A registry cleaner appeared on my PC, but I never downloaded or asked for it. I initially presumed it was one of the programs which always ask me to register my PC or one of its components. I accepted it but when I realized it was running a scan of my system, I stopped it. It already had detected two registry errors and wanted to go on to delete them. I don’t trust this program and I fear it may harm my PC because it wouldn’t leave even after all my efforts to remove it. Please how reliable is this program and how do I make it quit?

Rogue Registry Cleaners and Programs

It sounds like your computer may have been infected with a rogue program. Fake computer alerts are common ploys used by malware developers and unscrupulous software developers. For example, pop-up windows that look surprisingly like traditional Windows security alerts are often used to tell a computer user that a problem has been detected and needs to be fixed. Once clicked, an executable program is launched that installs a fake computer security program onto the user’s computer. This fake program then lists all kinds of discovered problems such as viruses and spyware and then prompts the user to purchase the program in order to remove the malware. Many of these programs block access to computer security websites, making it difficult to remove the unwanted program.

Rogue Registry Cleaners background

Just as fake antivirus programs are proliferating, so are rogue registry cleaners. They use similar tactics. Oftentimes, the rogue registry cleaner arrives with the help of Trojans. A fake scan appears, displaying fake results. Other tactics include the use of fake computer security alerts and prompts to purchase a program designed to remove the errors.

Removing Rogue Registry Cleaners

Whether you’re dealing with a rogue antivirus program, rogue registry cleaner, or other software in this category, removing it could be difficult, especially if the program blocks access to legitimate computer security websites.

If you currently have a legitimate computer security product installed on your system, update it and run a full system scan. If you can’t update the software because the malware is blocking it, use a different computer to download the latest antivirus and antispyware definitions to a disc and update the software manually from disc. Hopefully, your computer security product will recognize the rogue software and remove it for you.

Another option is to search sites such as Symantec or Trend Micro for information about the exact rogue product installed on your system as they will often list manual removal instructions.

The Bin Registry Key

The bin registry key is a key located within the Windows registry related to the Recycle Bin. Changes made to this key can affect how the Recycle Bin works. The Windows registry is a vast repository of information and settings covering just about every item on your computer. In this case, the bin registry key is located at this registry address:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}

Dangers of Editing the Bin Registry Key

While it is possible to troubleshoot Recycle Bin problems by editing the bin registry key, this job shouldn’t be attempted by the average computer user. The Windows registry is extremely susceptible to mistakes, many of which can adversely affect your computer. Most changes take place immediately - including accidental entries. A simple mistake can cause more trouble than the initial problem, so extreme care is required.

In addition, registry editing is not intuitive. It’s not like you’re given a choice of options and helpful hints along the way. For example, Symantec gives specific bin registry editing instructions for users of its Norton Protected Recycle Bin to manually repair the bin registry key. One of the values in this example should read “ThreadingModel”=”Apartment” - how would an average user know to enter this? And that’s just one line of many for one specific product! Other programs may also have specific entries in this key, some legitimate, some not necessarily so. It’s impossible for average computer users, and even above average ones, to know.

Solving Common Registry-related Errors

That you’re asking what a bin registry key is leads to another question: Why do you need to know? Is your computer generating an error message pointing to problems with the bin registry key? If so, what is the specific error message? Are you noticing any other computer problems? Is your Recycle Bin functioning as it should?

If you suspect problems with the registry, consider investing in a registry cleaning product such as RegCure. Your computer may even have a registry cleaner pre-installed. For example, some VAIO computers come with Sony’s VAIO care utility which has a registry cleaning function. These utilities provide you with a safe way to clean up registry errors and have an added benefit: improved computer performance.

RegCure File Corruption

It’s odd that the actual program will not open all of a sudden, but not unheard of with any software program. Programs are made up of dozens of system files and building blocks called DLLs. If a single file or DLL becomes damaged, program errors result ranging from minor flukes to complete failures. In this case, part of the program is unaffected (the automated scan) but the program itself cannot load.

