Registry editing question
 

When you remove a program sometimes the reg keys created by the particular program will still exist after removal.

My question for example is this...

If I remove KoolContacts made by Neato. Can I go to HKLM/Software/Neato and simply delete the entire string without effect anything in the OS?

Generally yes.
 

That being said, you break it you buy it. The registry is Microsoft's way of helping developers centralize settings. Before it's implentation in Windows 95/NT, INI files were the primary way each program saved it's settings. So the real question is ... since it's a central database of settings..will your deletions effect any other software. If its under HKLM/Software/[Manufacture]/[SoftwareTitle] or HKCU/Software/[Manufacture]/[SoftwareTitle] and you KNOW you have nothing from that manufacturer you can general safely kill it. If your not sure..leave it...since you don't have anything from that manufacturer, nothing will read it either :)

--ajgalbraith98

Nice explanation ajgalbraith98!

ajgalbraith98,

so if I don't have any other programs running from that manufacturer would it not matter either way if the registry data still was present? That's what i gathered from your last comment.

Yes and No and well you get the point
 

There is fairly little danger in leaving a registry entry there. When and if you re-install an application from the same manufacturer it might even regain its settings. Then again if you uninstalled it because it was buggy, it would be a good idea to "clean up" after the uninstall before you try it again.

That being said I always clean mine up, but Im kinda quirky about organized computers...funny because my office is a mess, but my computers are always exactly how i want them :)

Also there is ALWAYS the rule of "you break it you buy it..." cutting into the registry is half science, half art...not every programmer follows the rules, not ever company puts their stuff in the right spot, and some hide it on purpose. You can ALWAYS Export the settings before you cut them...of course if you mess up too deep you can't get back to a registry editor to fix it. (having a safemode program helps but even thats not fool-proof)

hope that helps,

--ajgalbraith98

That helps a lot actually. I'm really trying to gain more knowledge about what I'm doing. Wich I could pick your brain for awhile. One of things I am really trying to figure out right now is how to hack into the Touchflo Scroll settings. I love the way finger scrolling works with PocketPlus 4 and I want the Touchflo to work the same way. I have looked thru the registry, but have no idea way to tweak.