[jwobrien2]

Ran IOLO "System Mechanic V7", and allowed it to 'clean registry'.

Did so across three different WinXP computers.

After boot, and sign-in, now get (never before seen) Dialog boxes asking about updating OLD versions of software. The software DOES NOT have its option to 'Automatically Update', nor does it have its 'Update Manager' software program since it/they are of older versions I never intend to update.

What in the Registry could System Mechanic have modified/deleated to cause these (never before seen) Dialog boxes by Microsoft Windows Installer to pop up; As I fix one, a new one pops up.

Can I fix this by making my own modifications to Registry Keys?

I didn't correllate this problem until I had done a number of 'updates' with System Mechanic so their "SafetyNet" to 'back-out' changes is of no use!

Their Technical Support team seem to be unqualified to help on this level of detailed question.

Thanks
John O'Brien

 

[chauffeur2]

Hello John, Welcome to TSF! :wave:

What you have described here points to the installation of SystemMechanic™ being corrupt.
One suggestion is to uninstall and reinstall the program.

Having said that, many 'registry cleaners' (SystemMechanic™ included) create more problems than they are worth as you have discovered here; therefore, it would be better to just uninstall it.

Another workaround would be to start the computer from a 'cold start', tapping the F8 key; then, select the option "Last Known Good Configuration", and allow the computer to reboot.

Please post back with the results.

Kind Regards,

 

[jwobrien2]

Dave T.

Thanks for your timely response and those suggestions regarding System Mechanic (SM)... I will let you know what (if any) progress I make!

I doubt if a re-install (or remove) of SM will help, since it already has changed the Registry. Also, everything else it was supposed to do it did fine (in fact it does a fantastic job of cleaning out unused files). The problem (I believe) is that SM removed/modified some Registry Keys that it should NOT have, therefore 'triggering' the Windows Installer to (mistakenly) start trying to do updates on very old applications. I think that if I can figure out where in the Registry this Windows Installer is looking to trigger these application updates, then I can repair those keys.

I am (now) in total agreement with your comment about 'registry cleaners' in general. I have had other problems in the past (a few years ago) with some of them, but assumed (obviously very naively) that this new version of System Mechanic could be trusted. The fact that their 'Technical Team' do not seem to know 'diddly' about the innards of the product is a frustrating discovery.

It is too late to use F8, and 'go back to the Last Known Good Configuration, since in the 2 weeks it took me to diagnose the 'surprises' that System Mechanic left for me, I had already done a myriad of other things to my Win XP, so have little choice but to go ahead on this path!
John

 

[ThorXP]

Most registry cleaners have an option to backup before doing the supposed fixes, if you did this backup then going back into RM and doing a restore from that might put things back right.

At the top of the Windows XP part of the forum there is a sticky on Registry Cleaners I would suggest reading it there might be a tip or trick in there that might help you.