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Do computer Registry cleaners really work?

First, for those of you who are unfamiliar with what a Registry cleaner is, here is a quick definition from Wikipedia: "A Registry cleaner is a type of software utility designed for the Microsoft Windows operating system whose purpose is to remove redundant or unwanted items from the Windows Registry." While the definition of a Registry cleaner is pretty cut and dry, the main question on if they really work, is highly debatable. I don't think I can come to conclusion as to whether they work or not. Many members claim they work great, and an equal number of folks say they don't do anything to help improve a PC performance, so I've taken it to the polls to see where we go with that. However, more importantly some people even warn that if you aren't careful using a Registry cleaner, you can do more harm to your system than good. Your Registry is the soul of your operating system, and if something gets deleted accidentally from there, even one thing, a whole lot of damage could be done. So if you are going to use a Registry cleaner, a good rule of thumb is to always back up your Registry first. And before blindly giving the OK to the Registry cleaner to remove entries, go over each item carefully, as some Registry cleaners are much more aggressive about clearing up the clutter than others.

-Lee Koo
CNET Community manager