So, what to do? You can a couple of do-it-yourself options that you can try before contacting RegCure technical support. Since this just happened, the easiest first step is to run System Restore if you have Windows XP or a later version.

System Restore

System Restore will only work if you have a current restore point. Check to see by going to Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore. A Window will open showing you the “recommended” restore point which is usually the most recent one. Consider whether the recommended restore point is before or after the problem occurred. You need a reasonably current restore point that took place before RegCure started acting up. If the recommended restore point is from after the error, it won’t do any good. In this case, click on “Choose a different restore point” and then choose one from just before the error.

This will rollback your system to its older state; it doesn’t not affect data so you will not lose your documents, email messages, and photos. However, if you installed software or hardware since that date, you will need to reinstall it. The same is true of any updates.

Reinstall RegCure

If you do not have a valid restore point, the next option is to uninstall and then reinstall RegCure. Since you can’t open the program to look up your registration keys, you will need to check your email or other documentation from your original purchase so that when you reinstall the software it knows that you are licensed to use the full version. If you don’t have the information handy, ParetoLogic, the developer of RegCure, has a License Key Lookup tool on its Web site. You will need either your original order ID or the email address you used when you purchased the product.

ParetoLogic offers a free download of RegCure on its Web site. Go ahead and download the free version (it is a scanner only until the license key is entered which unlocks the other features). Once loaded on your computer, go to the About section and enter your license key. Since this is a new installation, you may need to recreate your original scan schedule.

Note: According to ParetoLogic Support, when uninstalling and reinstalling RegCure, your license keys will remain intact. Still, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared with the information just in case.

RegCure Support

Finally, if neither System Restore nor reinstalling RegCure worked, contact RegCure support for additional help.

Do you know what happens behind the scenes each and every time you install or remove software or hardware from your Windows based PC? 

You may not be aware of it, but every time such a change is made the operating system keeps track of it.  In order to do that Windows uses a special file called the registry.  This registry file stores a wealth of information about your PC, including the type of software installed on it, any special settings, changes you have made, file locations and much more. 

A problem with the registry can manifest itself in all sorts of ways, from minor annoyances like programs that are slow to open to major issues like a PC that refuses to boot or just keeps restarting. 

Given the importance of the Windows registry it is vital for computer owners to tread cautiously before making any changes.  Making the wrong change can have serious repercussions, up to and including a PC that is totally useless.

Yet keeping the registry clean is certainly important, and many PCs do in fact contain registry keys (sometimes thousands) that are no longer needed. 

Many times when a program is uninstalled or updated it leaves behind little traces of itself in the Windows registry, and those traces can cause everything from slow performance to programs that refuse to load. 

Fortunately there are special tools designed to help computer owners keep their registries in top shape without risking damage to their systems.  These registry cleaning tools make the registry scanning and cleaning process much simpler - and much safer.  If you doubt the value having a registry cleaning tool on board, just consider these salient points:

• Making even a minor change in the Windows registry can have serious ramifications. Changing the wrong key, or entering the wrong value, could cause your computer to become instantly inoperable.
• It can be difficult or even impossible to undo a registry change once it has been made. While there are ways to restore a damaged registry, if the PC won’t boot you may be out of luck.
• Reversing the damage may require the help of a computer expert - with all the associated costs. Even if the computer can be restored, doing so can be expensive.
• Computer experts agree that altering the registry is a job only the most experienced computer owners should tackle. Changing a registry key is deceptively simple, but unless you know exactly what you are doing you could be in for a big hassle.
• You could end up losing many years worth of personal, professional and financial data if your computer is damaged by an incorrect registry change. We keep so much of our lives on our computers these days, and that means a crash can have very serious effects. It is best to err on the side of caution and never make a registry change without using a registry cleaning tool.

All of these are very good reasons to use a registry cleaning tool.  Making changes to the Windows registry on your own can be likened to riding the trapeze without a net.  Both are extremely dangerous, and the results of one bad move can be disastrous.  The good news is that a quality registry cleaning tool can be your PC safety net.

