Version reviewed:
v9.0 Build 08.10
System Requirements:
Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP/2003 and Windows7, Vista
Software description as per GOTD:
Fix your registry & improve your PC’s performance! Is your system becoming increasingly slow and unstable?
If so, you need a professional registry cleaner and repair tool. Advanced Registry Doctor is the answer!Advanced Registry Doctor Pro is capable of scanning for, diagnosing and curing multiple registry problems, which averts possible malfunctions and crashes, and significantly improves the speed of computer loading and performance. In addition, the program comes with a set of advanced options, like registry defragmenting, built-in scheduler, backup and restore feature, history log and many other perks – a registry toolkit, for example.
Ashraf's note:
This is a rerun of Advanced Registry Doctor Pro. Last time ARDP was given out as v8.8 Build 08.21. Today's is v9.0 Build 08.10.
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Table of Contents
Quick Pros and Cons
The Good
|
The Bad
|
Rating (out of 10)
Ease of Use
I found the interface of scheduler and backup registry to be a bit cumbersome but overall fairly easy to use.
|
8 |
Performance
I give this a 5 because for some reason, the program cannot remove all the errors it detects for me and it is buggy.
|
5 |
Usefulness
Everyone can use system optimization.
|
10 |
Final Score |
6 |
Quick Verdict
Full Review
Advanced Registry Doctor Pro was last given out in January of 2009 as v8.8 Build 08.21. Today's is v9.0 Build 08.10. It seems v9.0 Build 08.10 may be a Beta version instead of a public release. On the developer's website in reference to v9.0 Build 08.10 it states "This is a BETA version of the software.":
Giving us a Beta version is enough reason for me to give this program a thumbs down (if I was going to give it a thumbs up that is).
Anyway, here are the changes as per the developer from v8.8 Build 08.21 to v9.0 Build 08.10:
changes in 9.0 (build 08.10)
[Added]
+ added compatibility with Windows 7 RTM, Windows 2008, Windows 2008 R2
changes in 8.9 (build 03.23)
[Added]
+ added Bulgarian language
+ added Italian language
+ added support of different third-party software
(12 new popular software packages)[Updated]
+ rewritten code for repair/scan problems algorithms
+ updated Hungarian, Dutch languages[Fixed]
- fixed problem with false virus detection
- fixed bug "Exception address: 0042D185"
- fixed bug "External application error c00000id"
Since I already wrote a review on Advanced Registry Doctor Pro, instead of wasting space to copy + paste it here, if you want in depth detail on Advanced Registry Doctor Pro, please read the full review I wrote earlier. Since the developer lists "rewritten code for repair/scan problems algorithms" and lists a few bugs fixed as a change, I did a quick pin-point inspection to see if the reasons I gave this program a thumbs down still exist and unfortunately most, if not all, still do. Heck the program even crashed on me once this time around. So my full review is still fairly accurate for this new version.
For convenience to dotTechies who don't want to go back and read the full review and would rather just have the sparknotes version of my review, I am listing the free alternatives and final verdict here also.
This review was conducted on a laptop running Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit. The specs of the laptop are as follows: 3GB of RAM, a Radeon HD 2600 512MB graphics card, and an Intel T8300 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo processor.
Free Alternatives
All of these tools have some sort of registry management features:
Emrys
No reg back-up before changes? No, thanks. I’ve got a Win7 7100 with FF3.5.2 and it’s buggy enough. I use CCleaner and never had a problem.
Ashraf
@Emrys: Well you can make backups. Just by default they won’t be made automatically before you make any repairs and such.
MikeR
There’s an almost huckster-like flavour to so many GOTD offerings nowadays, generally by unknown developers growing increasingly desperate to flog their wares.
After Advanced Registry Doctor Pro, what next? Well:
Totally Advanced Registry Doctor Ultimate Professional
Ultimately Advanced Registry Consultant Perfect Pro
Perfectly Advanced Ultimate Consultant Registry Platinum Director
No doubt all these and more will finish up in what is, sadly, increasingly becoming the Net’s dustbin: GOTD.
Ashraf
@MikeR: To be fair, as a reward for putting up with crap software, we do get the occasional amazing giveaway.
david roper
@Ashraf: Our reward is reading your reviews. Never forget that.
Harlan
I ran Advanced System Care Pro right after TuneUp 2008. ASCP wanted to undo several of the TU system “tweaks” for internet access and process independence. After I let ASCP make its recommended changes, I re-ran TU, which changed them back. My faith in the necessity and value of system tweaking is definitely eroded.
Janet
After your review, I wasn’t going to go to GOATD anyway…..:-)….
WobblyWombat
Thanks again for another review, it would have saved me some bother, had the offering not been changed anyway!
I’d be interested to read an article specifically looking at this genre of clean/tweak registry tools (particularly the free offerings) and your thoughts on each – an expanded version of the points above.
For example, does the absence of the phrase “X is an excellent program” quietly imply that they are not? ;-)
Ashraf
@Harlan: I actually quit using Advanced SystemCare because it sits in the background using way too many computer resources for my liking.
@david roper: Thanks.
@Janet: Think GOTD is gunna get pissed at me for stealing their people? :P
@WobblyWombat: To be honest, it is extremely difficult to review the actual process of cleaning out the registry of a program because obviously looking through 1000 entries of “error” found is kind of absurd. Rather if I were to go ahead and do that I would focus on the features and how reliable the program (i.e. did I notice anything wrong after running it).
And the absence of “X is an excellent program” usually just implies I don’t know much about this software. I will usually warn people if a software like a registry cleaner is bad.
Emrys
Nope. No Nada. I’d like a reg sorter/cleaner that does more than CCleaner, but (again) thanks for not letting me do this one.
giovanni
Hey Ashraf!!
What if you could grab for FREE WinOptimizer 6?? WinOptimizer 5 FREEBIE is too old and a little bit outdated for me…LOL!!
I think you should UPDATE some of your FREEBIES…LOL!
Just let me know if you are interested in getting to know how to grab the WinOptimizer 6 licence key for FREE!!
Ashraf
@giovanni: Well I already know of a few unethical (and probably illegal) ways which is why I have not posted about it but if you have a legit way please do e-mail me.
secret2008
It doesn’t say that it is beta here:
http://www.elcor.net/ard.php
Ashraf
@secret2008: It does at http://www.elcor.net/registry-cleaner-beta.php (click on Excellent registry-repair program New version of ARD 9.0.8.10 has just been released!) from the left.
Quro@75
Hi, Ashraf.
I’m newbie here, and my English too, cause I’m Indonesian. So please don’t laughing my write.. :)
Yes, I do install every software offered by GAOTD (for about 1 month now) just to proves your opinions (actually, I wonder, why.., why..). U know what I say? “Man, where is this guy come from, outer world? How come he knows all about anything?”
Btw, I keep the “Original Installer” from GAOTD and so the License Code that I get from my registry, just in case I need it to install it later (Someday, perhaps..) on my laptop. IS THAT ILLEGAL? Please answer this..
Thnx..
Ashraf
@Quro@75: Ummm I think it probably is against GOTD’s term of use but “illegal”? I don’t think it is “illegal” per se. However I am not a lawyer.
Janet
How do you get the ‘license code from the registry’ (?) from the initial installer? I always save the initial installer, but find that you can’t use it later because it first checks to see if the offer is still available. I always wondered how to get the license code from the installer…