PC Tools Registry Mechanic 6.0

From a power-user perspective, some of you may view Registry Mechanic as a serviceable option when something more comprehensive like, say, SystemWorks isn’t available. Still, there are those, some power users included, who don’t like digging their hands into Windows’ guts for fear of mucking things up. For such users, RM is a capable, good fit.

The numbers suggest as much, as PC Tools reports there are 300,000-plus RM downloads a week. Many of these downloads are people getting RM’s trial version, which, like many similar apps’ trial versions, is limited to a handful of fixes. Repairing everything means a $29.95 registration, getting you a year’s worth of new versions and updates. Is it worth it? Yes, if you want something fast, straightforward, and with decent configuration and automated abilities. Although CCleaner and TweakNow RegCleaner Standard deserve mention as free alternatives, neither can match RM’s polish, presentation, and ease of use.

I installed RM on a Windows XP AMD Athlon 64 3700+ rig that I regularly install / uninstall software on but had not run a Registry cleaner on for several months. I also installed RM on a heavily used WinXP Intel P4 3.2GHz rig that I ran CCleaner on about two weeks prior. RM’s Deep Scan of both systems took just seconds, finding 205 errors on the Athlon machine, detailing each with a graphical security status and path to the error’s location. Interestingly, RM found 771 problems on the Intel machine, although 375 related to temp files / shortcuts and 369 to invalid Values.

Before making repairs, RM creates a backup and offers to set a System Restore point. RM’s Compact tool shrank my Athlon rig’s Registry by 2% and the Intel’s Registry by 6%. CCleaner and RegCleaner test results were similar, though comparing apps based on how many errors they return isn’t exact, as cleaners typically differ in what they search out. More important is the noticeable bump in system-performance speed I saw with RM. Throw in RM’s logs, adequate system-optimization utility, and background Monitor tool and RM should appeal to non-Registry geeks.