The Registry tool we recommend is Regcure by Paretologic

Running Registry Cleaners

Sounds like you’ve used a free registry scanner to detect the 913 registry problems. That’s a good first step, but at this point it is informational only. Most free registry scanners are evaluation tools that give you an idea of the health of your registry so that you can decide whether or not to upgrade to the full, commercial version of the product. With nearly a thousand known registry errors, your computer is a candidate for a good registry cleaning.

Filetonic recommends RegCure from ParetoLogic Software. I use this registry cleaner on my daughter’s computer and can vouch for its effectiveness at cleaning out the junk and speeding the computer up.

Slow PC or other Computer problems? Run a free registry scan Now

How Registry Cleaning Works

The Windows registry is a big index of information about your computer and everything on it. The operating system refers to this index regularly to carry out its functions. When the registry is “clean,” Windows can easily find the information required and move on. When it becomes excessively large, it takes longer for Windows to find what it needs therefore operations become sluggish.

To make matters worse, invalid information and corruption within the registry leads to odd behavior and computer errors. For example, if a registry entry tells Windows to load a particular program but the program no longer exists, Windows will do its best to load the non-existent program, often delaying other processes while it searches for it. When the missing program can’t be found, you may see an error message.

The registry is an ever-evolving entity. As you add and remove programs and hardware, the registry is changed. When you change user preferences on your computer, these changes are reflected in the registry. Other programs, like spyware and computer viruses, also make changes to the registry.

Registry Editing

Windows comes with a built-in registry editing utility called regedit. However, making manual changes to the registry tool is extremely risky and shouldn’t be attempted for large scale cleaning (especially if are working with as many errors as your computer has). Registry cleaning software is programmed to make the necessary changes safely and quickly.

Other Concerns

Investing in a registry cleaner such as RegCure is an inexpensive way to speed up a sluggish computer and keep it running smoothly through regular cleanings. Cleaning the registry is a good first step. If after the cleaning, your computer still experiences weird happenings, I would be concerned with malware. Viruses and spyware can also corrupt your registry and slow your computer.In addition, you mentioned an overabundance of spam which increases your exposure to scammers, phishers, and malware. If you don’t have a good antivirus product on your computer, this is another investment that you won’t regret.

We reviewed some of the top antivirus products for 2009 earlier this year, several of which are free. Look for a complete solution that takes care of viruses, spyware, and spam. Using a reputable computer security product and cleaning out the malware and viruses will also improve slow computers.

Although I am not really sure what the situation is, it sounds as though you might be experiencing a problem with some missing or broken files. This type of corruption can occur for any number of reasons. The good news is that you can try a few things to repair your registry files so that you can once again edit the registry.

What Can You Do with the Registry Editor?

Computer users can use the registry editor to complete a number of tasks including:1)      Change a value.
2)      Add a subkey or value.
3)      Locate a subkey, subtree, value, or key.
4)      Rename a subkey or value.
5)      Delete a subkey or value.

Troubleshooting Problems Editing the Windows Registry: Enable the Registry Editor

To enable the Registry Editor directly, you will need to access the Group Policy Editor. Although following the directions listed here should allow you to regain your ability to edit the registry, you should create a back up or system restore point in case you encounter a problem.

How to Enable the Registry Editor Using the Group Policy Editor

Follow these steps closely:

1)      Navigate to “Start” and click.
2)      Select “Run.”
3)      Type in “gpedit.msc.” (Don’t use the quotation marks.)
4)      Navigate to the following option, “User Configuration.”
5)      Navigate to the following option, “Administrative Templates.”
6)      Navigate to the following option, “System.”
7)      Navigate to the following option, “Prevent access to registry editing tools.”
8)      Select the option “Disabled.”
9)      Select the “OK” button to save these new settings.
10)  Reboot the computer to enable these settings.

