Computer pros: can I delete junk from my registry?

[sampsonblk]

I am looking at regedit for the first time. I have all kinds of complete junk in here from years ago. Kazaa, InternetCasino crap, etc. All from the guy who sold me this computer years ago. These are things long since (I thought) removed from this machine.

1. Why is it still listed in my registry?

2. Can I just delete this stuff, or will that cause a problem?

(Path: 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \')

[Must_B_Free]

1. yes

1. because windows is trash
2. yes, no.

[MichaelHarris]

2. NO

don't indiscriminately delete stuff from the registry

[Fridays Child]

3. Here's a registry cleaner...

http://www.download.com/TweakNow-RegCleaner/3000-2094-10303137.html?tag=lst-0-12#cnetReview

[Sirveri]

4. some of it yes.

but I generally would just leave it alone unless it's causing a problem. You can do serious damage to the OS if you delete the wrong stuff from the registry.

You might instead want to simply reformat and reinstall, that cures all problems.

[Barad Simith]

6. sampsonblk, if Sirveri's suggestion to "simply reformat and reinstall"

doesn't sound all that simple --

a few months ago i messed around with my registry, and immediately began getting 'operating system not found' messages. no windows, nothing but a black screen with that message

reinstalling the operating system wouldn't work. i had to completely reformat

just leave the registry alone, unless your system is a mess, and then get someone who knows what they're doing to look at it

or at least get the software mentioned above

[fknobbit]

5. Bad plan

You can trash a registry quickly if you delete the wrong thing. Download a good registry cleaner like REGISTRY FIRST AID (30 day free trial) and do it safely.