Manually Deleting Registry Keys

[BRANDONN2008]

Hey, I've used CCleaner in the past to get rid of extra registry keys, and it shows there are none to remove, but when I was poking around in the registry through regedit, I noticed there are keys left over from old games, and programs like SUPERAntiSpyware. Is it okay to manually delete those? They're not on my computer anymore, so it should be okay to remove them right? Thanks.

[SafeSurf]

If you know what you are doing, and I mean really know what you are doing, then OK but I would rather rely upon something like revo than manually.  However revo is not recommended for removal of security software like Avast.

[bob3160]

They're not on my computer anymore, so it should be okay to remove them right?

A doctor once told me the safest ways to clean your ears is to use your elbow.
Cleaning the registry should be approached the same way. 

If you know what you are doing, and I mean really know what you are doing, then OK but I would rather rely upon something like revo than manually.  However revo is not recommended for removal of security software like Avast.

I didn't know that Revo Unistaller was a registry cleaner

[Asyn]

A doctor once told me the safest ways to clean your ears is to use your elbow.

LOL

[SafeSurf]

I didn't know that Revo Unistaller was a registry cleaner

http://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download.html
Yep.  It can be quite aggressive, so you have to be careful, but it's good for stubborn things.  But again, not good for use of security software uninstallation.  CCleaner also has a registry cleaner as well, but the OP states that it did not work for him with his problem.

[Lisandro]

It can be quite aggressive

Really I don't think so. I think it is quite conservative: some (or a lot) of the registry keys are left behind.

[bob3160]

I see a general file cleaner not a registry cleaner.
Something I'm sure Ccleaner probably does much better.

(Click Picture to Enlarge)

[SafeSurf]

I see a general file cleaner not a registry cleaner.

"Advanced scanning for left-overs (remove remnants of programs)" is their registry cleaner.  I have the software, so I know it does it.

@ Tech,  I just don't want people to use this instead of the Avast Uninstall Utility Tool is the reason for my comment.  I personally prefer CCleaner myself.  But since the OP had no success with this, I brought this other software up.  Thanks.

[Lisandro]

@ Tech,  I just don't want people to use this instead of the Avast Uninstall Utility Tool is the reason for my comment.  I personally prefer CCleaner myself.  But since the OP had no success with this, I brought this other software up.  Thanks.

You're right, it's better the specialized tool than Revo.
But, anyway, Revo is NOT good for uninstalling any antivirus and firewall (or other product with great interference with the operational system).

[Left123]

They're not on my computer anymore, so it should be okay to remove them right?

A doctor once told me the safest ways to clean your ears is to use your elbow.

Hahahaha

[DavidR]

Hey, I've used CCleaner in the past to get rid of extra registry keys, and it shows there are none to remove, but when I was poking around in the registry through regedit, I noticed there are keys left over from old games, and programs like SUPERAntiSpyware. Is it okay to manually delete those? They're not on my computer anymore, so it should be okay to remove them right? Thanks.

First if you have to ask the question, perhaps you shouldn't.
You don't say what these keys as there are frequently Legacy keys remaining after applications have been uninstalled, but they are in the control of windows and shouldn't be an issue.

Second, if they aren't causing any problem, which I doubt they are, then why remove them, if ccleaner has cleaned up and it is one of the safer (non-aggressive) registry cleaners and they remain my advice for you would be to leave them alone.

If it isn't broken don't try to fix it.

[Tgell]

If it isn't broken don't try to fix it.

I had a problem with Net Framework and updates so I removed it with a cleanup utility and proceeded to clean the registry with multiple cleaners. I probably cleaned out over a 1000 registry keys, compacted the registry about 30% from 30MB to 20MB and still did not notice a big jump in boot time.

[bob3160]

compacted the registry about 30% from 30MB to 20MB and still did not notice a big jump in boot time.

You're expecting minutes the experts are talking about milliseconds....
One of the reasons why David said "If it aint broke, don't fix it"

[DavidR]

compacted the registry about 30% from 30MB to 20MB and still did not notice a big jump in boot time.

You're expecting minutes the experts are talking about milliseconds....
One of the reasons why David said "If it aint broke, don't fix it"

Yes, as the redundant entries don't contribute to boot time duration as there is nothing to load. The compacting of the registry might mean accessing it is quicker, but that as Bob has said will be in the Millisecond range rather than minutes or lots of seconds. Especially now with faster hard disks (and ntfs formatting), faster CPUs, faster and more RAM.

[BRANDONN2008]

Alright, the if it's not broke don't fix it saying has always worked for me before