Troubleshooting Problems Editing the Windows Registry: Clean the Registry

If you use a reliable registry cleaner such as RegCure, then you can clean up missing or broken files safely. Registry cleaners are much safer than manually editing the Windows registry, especially those with rollback features. Hopefully, this will restore your ability to use the registry editor without any problems once again.Troubleshooting Problems Editing the Windows Registry: Scan for Malware

In some cases, problems using the Registry Editor have been linked to some type of malware application. If you haven’t scanned your computer in a while with an up-to-date anti-virus/anti-spyware application, then I suggest that you do so now. If you need a program, I can recommend Anti-VirusPLUS.

Removing Downloaded Files

I’m concerned that you weren’t able to download the registry cleaner. Let’s talk about removing the temporary file and then see if we can get you a good download of RegCure, Filetonic’s recommend registry cleaner.

Windows often puts files in the temporary and other folders that have invalid names and can’t be easily deleted. Luckily, there are ways to do this, even if there is no “delete” option when you right click on the file name.

Delete in Safe Mode

There are a few things you can do in Safe Mode that may work for your situation. Get into Safe Mode by pressing F8 (or F1 or F2 depending on your machine - you may have to research that) right when the system powers on. You will see a black screen with some white writing. Choose Safe Mode and the computer will load up with its most basic settings.

See if you can find the file in Safe Mode and delete it. If you can’t delete it directly, try renaming and then deleting. Right click the file and choose Rename. Once it has been renamed, try deleting it.

Delete in Windows Command

Go to All Programs and then Accessories and then Command Prompt. When you get to the prompt, type in (and pay attention to the spaces): cd /d %TMP%

                                                                                        rd /s .

This will change the location of the temporary directory and then remove it - it doesn’t actually remove the directory itself, just what’s in it. Make sure that there is nothing in there that you want to save, because it will all be gone.

New User Account

This method may seem drastic, but it has worked for many people in your situation. Move the file to the desktop. Now go to Control Panel and User Accounts. Create a new user account - this can have any name you want. Move the undeletable file to the new account and then delete the entire account, taking the annoying file with it.

Utilities

There are several third-party utilities that will get rid of invalid files for you without going through all of these steps. You can try something like DelinvFile which is a utility that will delete partial or invalid files.

I’m concerned that you weren’t able to download the registry cleaner. Though you didn’t say which product you tried to download, we recommend RegCure. If this is the product that you had trouble with, please follow this RegCure Support Link where you can ask specific questions about your download experience. We don’t often hear about download problems, so we want to get yours fixed as soon as possible.

Registry Mechanic’s Scan Feature

Registry scan is a good registry cleaning utility that allows you to scan your Windows registry for corruption, obsolete entries, invalid entries, and other clutter that can cause errors. To scan the registry, simply launch Registry Mechanic and click the Scan Your Registry link. From there, the software will begin scanning for errors.

Unfortunately, Registry Mechanic does not feature a scheduling tool. You cannot schedule weekly scans within the software like you can do with competing products such as RegCure. However, if you want a workaround, keep reading.

Using Task Scheduler

If you already own Registry Mechanic and don’t want to switch to a competing registry cleaner in order to benefit from weekly scans, you can use a built-in Windows tool called the Task Scheduler. Task Scheduler is a handy tool that allows you to program specific tasks to take place automatically. For example, if you want to defrag your hard drive each week at a specific time, use the Task Scheduler and let Windows take care of this chore for you automatically. The same is true of scheduling Registry Mechanic scans.

First, go into Registry Mechanic, select Options> General, and enable the “Remove all problems automatically” option. This way, when the scheduled scan runs, if any problems in the registry are found, they will be removed.

Next, in Windows Vista, go to Start> Programs> Accessories> System Tools> Task Scheduler. Click Create Task and give it a name such as “Registry Mechanic Scan.” Click the Trigger tab followed by New. Make sure that the trigger reads “On a Schedule” and then set up the schedule, in this case choose Weekly and pick the day of the week that you want the scan to run. Click OK and the click the Actions tab.

