14 DAY TRIAL // Sooner or later, every computer user will have to confront with registry problems. Windows registry is actually a database where the operating system stores every change you make on your computer. To give you some examples, Windows registry contains the settings for all the installed hardware and software, users, preferences, file associations, system policies, etc.
It is practically the heart of your operating system and if you decide to perform an operation here, be sure that the "bypass" will be a success. It will make your computer run faster or slower, depending on how careful you are. Most of the programs you uninstall from your computer will still leave some traces and will not be completely erased with all their files. Sometimes, you have to edit it (clean it of useless entries) manually. Or you can use another software to do that.
The Internet provides lots of applications waiting to be put to work. One of these applications is called Registry Clean Expert and is developed by iExpert Software. The price for its "gardening" services is either $29.95 with one year free upgrade or $37.50 with lifetime free upgrade. The trial period for the software is 15 days and the limitations of the restricted version include fixing only ten registry problems.
The interface of the software is simple enough and it will display every option in such a way that the user should not be confused or lost. There are three main menus arranged vertically in the left side of the application window. The first time you run the program, it will ask you to backup your registry. It is advisable to do that, God forbid something wrong should happen.
The three above mentioned menus are Registry Clean Expert, Settings and Tools and Product Information. The first menu includes options like Scan & Clean where you can make the related settings. It will allow you to check the registry integrity, retrieve information on COM/ActiveX entries, font entries, shared DLLs, application paths, Windows startup items, file extensions, history list or file/path reference.
If your computer starts displaying error screens and messages, then, it is time for the Backup & Restore option. It will practically undo the changes you made in the registry, based on a previous backup. The Defrag Registry option will optimize the registry by removing the wasted space and the gaps in the Windows registry files. Its role is to compact, optimize and defragment your registry entries, thus increasing your computer performance.
The Startup Organizer will display a list of all the programs which are started with your operating system. Selecting one item in the list will provide you with details (in the lower part of the application window). It is an easy way to give up the processes you do not need at startup. The effect will be a faster loading of the operation system and less usage of computer memory.
The BHO (Browser Helper Object) Organizer will enable the user to delete adware or spyware in the computer. Generally, BHOs are legitimate and they sometimes add some neat functions to IE. Click on one item in the list and you will be given all the available information (command, file name, product name, description, company, etc.).
The Privacy Eraser is to be used when you want to erase all the tracks you leave while surfing the Internet and more. Thus, related web browser options are available here (visit history, cookies, cache files, typed URLs, saved username and password and the index.dat used by IE).
As this is the erase page of the software it is only natural to perform deleting actions on Windows and some of the programs. The recycle bin, temp folder, recent document list, the network cache and others will be deleted in a flash. The same can happen with the recent files lists from MS Office, WordPad, Paint, WinZip/WinRAR, Acrobat Reader or some video and audio players you have installed.
Be careful with the settings on this page, because you cannot apply any sort of filters.
The Settings & Tools menu will let the user set visual effects (in Windows 2000 and XP) or use theme based user interface. For the file verification, you can choose to ignore the missing files on removable drives like DVD-ROM or USB storing devices. In the IE Guard options, you can lock the home page or lock the title bar of IE to whatever you want. The Auto reminder feature can be set to remind you, every couple of days, to clean the registry and you can also make some use of the spam stopper for the messenger service.
The Exception list will show the user the element that will be ignored during the registry scanning. You can add some more items if you are certain of their provenience and want to be skipped by the software. The Advanced Tools is just an easy access to all the Windows System tools and the registry editor, DirectX Diagnostic tool and the System Configuration utility.
The Good
The software's intended purpose is to be appreciated and it may be of some use to the beginners in registry cleaning.
The Help menu will explain every aspect of the software so that you do not goof up.
The Bad
The price of the software is outrageously high. Almost all its features are actually the built-in Windows utilities.
The Truth
The software is worth a big round of applause. They managed to do nothing but create shortcuts to the Windows utility tools. The only option they have and MS Windows misses is Scan & Clean. I could not imagine that someone that paid the license for the operating system will give up $30 more to get this software.
My alternative is simple. Combine your Windows OS with EasyCleaner and CCleaner and your registries and system should run perfectly.
They even have the audacity of calling their software Registry Clean Expert. I even think that the scanning option should be called Scam & Leave.
Here are some snapshots of the application in action:
