I have been a loyal and very satisfied jv16 Power Tools user since early 2006, and have found it to be the safest and best registry tool available at any price.
After recently upgrading to the 2008 version, I decided to try the "File Cleaner" tool as an experiment since I had accumulated a lot of temp files -- I usually used CCleaner to purge these files. I ran the jv16 "File Cleaner" in the default "Safest Mode" since it was my first attempt at using jv16 program for file cleaning. It found a large number of supposedly "
Since I had become comfortable with the jv16 "Registry Cleaner" -- which I always did a backup on before fixing/deleting, until I had 2 years of experience where I never once had to restore jv16 cleaned registry values. After the "File Cleaner" finished, I unfortunately clicked to proceed with the "clean" without making a backup (stupid I know). After jv16 cleaned the "temp" files, I could not start several application programs (e.g. TurboTax Deluxe 2007) which I wanted to use.
I rebooted my computer and found that Windows XP Home Edition would not boot at all, giving me an immediate error message that "NTLDR (New Technology Loader) is missing -- please press ctrl-alt-delete to reboot". This was a never ending loop. I used a friend's computer to investigate the problem on the internet and found that this was caused by 2 missing .dll files (NTLDR and NTDETECT.COM). I followed all troubleshooting recommendations (1) copy the files from the Windows CD to my C:\ drive, (2) Use the Recovery Console to run FIXMBR and FIXBOOT, etc., but Windows still would not boot up. I ended up doing a "Major Repair" under the "Windows Installation" option to try to recover without re-installing Windows and loosing everything on my hard drive.
Fortunately, the major repair enabled Windows to boot. However, I had to reload Windows SP 2 and seemingly endless Windows XP updates. I also had to update many Windows and Other device drivers before the devices would work at all. Many of the application programs on my computer still worked, but about 30% had to be totally re-installed including: TurboTax Deluxe 2007, Windows Media Player, Internet Explorer 7, Partition Magic, AI RoboForm, Quicken Legal Business Pro, and ClocX.
I take full responsibility for being an idiot and not selecting to "Backup" before deleting the files identified by the "Safest Mode" scan. I had grown complacent with my experience with the "Registry Cleaner" over the past 2 years. But, I have to say that a file cleaner tool that selects critical Windows files and critical application files for deletion in the "Safest Mode" is a tool in need of some rethinking or at least a clearer cautionary labeling. I spent about 6-8 hours restoring my computer back to health after cleaning files from a "Safest Mode" scan. While I am ecstatic that I didn't loose everything and have to wipe my drive clean and re-install Windows XP, it makes me wonder if this tool doesn't need a little more work before being unleashed on the "less than expert" computer user.
I want to thank jv for the wonderful tools at a great price -- and I will continue to use them and recommend them to others. I am a bit afraid to use the "file tools" at this point, but this is a small price to pay for a really great "registry cleaner".
