How to cleanup Prefs files?

[RuiDuarte]

Hi,

I've seen that the Palm system has 3 files that continuously are getting bigger in size according to when you install/uninstall things:
PsyslaunchDB (264kb)
Unsaved Preferences (186kb)
Saved Preferences (111kb)

I've also digged inside them to "inspect" and I've seen records of old applications I once had in my palm. It looks like leftovers...
I use Facer 2 and this application has the option to clean preferences besides deleting the application. So my question is: is there any way to delete the uneeded records inside these files with an application or if I delete the records manually I can mess up the Palm? I rarely do a hard reset and so that's why I think they are a bit large.
And can anyone tell me what are these files mainly for? - kind of the registry of a Windows system?
I think if I delete them they will auto-create, but what will be the difference in the whole system?

Thanks Experts for your time,

RuiD

[Chukar]

NorthGlide - Uninstall/Cleanup
http://northglide.com/products.html

[Legodude522]

Doing so will also delete limited day trials.

[SoS]

the biggest PITA of deleting them is probably that all of your software reg codes will need to be reentered..

[RuiDuarte]

Thanks, I read about the pref files, but what about PsysLaunchDB? What's it for? Does it create a list of launchable applications?

But then you have the other question: will the use of Cleanup compensate the space it requires in RAM? Like, if I free 50Kb and the application's size is larger... but it makes the Palm faster, right?

RuiD

[Telyx]

psysLaunchDB is the database for the Palm OS launcher--the categories and what apps are in which categories.

[RuiDuarte]

So, Telyx, since I use Facer 2 and its own categories and applications, what should happen if I delete (reseting the psyslaunchdb to nil) the file? I would still have the applications and categories from Facer and would the Palm system be ok and stable? I would free up 264Kb...

[Cyker]

Don't delete the Saved & Unsaved Prefs files; All sorts of stuff gets screwed up.

You can use stuff like Cleanup to remove certain entries, or you can use apps like SysTool and LeftOvers and even FileZ to examine the contents of the Prefs files and manually delete entries you definitely know are not needed.

If you're not that savvy with things 'tho, I'd recommend using Cleanup...

[Cyker]

Because some programs give a fake ID to the Prefs so it's not associated with the program.

Usually it's used for copy protection/registration, so if you delete it your program becomes unregistered.

However, there is a program that tries to do this, and does a fairly good job - It's the "Cleanup" program by Northgilde that I and several others have mentioned.

[Telyx]

So, Telyx, since I use Facer 2 and its own categories and applications, what should happen if I delete (reseting the psyslaunchdb to nil) the file? I would still have the applications and categories from Facer and would the Palm system be ok and stable? I would free up 264Kb...
I've never done that, so I can't say for sure--but if the Palm launcher doesn't crash after you delete psysLaunchDB, all of your apps would probably show up in Unfiled, and you may only have All, Personal, Business, and Unfiled (and Edit Categories...) in the category list.

[SoS]

I've never done that, so I can't say for sure--but if the Palm launcher doesn't crash after you delete psysLaunchDB, all of your apps would probably show up in Unfiled, and you may only have All, Personal, Business, and Unfiled (and Edit Categories...) in the category list.


I think it will crash and recreate a new, clean copy during the reset...