AVG System Scan VS sfc /SCANNOW?

Silibant

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Nov 23, 2013
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AVG FREE System Scan tells me I have bucketfuls of registry errors, but the built in sfc /SCANNOW reports none. This is on a relatively new copy of Windows 8.1, and I have never mucked about with RegEdit or anything that could create said errors. Is this AVG trying to get me to buy their product through scare tactics, their free product not working, or Windows' own scans not working? Note that I'm experiencing no issues, so there is no reason to believe this report from AVG.
 

Silibant

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Nov 23, 2013
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Yes what? I presume you mean Yes, it's AVG trying to scare you into buying their product.

I'll definitely check it out, thanks for recommending it. Have you ever used AVG, and if so, what are the benefits of Avast over AVG?
 

talker

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May 23, 2014
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What you are seeing are two different actions.
Registry and protected files are NOT the same things.
Each has there place.
I use SFC /scannow , whenever odd/ strange actions appear.
 

Silibant

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Nov 23, 2013
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Do you thing AVG has any validity in its complaints, though? My machine is behaving quite normally, so it's strange that anything would set off alarm bells for AVG.
 

talker

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May 23, 2014
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Registry cleaners are a tricky thing, with a high 'do / don't' use.
I would say yes, do a AVG clean at least once.
It is surprising the amount of garbage the registry accumulates from any install.
Do be aware that in some cases, good info, is wiped out doing a registry clean.
If this happens you would need to reinstall the 'good' what ever that was lost.
Mostly the garbage is harmless, but can increase 'boot' times.

 

Silibant

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Nov 23, 2013
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Thanks. Is there a baked-in option in Windows for this?
 

talker

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May 23, 2014
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Being new to Win 8.1, not able to say at this time. So for now will say 'no' .
For the record, will say Win 8.1 is a 'dumbed' down OS for serious users.
 

Silibant

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Nov 23, 2013
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I'm inclined to disagree. Although some things are simplified, I can still access elavated cmd, regedit, and serious stuff rather easily. I like it, but to be honest I no longer need it as both my machines are capable of running 7. It's good for lightweight PCs.
 

MeneerWitte

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Nov 27, 2012
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:hello:

Kindly I ask your attention.

Well, looks like you have to Google a bit to see what you are writing and asking.

Start Google and type:

What does sfc /SCANNOW do?

https://www.google.nl/#q=What+does+sfc+%2FSCANNOW++do%3F

sfc /SCANNOW, it checkes the System Files of Windows for errors and has nothing to do with the Registry of programs that can give some issues.

What do Registry programs do?

https://www.google.nl/#q=What+do+Registry+programs+do%3F

Well, programs have being registered at Windows Registry. Thoose programs put in the Registry more Registry Entries. Some work in combination good and some don't, all will be deleted when the programs has being deleted and some deinstallations leave some Registries behind that polute the system/give errors.
That's where a Registry program comes in for use, it will try to find thoose Registries and delete's or changes them. The so called Repair.

Well, there is another check like 'chkdsk', this will check the disk for disk error's and System Files too.

Google for:

What does chkdsk do?

And for chkdsk and sfc /scannow, check the net for How to Use. Copy the text lines into Notepad so you don't need to check everytime How to Use it on the net.

When you want to do the Windows Registry manually, make surten you look on the net for it. You might be able to type the registry key into Google and Google might find a link that can tell you If you can Or not delete it and what might happen. Use a phrase like:

HOT_MACHINE_KEY/Windows/Progams/Google/BlaBlaBlaWhatever deletion

Or,

BlaBlaBlaWhatever register key deletion

And so on.

Hopefully I let you known enough, that you will find the answers you seek! :)

Good luck and have fun doing it! :)

Best Regards,

MeneerWitte
 

randomizer

Distinguished
I wouldn't bother with registry cleaners. The typical "problems" they report are references to missing files and other unimportant things. You won't gain any performance from using one, but you may have problems if they make a mistake. Even if they clean up hundreds of invalid entries that's nothing compared to the hundreds of thousands of valid entries left over.