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General => Technical Help => Topic started by: BillyF on Saturday 23 December 23 11:31 GMT (UK)
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Please help !
What does this mean ? I had a popup message from Mcafee saying I have 34 registry issues.
I have instigated it as I have been trying unsuccessfully to find the renewal date.
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If the PC/laptop is otherwise running fine, then it is probably nothing more than McAfee trying to get you to upgrade or buy another product of theirs which allegedly cleans up the Windows registry. There are free products which can fix registry issues if they are of concern.
Assuming you are running Windows 10 or 11, the built-in Defender works well enough for most people's usage. But if you are happy to pay for McAfee when the current subscription runs out, then that is entirely up to yourself.
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I have had the same pop up, with rather more registry issues and have ignored it.
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Thank you both for your replies.
I guess I`ll just ignore the popup and look into it further for the renewal date
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At present I am using Norton and experience similar. It is an old computer running 8.1 so I expect a few issues. In scanning, they claim there are 34826 issues slowing down your computer; View Solution = £16.88 for the remainder of your current subscription. Then they tell me there are also, 712 Broken Registries and 16939 Broken Links. The issues they find, are those that require an upgrade and more money for them. I had plenty of annoying pop-ups, mainly to upgrade, but found how to turn them off.
As my subscription ends, I was considering McAfee, so it was good the read you have similar issues. You need to have your log-in details, and check they work, to prevent their automatic renewals at inflated prices. I have switched off their automatic renewal.
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Visit the McAfee website and log into your account to see the renewal date, you may have to get them to send a password reset link and once you have access I suggest turning off Auto Renewal.
I ceased using Norton twenty years ago and would never go back to it.
I just use Windows Defender, but I also have a Recovery USB memory stick and a Drive Image of my C drive on another hard drive in my PC which I can use to reload Windows and All the installed Apps. All My Documents are stored on their own hard drive.
You can download a free App called CCleaner (yes it is a double C), run it and clear unused files and there is also a Registry Checker.
For those who are unaware the Registry is basically the index of the starting commands used during the boot-up process.
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You can download a free App called CCleaner (yes it is a double C), run it and clear unused files and there is also a Registry Checker.
For those who are unaware the Registry is basically the index of the starting commands used during the boot-up process.
CCleaner is a product I use myself, but I would not recommend it to novice users as there is the possibility of doing more damage than fixing the intended problem. Plus there is no indication the OP has any severe issues using their equipment so I would tend towards leaving it alone.
Newer editions of CCleaner offer the same kind of additional cost add-ons that are not necessary (just like what the user is experiencing with McAfee) including bundled software during installation (which may be opted out of), software updater, health check, driver updater, etc, and there have been questions over background data gathering which appear to be re-enabled after being switched off.
Windows Registry has many uses, including as you say a database of info for Windows to refer to when starting up, as well as recording window locations/sizes of all your favourite apps/programs, fonts installed, etc, etc.
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Thanks for all your replies, some of which go above my head!!
I bought a card last time with a voucher that I`d been given for Christmas 2022; this meant putting in a number similar to a credit card number so I imagine there is no auto renewal. The McAfee website says if this is the case you receive a message 30 days before the expiry date, so I`m maybe not at that point just yet.
Looking further into their website, it seems that my account is connected to an old email address, so I`m not going to muddy the waters further!
I think I`ll go buy another card and and be ready for when it does expire !
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The Registry is a database containing many thousands of settings used by Windows and applications. Windows 95 was the first time consumers saw its use.
There are MANY products which claim that tidying up old or "broken" registry entries is a Good Thing, and will speed up your computer.
They are lying.
They don't know which registry entries are needed by which programs, so may do more harm than good.
Removing those entries which are ACTUALLY unused will speed up your computer in the same way as throwing away the cardboard box in the far corner of your attic will speed up your journey from your front door to your kitchen.
So don't waste time on these things, and certainly don't waste your money.
Incidentally, the various files which comprise the Registry are known as "Hives", just to annoy someone in the development team who had a fear of bees. :o
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Thank you all.
My knowledge of the inner workings of a computer is negligible so i get a bit nervous !!
I`ll stick to the old adage, if it ain`t broke don`t fix it !!!
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Hi BillyF
I use Sophos on my Mac, and it's excellent. Very reasonable cost and it will complete either a quick or full scan when you want it to. Might be worth a look.
Good luck with your search!
Peter
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thank you.
I thought that I had a breakthrough today. I waa sorting through my documents and found tucked away a small file with the old email address "plus" the password.
However, the password has expired, but the good news was the date it was used 17th February so I`ve been a bit previous waiting for the renewal message!!
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Please help !!!! on the verge of throwing pc away !!!
I bought a one year Mcafee subscription.
I followed the on screen instructions but changed my email address.
I had an email (to the new address) 3rd March from Mcafee saying that I am subscribed to them.
However, today I`m getting a pop-up saying I`ve only 2 days of protection left.
Basically Q1 Does this mean it`s still recognizing the old email address ?
Q2 Will the new subscription then take over ?
Thanks
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Open a Chat window with McAfee if there is that feature and ask.
For what its worth, I have found that for sites where a subscription is required an eMail address like Gmail, Hotmail etc together with written notes including dates, serial numbers, email address used, password and user name is far easier to manage long term than having an eMail address that is only valid whilst I am with a particular Broadband provider.
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Thank you. I`ll try that now.
I "have" got all my new information, including the email from them saying I`m now registered.
It doesn`t make sense to me at all.
Previously I had used a free anti virus which seemed to work o k.
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What a performance !! Good outcome though!!
I worked my way through to the online chat (I think) but it wouldn`t recognise the new email address, after I`d typed in all the information I could think of!!
Then my next thought was to go to my account and try the old email, instead put in the new one and it shows I`m subscribed until March 2025 !!
That`s it for this year, I just hope I don`t show myself up by having the same problem in a year`s time !!!
Thanks for your assistance.
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Ignore the registry error messages; if your computer is running OK they are not causing any problems and are probably just odds and ends left over from uninstalled software or updates.
Bin McAfee, Norton, etc. before the next renewal (they are overpriced resource-hogging overkill) and install one of the free Antivirus packages instead. The first thing I do with any new system is uninstall the "free" subscription AV package that's invariably pre-installed and will start nagging the user to subscribe from day one. FWIW I've used Microsoft's bundled (with Windows) AV for many years on my own systems and on the many I've installed for friends and family and have never had an issue.
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Thank you.
In the past I always used a free one which suited my needs. I discovered that I changed in 2018, but can`t remember why !!
However, overnight 4/5 I received an email from them with all the details, expiry date etc. so that`s fine.
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Only fine-ish!!
I`m still getting pop ups about the old email address, but I an deal with that.
Yhe thing is that I`ve checked my account with my current address and it says all is active with expiry date but at the side is a blue icon saying add device.
Wnen I click on it it says what wouuld you like to protect, and underneath it says download. Have I missed something as I thought that as it says on the welocme page that I am protected there was nothing else to do.
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If your supscription only covers one device, it is asking if you want anything else covered like a portable type of computer, maybe a mobile phone with internet access. You then pay more for each. The computer using the original subscription is covered.
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Oh, thank you so much. I was tired when I was doing it last night, but had the sense, for once, to query it before taking action.
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I don’t know if this is relevant but we have had several emails in the past month from McAfee saying our subscription is due, closer inspection of the sent email address shows that these are from anywhere but McAfee, also we haven’t used McAfee since we changed from a PC to a mac in 2015!
Just be a bit careful about clicking on any of the links
Jo
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Thanks for your reply. I don`t click on unexpected links, it`s just not safe!!