried CCleaner/Eusing/Registry Mechanic/RegScrubXPVista and RegSeeker....and that's only the well known ones!
system froze up twice had to uninstall it
I have used the registry cleaning component of CCleaner for several years now without problems.
www.ccleaner.com is a real gift to net surfers and computer users to clean hard disk and registry safely. Nothing else is needed. Every month it is updated to include a new feature. It consumes so little resource. For three years now we use it.
Any registry cleaner is only as good as the person using it. Review the list of errors before you let it do its job. And as suggested, make a backup first.
An earlier post mentioned CCleaner. This is the tool I use. I have used it several times, typically immediately after a clean install of the OS or massive uninstalls of no longer wanted software. I have always allowed it to clean up everything it found and I have never regretted doing that.
What ever tool you choose to use, choose and use wisely. And don't forget to set a restore point and do a backup first.
Don
Thanks Gizmo & Co!
You once on wrote on the excellent ERUNT, which is free, and takes a few seconds to back up Registry. Take a backup with ERUNT before cleaning the Registry. If you get problems, simply restore the Registry to what it was before the clean-up - this takes about 3o to 45 seconds.
Hello Ian,
any idea on how this one compares to PC Tools Registry Mechanics 7, which I already have?
thanks
mario
If you are using a registry cleaner that works without creating problems then stick with it. Better the devil you know.
Gizmo
Looks like the original poster was right; it apparently creates as many problems as it fixes.
Geez Giz, when I read your adendum it made me realize just how much I miss your newsletter. You talk straight, you talk wisely and you talk without being in someone's pocket. I miss this kind of honest talk sooo much.
GonnaDo
(You may remember me - I wrote to you about dual bootinng Linux Mint and Vista)
me too! Not that I don't like the Windows Secrets paid newsletter, but... it's just different!
Amen to that
As many "addendums" as you can write , I'll be happy to read . Perhaps you can signal them in some way (an *) in the RSS feed or create a folder/tab so we can look for them when we need them . No substitute for the superb newsletter ; RIP .
Will try the Reg. cleaner , as and when , as per instructions .
Previous Gizmo "best advice" was to use the CCleaner Reg tool on default settings ( with back up file ) - works good for me & the "heavyweight" cleaners never show much else left , so I don't actually run them .
Many thanks to everyone.
Anthony
I've been using Registry First Aid for years, long before Avanquest put their name on it. It is by far the best registry tool I've used and I've tested quite a few. It has NEVER screwed up any of my machines. I've been using an older version so when I saw this offer I was quite excited.
Thanks Again Giz!
Suggest instead you get a copy CCleaner. Used by millions, always free, and constantly updated. No registration required. And it's in English.
Stick with CCleaner its the best there is out there
The registry cleaner in CCleaner trashed two of my PCs. I wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole!
Learn how to use it ,its easy if you can read ENGLISH
...and out of curiosity anonymous, what did the previous poster write that suggested to you that said poster couldn't read English? Additionally, perhaps you could attend a course in grammar and punctuation and write correctly before criticizing someone else. Gizmo's sage and succinct advice is bound to attract users worldwide who at least make the effort to convey their thoughts in our language...how often have you even pretended to return the compliment?
-John H.
Albany, NY
Luck of the draw, applies, perhaps. CCleaner has been great for me. Using for over two years on four pcs.
Worked a treat. I haven't ever run a registry cleaner on this machine so this was a first. Found 732 errors and removed 497 rated as safe to remove. No problems so far and I reckon my laptop is definitely running faster.
Alaskan Ken
Haven't tried this myself. Am too afraid. Have heard too many warnings that registry cleaners are not safe to use for those of us who are not PC experts.
I have NEVER installed an Avanquest product which didn't promptly make me wish I hadn't.
In some cases, it so slows down and/or otherwise screws up my machine that I not only promptly wish I hadn't, but I also wish I'd stuck myself in the eye with a sharp stick instead. It's just terrible stuff. Just terrible.
Or so it is my opinion, for whatever that's worth... and my ex-wife will happily (and promptly) tell you that that ain't much.
__________________________
Gregg L. DesElms
gregg [at] greggdeselms.com
Napa, California
Funny post Gregg :). Don't know if you or others will stop back by to this page, but I wish you, et al. would make mention of what hardware you use since some people seem to have such luck with the program. The same goes for those users who it works for...what are the main components in your rig? homemade/kit, HP, Dell, etc.?
I'm just talking about Avanquest products, generally. For all I know, they OEMed this particular product from someone who actually knows how to write software. Maybe this one is fine. But if it is, then it's the one that isn't like pretty much all other Avanquest garbage.
As for so many people saying they've had so much luck with any given product, there will always be someone who likes almost anything. Popularity means nothing. Back when Apollo 11 landed on the moon, reputable surveys showed that some 30,000 to 50,000 people in the US believed that it all happened in a warehouse somewhere in the desert. That's enough people to fill a baseball stadium. If you were standing on the mound, and that many people were all saying the same thing to you, you'd probably be impressed.
And as for hardware, I've been in IT for 32 years. I think, by now, I know not to post that something slows-down a machine if I know that the machine is not very capable to start with. I have integrity, thankyouverymuch. And I know how to tell when a given piece of software is inordinately dogging a machine.
Sheesh! [rolls eyes]
__________________________
Gregg L. DesElms
gregg [at] greggdeselms.com
Napa, California
I think it only fair that I update, based on new knowledge that I have.
Avanquest still sucks. Make no mistake about that.
However, when avanquest acquires a piece of software written by someone else, and doesn't really a change it much, good things can happen.
I have now played with this software a bit, and it is definitely NOT typical of Avanquest products. It's quite interesting, actually. I think I may actually occasionally use it...
...though I'm of one mind with Gizmo, generally, on how sparingly such things should be used.
Avanquest still sucks, though.
__________________________
Gregg L. DesElms
gregg [at] greggdeselms.com
Napa, California
been there done that...dead right!
Post new comment