After downloading the featured download, from the 23 Nov TechRepublic NetNote, I wandered off to Rosecity Software and downloaded a copy of Registry First Aid, as recommended in the book Windows XP Hacks. As is normal I installed the software with little regard to the T&C’s and ran a check. It identified over 700 issues. Browsing through the issues it concerned me that a number of the errors where perhaps not errors and some of the recommendations where completely wrong. This is definitly not software for the inexperienced. Next it initially only fixes 3 problems then you have to run the check again. After that it drops to 1 issue per check. Finally, once it is running it is not possible to stop the shareware version, or uninstall it. You need to run Task Manager and stop two processes to be able to uninstall the software. The pre-registered version is pretty useless for evaluation and it is shocking that a book from a reputable publisher would recommend this software.
Jeremy Fothergill