Hi, do you guys have a suggestion on a registry (or orphan) file cleaner for XP sp2? I've been trying different programs and deleting trying to take care of some problems on my PC. Sometimes my system seems to lag a little too much and wanted to see if a registry cleaner would cure some of this. For instance, Nero 6 has hijacked my mpg files where they show up as Nero files. I tried Nero and it did not work well with my other applications so I deleted the program in Control Panel. Even newly created media files show up as Nero files so I guess it's in my registry. Does XP have a cleaner built in?

thanks for any suggestions!

Tap

To answer your question about "does XP have a built-in registry cleaner"....the answer is no. There are many registry cleaners out there, but you need to be extremely careful when "cleaning" the registry, for one wrong clean and the OS will not boot. If you are looking for a registry cleaner I recommend System Mechanic 5.0. For a free registry cleaner that is for only the most proficient in the knowledge of the computer I recommend RegSeeker (note: this is a manual deletion software so it can be very dangerous) (see download.com and search for it).

As for Nero 6 "hijacking" your media files, Windows has a handy feature to convert media files extensions to start with whatever program you wish. To accomplish this you need to open up My Computer and then go to the "Tools" menu and click "Folder Options". Then click the "File Types" tab. Then search down the list for the file extension (a three letter suffix for a file eg. ".mpg, .avi, .mp3, ect.") that is associated with the file you want to open always with a certain program. Once you find the file extension, click the "Change" button and select "Select program from a list". Click OK; then scroll through the list of programs and find one that you know will open that file type (the one you want to open it). Select it and then click "OK". From then on the file will automatically open with that program.

If you have any questions about this process please do ask.

BEWARE, these sorts of activities are dangerous!
You need to KNOW that what you are doing is correct.
Registry cleaners are particularly risky.
I'd rather have loads of registry trash and a system that works than delete that single key or value that stops the system from working as it should.
[And I'm fairly confident in those things I do in the registry.]
It's possible to more safely change registry settings from OUTSIDE regedit [it does the same as can be done INSIDE regedit, but makes ALL the correct changes without you needing to know the details].
[And it helps to have a backup system that allows you to restore the c: partition even if Windows won't boot.]
I'd have made a backup just before installing Nero, then if I didn't like the new arrangement, re-format the C: partition and restore the backup.
All trace that Nero had ever been there would be gone. Much better than trying to get it to undo its doings!

To register a different program to open mpg files:
[a similar method can be used for other file types]
[I have Win98 and XP may be slightly different.]
1. Open regedit.
Go to "Start | Run | Open" and type regedit in the box and blip ok.
2. Expand the "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT" KEY.
3. Scroll down to the ".mpg" key, open it and read the "Default" "Data" value.
Mine reads "mpegfile".
4. Scroll further down to the "mpegfile" key and expand [click on the + signs] to [and open] the "Shell | Open | Command" key.
5. Read the "Default" "Data".
[Mine reads "C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\mplayer2.exe" /Open "%L"], yours will probably give the address of the Nero program that once opened such files.
6. Immediately below the default you may see the backup address [of the the program that opened such files before Nero took its place].
7. You COULD fix your problem by copying this backup value then deleting the backup and pasting the value in as the default.
But you COULD make an error in doing this and it would be safer to do it from outside regedit. You aught to export a copy of the "Command" key to a "reg" file and place that file where you can find it.
8. To copy the value, right-click on the word "Default" and select MODIFY. [You should see the value highlighted] Blip "CTRL+C" on the keyboard to copy the value to the clipboard.
9. Now go to "Windows Explorer | View | Folder Options | File Types" and scroll down to "Movie File (MPEG)" and highlight it.
10. Click "Edit", click the "Open" action to highlight it and click the "Edit" button.
11. In the box "Application Used to perform Action" you should see highlighted in blue the "Default" "Data" you saw in the registry. compare them to check.
12. Blip "CTRL+V" to paste the backup value you previously copied.
The /Open or /Play and "%L" and "" [quotes] are very important. The quotes specify that long file names with spaces are to be catered for. "/Open" only opens the player, which waits for you to hit the "Play" button on the player. "/Play" makes it open and play also.
"/Play /Close" makes it open, then play, then close when the play of the file is complete.
13. If you now check in the registry key you will see that the default value has been changed to be the same as the backup value. You can now delete the backup value [within regedit] if you wish.

Would it not be easier to hold down the (can't remember which it is butI think it is the shift key) either the control or shift key whilst RIGHT clicking a selected file.