You will “Start a Program.” Click the Browse button to find Registry Mechanic. The path should be “C:\Program Files\Registry Mechanic\RegMech.exe” unless you have placed the program in a non-default location. Next, add an argument such as “/QS” or “/S” for Quick Scan or Full Scan mode respectively. The makers of Registry Mechanic recommend using the full command line as follows (note the use of quotes and the spacing between the end quote and the forward slash):

“C:\Program Files\Registry Mechanic\RegMech.exe” /QS

If you have an earlier version of Windows, the process is slightly different but quite similar. If you can’t find the Task Scheduler in the System Tools folder, look in the Control Panel under Scheduled Tasks.

RegCure Registry Errors

RegCure is a registry cleaner that goes into the Windows registry and cleans out errors within. The registry can become clogged with obsolete and invalid entries which cause the computer’s performance to suffer as well as contribute to computer crashes and errors. For example, when installing a program, the program modifies the registry with necessary information. However, if the installation fails mid-way through, the registry entries may have been partially entered. Since the program never fully installs, there’s no uninstall option, so these partial entries remain in the registry, potentially confusing Windows.

The Free RegCure Scanner

The free RegCure scanner let’s you see if your computer’s registry is a good candidate for cleaning. Even brand new computers may have registry errors. If your computer’s performance is suffering or your computer is generating a lot of error messages and the RegCure scanner shows a significant amount of registry problems, cleaning unnecessary entries is an excellent step that can solve problems and improve performance.

Is RegCure Safe?

RegCure comes from a reputable software developer, ParetoLogic Software, based in Vancouver, B.C. The free scanner allows you to evaluate the software and see if your computer is a good candidate for registry cleaning before you buy it. It comes with safeguards such as a registry backup and restore feature that allows you to restore the registry should the cleaning make matters worse.

RegCure Benefits

RegCure features a schedule tool that regularly cleans your registry as often as you want it to. This helps to keep your PC running at its best with the least amount of interference from confusing instructions within the registry. After all, the more you use your computer, the more its registry is modified. Using RegCure is not a one-time performance booster. Rather, it is a useful tool that you can use regularly to maintain your computer.

Your question was a bit longer, but I have edited it down to get to the heart of your problem. From what I can tell, you are having registry errors that are causing problems on your system. First, let’s take a look at how the registry can give your system problems, and then we’ll give you the best solution to get you up and running.

What is the Registry?

A computer uses the registry to store information about hardware and software configurations, system settings and user profiles. Everything you do on your computer makes an entry or adds a key in your registry. Most of the time, if you are not using a key because the program has been closed or deleted, the key will also be deleted. Sometimes keys are left behind when they are no longer needed and these can cause errors, causing the registry to become damaged or fragmented.

Registry errors can also happen when malware, spyware and Trojans embed keys within the registry, causing all sorts of problems. Your problems may be caused by these viruses or they may have started when you deleted the freeware that inadvertently caused problems with your registry.

Registry Cleaner

Regardless of the causes for your registry issues, the best solution is to use a registry cleaner to scan your system and fix the errors. Altering registry keys yourself is not only difficult, but it can cause irreparable damage to your system, so it is better to use a program that will safely do it for you. We recommend RegCure as a reliable, tested program that comes with support to make sure that your registry issues are solved. Download the program and let it run, and with just a few clicks, your registry issues should be a thing of the past.

Antivirus Programs

I don’t know if you are regularly updating and running antivirus, antimalware and antispyware programs, but you should be. Once your system is back to normal, make sure you keep your system protected by running good antivirus programs. If you need some suggestions, Filetonic has a good review article here.

Resetting your Home Page

In Internet Explorer, if your home page has been changed, you can go back in and manually change it. Go to Tools > Internet Options and enter the URL to your preferred home page in the Home Page section.

Fix your registry, and your homepage and login issues should resolve quickly. If you need more help, don’t hesitate to contact us.