On Nov 28, 5:34*pm, "Peter Foldes" <ok...********.com> wrote:
> Tomas
>
> NO. Do not use any Registry Cleaning tools. They are all snake oil remedies and can
> cause more problems then needed.
>
> Credit for the below goes to Bruce Chambers MS MVP
>
> <snip>
>
> * * *A registry cleaner - even a safe one, should such ever be developed
> - is an exercise in, at best, futility. *There is no real need for
> registry cleaners, other than to provide a profit to their
> manufacturers. *On rare occasions, registry cleaners can be, in the
> hands of a skilled technician, useful, time-saving diagnostic tools.
> Otherwise, they're nothing but snake oil.
>
> * * Why do you even think you'd ever need to clean your registry? *What
> specific *problems* are you actually experiencing (not some program's
> bogus listing of imaginary problems) that you think can be fixed by
> using a registry cleaner?
>
> * * *If you do have a problem that is rooted in the registry, it would
> be far better to simply edit (after backing up, of course) only the
> specific key(s) and/or value(s) that are causing the problem. *After
> all, why use a chainsaw when a scalpel will do the job? *Additionally,
> the manually changing of one or two registry entries is far less likely
> to have the dire consequences of allowing an automated product to make
> multiple changes simultaneously. *The only thing needed to safely clean
> your registry is knowledge and Regedit.exe.
>
> * * *The registry contains all of the operating system's "knowledge" of
> the computer's hardware devices, installed software, the location of the
> device drivers, and the computer's configuration. *A misstep in the
> registry can have severe consequences. *One should not even turning
> loose a poorly understood automated "cleaner," unless he is fully
> confident that he knows *exactly* what is going to happen as a result of
> each and every change.
>
> * * *Having repeatedly seen the results of inexperienced people using
> automated registry "cleaners," *I can only advise all but the most
> experienced computer technicians (and/or hobbyists) to avoid them all.
> Experience has shown me that such tools simply are not safe in the hands
> of the inexperienced user. *If you lack the knowledge and experience to
> maintain your registry by yourself, then you also lack the knowledge and
> experience to safely configure and use any automated registry cleaner,
> no matter how safe they claim to be.
>
> * * *More importantly, no one has ever demonstrated that the use ofan
> automated registry cleaner, particularly by an untrained, inexperienced
> computer user, does any real good, whatsoever. *There's certainly been
> no empirical evidence offered to demonstrate that the use of such
> products to "clean" WinXP's registry improves a computer's performance
> or stability. *Given the potential for harm, it's just not worth the risk.
>
> * * *Granted, most registry "cleaners" won't cause problems each and
> every time they're used, but the potential for harm is always there.
> And, since no registry "cleaner" has ever been demonstrated to do any
> good (think of them like treating the flu with chicken soup - there's no
> real medicinal value, but it sometimes provides a warming placebo
> effect), I always tell people that the risks far out-weigh the
> non-existent benefits.
>
> * * *I will concede that a good registry *scanning* tool, in the hands
> of an experienced and knowledgeable technician or hobbyist can be a
> useful time-saving diagnostic tool, as long as it's not allowed to make
> any changes automatically. *But I really don't think that there are any
> registry cleaners that are truly safe for the general public to use.
> Experience has proven just the opposite: such tools simply are not safe
> in the hands of the inexperienced user.
>
> <end snip>
>
> --
> Peter
>
> Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
> Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.
>
> "WhidbeyTomas" <whidbeyto...******.com> wrote in message
>
> news:35e444d7-d7c0-4cf6-bb66-54529be69702@n10g2000yqm.googlegroups.com...
> On Nov 23, 3:27 pm, "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABear...******.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > [X-post to WinXP General]
>
> > Is the machine fully patched at Windows Update?
>
> > What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
> > subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?
> > What third-party firewall (if any)? Were any of these applications running
> > in the background when you installed WinXP SP3?
>
> > Please post the complete (verbatim) error message.
>
> > Do you use a "Registry cleaner"?
>
> > Windows XP logon screen does not appear and the computer continuously
> > restarts:http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310396
>
> > Restore the Windows XP Welcome Screen
> > (Gina.dll)http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts/fix_xp_logon.vbs
>
> > Remove Ginamsi.DLL - Logon Screen (Line
> > 59)http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
>
> > Related, previous
> > discussions:http://groups.google.com/group/micro...xp.general/sea...
>
> > => WinXP-specific newsgroup:
> > news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsof...dowsxp.general
> > --
> > ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> > MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
> > AumHa VSOP & Adminhttp://aumha.net
> > DTS-Lhttp://dts-l.net/
>
> > WhidbeyTomas wrote:
> > > I'm running XP Home with the latest upgrades (service pack 3). My
> > > wife uses this computer, so there is no software changes except for
> > > the automatic upgrades. On start-up, I get the microsoft logo on a
> > > black background with a load bar (as usual) then it changes to the HP
> > > logo as if loading the interface. After a few seconds, the fans slow
> > > and everything seems to stop followed by a dialog box with the message
> > > that the login interface failed to load because msgina.dll is corrupt
> > > or missing.
>
> > > I tried the last known good configuration, that resulted in the same
> > > dead end message.
> > > I tried Safe mode, but that just gave me a black screen with "safe
> > > mode" in all four corners (not sure what to do with that).
>
> > > I wonder if someone can suggest a way to load the dll when the system
> > > won't load? I know that I can use my system restore disks, but that
> > > will wipe my computer of many important files. I'd like to find a way
> > > to recover those.
>
> > > Any ideas?
>
> "Do I use registry cleaner?"
> No. Should I? I've always distrusted the many programs that promise to
> fix my Windows. I've not had good luck with them.
>
> Tomas

