README.TXT for
RegClean 4.1a (build 7364.1)                   December 30, 1997
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HOW TO INSTALL
--------------

Copy RegClean.EXE to any folder on your machine.

HOW TO RUN
----------

Double-click on the RegClean icon.

RegClean will start by displaying a progress dialog. While this
is shown, it will load a copy of the parts of the registry that
it is going to check, and perform the actual scanning. Depending
on how much information is in the registry and the speed of your
CPU, this will take anywhere from about 2 to 30 minutes.

If you have many entries in your registry, there may be times
when RegClean appears to have stopped working. In fact, RegClean
may appear completely halted whenever it is checking remote or
removable drives.

Once these progress meters are gone, you will be prompted for the
next
action. You can do two things at this point:

1. Exit RegClean.

   Well, that’s kind of pointless, but you can do it. Just press
   the Cancel button.

2. Allow RegClean to fix errors that it found.

   This will create an UNDO.REG file in the folder where RegClean
   was run. The file will be titled "Undo computer yyyymmdd
   hhmmss.REG," where computer is the name of your machine, and
   yyyymmdd is the date and hhmmss is the time.

   After the file is saved, RegClean will remove these entries
   from the registry. You will see a progress meter while it does
   this. Sometimes, the progress meter may stop momentarily, but
   it should resume after a few seconds. When the meter is gone,
   RegClean is done. Press Exit to end RegClean.

WHAT REGCLEAN DOES
------------------

RegClean analyzes Windows Registry keys stored in a common
location in the Windows Registry. It finds keys that contain
erroneous values, and after recording those entries in the
Undo.Reg file, it removes them from the Windows Registry.

WHAT REGCLEAN DOESN'T DO
------------------------

RegClean does not fix every known problem with the registry. It
does not fix a "corrupt" registry; it only fixes problems with
some of the entries that are in a normal registry.

It is very possible that RegClean will not correct a problem that
you have encountered. RegClean will leave any entries in the
registry that it doesn't understand or could possibly be correct.

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FIXES FOR REGCLEAN 4.1a

 - ALWAYS REPORTS ERRORS

   RegClean will now report that it has found all the errors that
   it can correct. Usually, you must run RegClean twice the first
   time to get it to this point. This is expected behavior for
   RegClean.

 - CRASHES

   RegClean should run correctly on these Intel-based operating
   systems:
   
   Microsoft Windows NT 3.51 (with Service Pack 3)
   Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 (all versions) and later
   Microsoft Windows 95 (all versions) and later

GENERAL ISSUES
--------------

 - OLEAUT32.DLL
 - DOESN'T SOLVE PROBLEMS/MAKES NEW PROBLEMS
 - CAN'T UNDO THE REG FILE

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FIX: REQUIRES UPDATED OLEAUT32

(status updated: 17 Apr 97)

SYMPTOMS
--------

Two messages boxes appear. One box says:

   "REGCLEAN.EXE is linked to missing export OLEAUT32.DLL:421"

while the next message box says:

   "A device attached to the system is not correctly functioning"

RESOLUTION
----------

You need to install the update to the OLE Automation system
libraries. These files are contained in the executable
OADIST.EXE, which is included in the download. (NOTE: If you are
using Window NT 3.51, you must use OADIST2Z.EXE instead; read the
KB article shown below.)

Alternately, you can find these files either at:

   http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q164/5/29.asp

 -or-

   ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/Softlib/MSLFILES/oadist.exe
   ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/Softlib/MSLFILES/oadist2z.exe

You can use most web browsers to download this file from either
location. This file is also on the Microsoft Download Library
BBS.

MORE INFORMATION
----------------

OADIST.EXE is a self-extracting Cabinet that will install the
Automation libraries on your system. You just need to download
the file OADIST.EXE and double-click to run it. It will prompt
you to be sure that you want to proceed. Answering "yes" will
update the Automation libraries on your computer.

This self-extracting Cabinet only works on Windows NT 4.0 and
Windows 95. If you are on Windows NT 3.51, you will need to get
OADIST2Z.EXE instead, which is still being published. Both
contain the same files. However, the OADIST2Z.EXE is a self-
extracting ZIP file with a README.TXT file that contains
installation instructions.

OADIST.EXE is 490096 bytes.
OADIST2Z.EXE is 559499 bytes.

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PROBLEM: IT DOESN'T SOLVE MY REGISTRY PROBLEMS

 -or-

IT JUST CREATES MORE PROBLEMS

(status updated: 30 Dec 97)

Running RegClean may, in a few cases, cause other problems, such
as causing part of the Microsoft Network viewer to stop
functioning, or causing other programs to stop functioning. If
this happens to you, simply Undo the changes RegClean made, by
double-clicking on the last Undo.Reg file.

These types of problems are very rare, but it's a good idea to
keep your last Undo.Reg file for at least a few days or so.

Microsoft will continue improving RegClean to reduce the
frequency of problems like these.

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PROBLEM: CAN'T UNDO THE UNDO.REG FILE

(status updated: 18 Mar 97)

SYMPTOM
-------

Windows displays several error message boxes when you try to
double-click the UNDO.REG file to undo the changes RegClean made.

RESOLUTION
----------

This problem is unrelated to RegClean. It's a problem with the
Associated Program for .REG files.

To correct this problem:

1. Go to any Explorer window, click the View menu, and select
   Options.

2. In the Options dialog, select the File Types tab.

3. Scroll down in the "Registered file types:" list until you
   find the entry called "Registration Entries."

4. Double-click this item or click on the Edit button.

5. In the Edit File Type dialog, select the "Merge" entry, and
   either double-click this item or click on the Edit button.

6. In the "Editing action for type: Registration Entries" dialog
   box, make sure that the text in the "Application used to
   perform action:" field has the following entry, including the
   double quotes:

      regedit.exe "%1"

7. Click the OK buttons to dismiss all three dialog boxes.

8. You should be able to double-click on the Undo.Reg file now.

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Thanks for using RegClean! We hope you find this utility useful.

 - The RegClean Team

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REGCLEAN IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.
MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED,
INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR
ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING
DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS
PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS
SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING
LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

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