[Question] wondrous HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ key multiplication

[meihong]

winxp registry is full of double entries like for example:

Internet.HHCtrl

+

Internet.HHCtrl.1

i think new keys are created with every software-update, first Internet.HHCtrl.1 then Internet.HHCtrl.2

which is totally useless because both keys contain same data. with the creation of a new key the original is updated with a reference-Subkey to the added key [example: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Internet.HHCtrl\CurVer: Internet.HHCtrl.1].

i think this is the main reason for the registry size growing, especially when reinstalling bloated software like acrobat, msoffice or vmware.

does anyone know why this happens?

and a second registry-related question:

is there a software that analyzes key-sizes like there is for folder-sizes (treesize pro or FolderSizes)