On the Cleaner part I would un-check the Empty the Recycle Bin
As for the Registry part I've not had any problems with using it. I don't use that part very often.
cg

I use Registry cleaner after i've uninstalled a programme as a lot of junk is left behind..never had a problem.

I never ever use registry cleaners and most of the forums I help on advise against using them because they can do so much damage if you are not very knowledgeable in working with the registry. I leave registry work to the specialist I am not one! the old pcs like 95 and 98 benefited from registry clean up but with the changes made in xp and vista they are not needed.

doing anything in the registry with out a serious back up is like playing Russian Roulette.

using the regular cleaning aspect of cccleaner is ok.

Gillian you should most certainly have created a backup of your registry before proceeding with the cleaning. This allows the opportunity (maybe) to return to the original state if the cleaning goes wrong. It will create a copy of the registry only and is quite small.

To me cleaning the registry is a last resort if I am having problems and no other type of clean up or test seems to cure the ills. It is certainly not a casual thing to be used like an anti spyware program for example.

As regards Ccleaner, I use it at the default settings and find it an excellent program.

The registry utility of CC is a "lite" utility. It doesn't work too deep and I personally have found it harmless after fixing all the entries. However like any other utility which removes data from a system and offers the ability to create a backup, this option should be used.

DA

gillian this is the way I make a registry backup.

Start - run - type regedit - OK
Open file at the left top - click export - Go to my documents - For Save type Backup - Save.
To use your Registry Backup.
Start - run - type regedit - OK
Open File - Import - right click your Registry Backup - Click Merge.

I use it often and have for years. I always allow it to make a back-up. It only gets rid of stuff which is no big deal. Invalid shortcuts and old links, etc. I always check what it finds before letting it clean.

Jane

Thank you for the help to be perfectly honest I did not know what "backup" meant or what to do, so thanks to 'cboy" I have learned something have those instructions saved, I thought maybe it involved putting a cd in the computer "dvd+rw" tray.

Gillian

When it asks you 'do you want a back-up' just say yes. It will show you where it is saving the back-up (on mine its My Documents)and just click OK. That's it. If you ran into a problem you can just click on the back-up and restore it. No disks or anything.

Jane