Quick Guide to Registry Cleaners

The Windows Registry is one of the most important parts of your Operating System. The registry is a database where information is stored on all the various pieces of hardware and software installed on your PC. It holds not only the settings and configurations for these items but also for any user preferences which are stored.

When you purchase a new computer there is very little data held in the registry, as there are few applications installed, therefore no problems are likely to occur. However, once new programs are installed, modified or removed, lots of information will begin to clutter up the registry. Your system will need to work harder to find any data it requires and file fragments can sometimes confuse it causing errors and even crashes. Most system problems are directly related to errors within the registry.

Do I Need a Registry Cleaner?

If you frequently add or remove applications such as games, free software or other programs then you should think about using a registry cleaner to remove all traces of applications you have uninstalled or to remove redundant files relating to current software.

Many different brands of registry cleaners are available. They all perform a similar task although some may have extra features or functions. Have a look at what is available and decide which is best for you.

How Do I Use a Registry Cleaner?

Like most system tools, a registry cleaner will run automatically, needing little prompting in carrying out its task. All that is required is to install the program and run it. Below are three easy steps to using a registry cleaner.

1. Copy the registry before you begin.

The Windows registry holds much information which is absolutely crucial to the running of your Operating System and any changes made to this data could have disastrous effects, rendering your PC unusable. To avoid this happening it is wise to make a back up of the registry before any changes are made so that in the event of any mistakes, the original registry entries can be restored.

To make a back up of the registry, click on Start – Run – type regedit. Choose File – Export and enter the name of the file and a destination. Use any removable media storage device such as a floppy disk or a CD.

Before saving the file make sure it has the .reg extension as this will be needed if any mistakes are made.

2. Clean the registry.

A registry filled with redundant data will result in your computer taking much longer to boot up and the system will process information more slowly, therefore affecting the whole performance of your PC. In the past Windows Operating Systems came with an inbuilt registry cleaner however, since the release of Windows 98, Microsoft no longer include this tool with the package. Users are now required to purchase a third party registry cleaner.

3. Restore your registry.

If your computer has become infected with Malware and unsolicited changes have been made to the registry, you can restore your PC settings to a previous point in time. To do this click on Start – All Programs – Accessories – System Tools – System Restore. Choose the option which allows you to roll back your PC settings to a particular date. Click Next and choose a date from the calendar from before the unauthorized changes were made to the settings.

It’s important not only to keep your computer free of Malware but also to ensure the registry is kept clean from obsolete and unnecessary data which will only serve to clutter it up and slow down your computers performance. Use a registry cleaner regularly to keep your PC running fast and efficiently.

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