Then choose OPEN WITH, (this will bring up a list of the various programs available) Now select the desired program, ensuring that the ALWAYS USE THIS PROGRAM box has a tick in it. This should no change the default program to open your files.

Ernie
With that method [never used it much], is there a way to undo that, or change to yet another prog?

I know the above method SEEMS complex, but it's easy when you get used to it, and it helps you become comfortable with editing the registry. [Better perhaps than being terrified of it and afraid to enter and look.]
I forgot to mention that it's possible to similarly edit the:
"Shell | Open | Command"
"Shell | Play | Command"
"Shell | Record | Command" etc.

I also use a great little prog named "OpenExpert".
It allows you to specify a number of prog's to open any selected file type.
So mpg files [or any other file type] could be opened using any one of a list of prog's specified by the user.
You right-click on the file and click "Open With", then choose the prog you prefer.

Sylvander
I have used the above a few times but I have only ever had to re-set the association to a program once so have no idea about re-setting more than once.

I once used it, and set it to use the WRONG program and didn't know how to undo that.
But I vaguely remember hearing that it can be done.
That method puts settings in the registry that look different to the normal setting; I remember seeing them on my travels within regedit.

I used to play around a lot in the registry, but it's a dim and distant memory now. ;)
I decided a couple of minutes back to check on my settings for the handling of ".wav" files.
They needed fixed.
I now have the "soundrec | Shell | Play | Command" value set to:
C:\WINDOWS\Sndrec32.exe /play /close %1
So now when I [single] click [in my case] on a small wave file, it opens in sound recorder, plays & closes, all very rapidly [because sound recorder is a very simple and quick-acting little prog].
So I can search for all wave files [*.wav], which will find all the small files for sound effects. When I click on each in turn I can do it VERY rapidly to listen to the list very quickly. Can be fun and interesting.

Should mention that this doesn't handle HUGE wave files at all [it freezes], so for those I use a different system.
I've installed "OpenExpert", so I can right-click on a HUGE wave file and select "Open With..." and select the wave file handler of my choice from the list Open Expert allowed me to make.

Any of this any use Tap?

You can use Ernie's suggestion of Shift>right click as many times as you wish to change back and forth between programs to 'Open With'. You are just changing a pointer like spinning an arrow on an old board game.

Open Expert is just a more user friendly handy package that the native Windows Open With does perfectly well on it's own. I firmly believe in less programs if you don't need them. Open Expert is one of them. Not to knock it, but I for one, don't need it.

.

Thanks guys for the good advise!

Tap

... but it's a dim and distant memory now. ;)

Ah! old age and Altzhiemers :D

I cannot find the article I mentioned eons ago...perhaps it is nonexistent...

Here's a link discussing from eons ago:

http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=20379&highlight=registry+cleaning

RegCleaner is now a pay-for entity...however, if you can find the old version (I think it still exists out there) I use it all the time on my machine. Also, the Microsoft version of RegClean I believe also works with XP...

Both find dead-ends all the time in my registry. I prefer to use the Tools>Registry Cleanup>Do them all....in manual mode. That way, I can see what if finds before deleting them.

I have had terrific luck with a program called Registry First Aid (I don't work for them). I've used it on four different systems, XP, and even with 98se. Once I did have a screwup, but I was able to reinstall my system with my backup. But that was my fault. Everytime you launch it, you create a backup of your registry, so if something goes awry, you can reinstall that backup registry and you'll be back to where you were. Plus, there are some safeguards built into the system to keep you from deleting anything crucial.

In any case, I run it almost daily or every other day on the 3 machines on which it is installed. It's really great for brand new systems, so you start cleaning your registry before all the junk starts to accumulate. What I've learned is just how much crap is saved in the registry. I mean, every time you erase or move a file, just minor stuff like that, there is a registry entry for the old setting, and this program allows you to get rid of all that crap. All 3 systems are running very well.

marty

I use two programs, one semi automatic, the other manual.

I stopped using Norton anything a few years ago and only use System Suite 5 from VCom:
http://www.v-com.com/product/SystemSuite_Home.html
Virus updates are free (as opposed to paying a yearly fee to Symantac)
It has all you basic utilities including a Reg. Cleaner, Reg. Defrag, time sync, Disc checker and Defrag, and the best part; it's NOT a hog and it's not bloated especially like Nortons' AV!

I also use Registry Cleaner. I allows a search and it will turn up all entries ay once, not one at a time as the Windows Reg. Edit does:
http://www.4developers.com/regc/index.htm
There is no removal unless you choose to do so.