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600,000 subkeys? I have registry cancer courtesy of Counterspy...


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#1 OFFLINE   pbasch

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Posted 03 October 2006 - 12:44 AM

I had installed Counterspy, but it interfered with regular operation of the computer, so I deinstalled it. i have since discovered that it has left behind a registry key...

HKCU\Software\Sunbelt Software\Counterspy\Alerts

which has about 613,000 subkeys! This really clogs my system, makes booting up and turning off take forever. I can only even display the subkeys with Registry Explorer 1.4. Regedit and Regedt32 choked and hanged during display. And Registry Explorer will only let me delete the subkeys one at a time.

CCleaner was suggested, but it doesn't even find a problem. It doesn't see Counterspy as a program to uninstall, and it doesn't see any registry problems.

I would be grateful for any ideas short of reinstall of XP Pro SP2.

#2 OFFLINE   TheFiresInTheSky

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Posted 03 October 2006 - 12:46 AM

welcome to the CC forums :D
what you could do is create another user account.
this has its own set of registry keys and it would not include counterspys.
try it and let me know what you think, it doesnt take that long to move all your information from one account to another :)
-aaron

#3 OFFLINE   mushu13

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Posted 03 October 2006 - 12:54 AM

Well you could just make a .reg file to delete those for you.

Enter this in notepad and save it as DeleteAlerts.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Sunbelt Software\Counterspy\Alerts]
Then just merge it into the registry and regedit *should* just automaticaly delete it. :)
They call them fingers, but I've never seen them fing, or ger. WOAH there they go!!!!!!!
~Otto

How to use CCleaner on a Flash Drive (pre v2.0)

#4 OFFLINE   TheFiresInTheSky

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Posted 03 October 2006 - 12:56 AM

Quote

Well you could just make a .reg file to delete those for you.
good idea, just save that as anything.reg and you should be set.
just be sure you dont need those keys anymore!
i would set a restore point just incase, start>programs>accessories>(system tools)>system restore :)

Edited by TheFiresInTheSky, 03 October 2006 - 01:01 AM.


#5 OFFLINE   mushu13

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Posted 03 October 2006 - 01:00 AM

View PostTheFiresInTheSky, on Oct 2 2006, 07:56 PM, said:

just be sure you dont need those keys anymore!
Ya, we don't want to cause any more problems for you! :D
They call them fingers, but I've never seen them fing, or ger. WOAH there they go!!!!!!!
~Otto

How to use CCleaner on a Flash Drive (pre v2.0)