Thank Peter and PA Bear. I wasted another 30 bucks. The registry
cleaner was indeed snake oil. Unfortunately Peter, your scalpel
alternative is little better. If you think a novice is dangerous with
an automatic cleaner, just contemplate me with a scalpel. I just love
the concept of Windows. To make is work consistently it would be good
to have a doctorate or equivalent. My wife wanted me to fix these
problems instantly. She thinks that because I create Flash programs
and web pages I am computer literate. I told her that it a little
like driving a car; my expertize behind the wheel does not translate
into expertize under the hood.

I wish Microsoft would consider starting over.

WhidbeyTomas wrote:
<snip>
> Thank Peter and PA Bear. I wasted another 30 bucks. The registry
> cleaner was indeed snake oil. Unfortunately Peter, your scalpel
> alternative is little better. If you think a novice is dangerous with
> an automatic cleaner, just contemplate me with a scalpel. I just love
> the concept of Windows. To make is work consistently it would be good
> to have a doctorate or equivalent. My wife wanted me to fix these
> problems instantly. She thinks that because I create Flash programs
> and web pages I am computer literate. I told her that it a little
> like driving a car; my expertize behind the wheel does not translate
> into expertize under the hood.
>
> I wish Microsoft would consider starting over.

YW.

*You* could start over: http://www.dslreports.com/faq/10063
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

On Nov 29, 4:53*pm, "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABear...******.com> wrote:
> WhidbeyTomas wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
> > Thank Peter and PA Bear. I wasted another 30 bucks. The registry
> > cleaner was indeed snake oil. Unfortunately Peter, your scalpel
> > alternative is little better. If you think a novice is dangerous with
> > an automatic cleaner, just contemplate me with a scalpel. I just love
> > the concept of Windows. To make is work consistently it would be good
> > to have a doctorate or equivalent. My wife wanted me to fix these
> > problems instantly. She thinks that because I create Flash programs
> > and web pages I am computer literate. *I told her that it a little
> > like driving a car; my expertize behind the wheel does not translate
> > into expertize under the hood.
>
> > I wish Microsoft would consider starting over.
>
> YW.
>
> *You* could start over:http://www.dslreports.com/faq/10063
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
> AumHa VSOP & Adminhttp://aumha.net
> DTS-Lhttp://dts-l.net/

Right you are PA Bear. That is just what I did. I may be slow, but
that understanding sort of came to me like reality slapping me in the
face.