I have been reading online that registry cleaning programs occasionally cause more harm than good.
Is that the case for Norton 360?
Should I disable the registry scanner, or should it not cause any problems?
Thank You!
I have been reading online that registry cleaning programs occasionally cause more harm than good.
Is that the case for Norton 360?
Should I disable the registry scanner, or should it not cause any problems?
Thank You!
snipes1988 wrote:I have been reading online that registry cleaning programs occasionally cause more harm than good.
Is that the case for Norton 360?
Should I disable the registry scanner, or should it not cause any problems?
Thank You!
Hi snipes,
Everyone seems to have an opinion about running a registry cleaner and everyone is entitled to their opinion.
IMHO, I will not use the Norton Registry cleaner , nor any other registry cleaner if I can avoid having to run one. I have left the Norton Registry Cleaner turned off since I installed Norton Security Suite (Comcast's version of N 360) mainly because I do not run registry cleaners, but also because the Norton version does not ask before removing an item. I prefer more control than that. If something is going to be deleted, I want to know what it is before I provide the OK to delete it. I do not like the automatic deletions.
I'm sure you'll see more opinions here before the thread ends.
Like PapauZ says, Norton’s registry cleanup is relatively tame; I myself have never experienced any problems with it (although I don’t use it often). But like Yank notes, registry cleaners are inherently risky, because they have to try to figure out what every third-party programmer whose software is on your machine has done to your registry–with or without documenting it–and tell the difference between a tuly orphaned key and one that’s equally undocumented but still in use by some critical part of something–up to and including your Operating System.
Bottom line is I would disable it and refrain from running it unless you have some specific symptom suggesting a registry problem (not just a “registry error,” a term that includes strak keys like I mention above).
I can't seem to find an option to switch off the registry cleaner. How could I do it?
Thank you!
Hi,
you just need to open the 360 Settings, and there's a Task Scheduler option in it. Go to that settings panel, and deselect Registry Cleaner. Save the settings, and now it won't run automatically :).
There are a few registry cleaners out there that I think are better than what is offered in N360. One in particular I like is IOLO System Mechanic because it allows me to manually backup the registry before I make any changes at all, it allows me to go through each key individually if I want to do so to make sure it isn't removing anything that I obviously don't want removed, it compacts the registry, etc. If a registry cleaning app does not have these key elements I would avoid using it. The nice thing with this feature set is that in a worse case scenario, if you screw up and remove something you shouldn't have, you can restore it extremely easily. I hope future versions of N360 will offer more registry features than the automated cleaning it performs now.
In response to an earlier post, I would say that while you may not ever truly NEED to run a registry cleaner, I do find definite performance improvements when my registry is clean and compact versus when it is not. Think of this as being similar to defragging a badly fragmented hard drive. However NEVER make any changes without first BACKING UP your current registry!!!
I can't find a way to permanently turn off Norton 360 2014 Registry Cleaner, I've had constant errors (8920, 208 / 8921, 240 / 3038, 104) when performing Live Update & now during a Scan. It sounds like several people feel the registry should be left off. How do I do that, thanks.
HI, hookster. These error codes are normally associated with Live Update issues also. Have you checked your computer clock time and zone are correct ?
Norton Guru Krusty13 also has the same advice re disabling the registry cleaner, here.
Open N360 and click Settings > Task scheduling and uncheck Registry Cleanup, then Apply.
Windows does a pretty good job of managing the registry these days, and cleaners are not needed.
If the problems continue, a reinstall with the Norton Remove and Reinstall Tool may be needed. The link is here.
If used, run Live Update again, until no more are found.
Hi hookster,
Open N360 > Settings > Task Scheduling > uncheck Registry Cleanup and any other tasks you don't want N360 to run > Apply.
Edit : Thanks, @F4E , I was too slow. 
I do not use the Norton registry cleaner, but use two others religiously. Also every month or so I have it defragmented. I have been using principally Glary Utilities freeware version and never a problem. I never have had a problem. Long ago, maybe it was Norton, I cannot recall, a needed registry6 entry was being deleted. In this case you can put this key in an EXCLUDE list.
But listen, if you do not clean your registry every so often, particularly wihen you have installed new software, you are going to have problems with your computer. SO I STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU USE A REGISTRY CLEANER FROM A GOOD VENDOR. As I said, you do not have to use Norton. There are other freeware cleaners that are excellent.
Hi, fjack1415. Maybe you've been lucky, but most experts would advise against the use of registry cleaners, unless the user is experienced in restoring the registry if something goes wrong, and you can't boot your system.
This article explains the possible problems that may be encountered.
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/registry-cleaner/a/registry-cleaner-faq.htm
Thanks, F4E, tut as i said I have used registry cleaners for many years now and not a probem. But i will check out the link you give with the tech article.