This morning talking to a friend, he mentioned that his computer has been getting slower and slower. At startup, when the hard disk finally stops churning everything seems much slower.
After a few more minutes into the conversation it became clear that one of the problems may be caused by a “Clog” registry.
As it turns out, he has been installing and uninstalling software, games, free emails, freeware, toolbars, to name a few.
With the introduction of the Registry in Windows 95, the registry is a centralized database in which Windows keeps track of relationships between hardware and software. It stores all the settings and options for the operating system, hardware, software, users, and preferences of the PC. The registry manages your system startup options, and keeps track of all software that's installed.
The centralized registry does consolidate all that information, but it has its own problems. Since it is a single point of failure, damage to the Registry can render a Windows system unbootable, and in extreme cases can only be fixed by reinstalling the operating system.
Windows XP and NT are better at managing the registry however you can end up with lots of unnecessary registry entries that are created when you install or remove programs on your computer. Sometimes an "orphaned" registry entry can confuse Windows during startup and cause a delay.
And in general, slimming down your registry will make Windows run faster.
The REGEDIT command will allow you to view and edit the registry, however unless you are sure of what you are doing it is best to use specialized programs to examine the registry, compare what's in there to what's really on your system, and either correct or delete erroneous entries.
Note: Please make sure that you back up your registry prior to any changes. It is very easy to do.
- select run from the start menu
- type regedit in the run window
- select export from the file menu
- enter a new name
- select save (make sure you remember the name and location)
- that is it.
Most registry cleaners programs have registry backup automatically for you, but be sure to check them out. Remember; don't try to edit anything in the registry yourself unless you are very computer savvy.
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Why do you need a registry cleaner?
Registry cleaners are important because it protects your PC from harmful processes. If your computer slowing down for no apparent reason and you are having errors that are not solved by your anti-virus or anti-spyware program, then your PC might be affected by applications that are running without your knowledge.
Registry cleaners are a must! Registry cleaners ensure that your registry is clean.
I should also mention that there are lots of other things that can cause your computer to bog down. Viruses, spyware, a hard drive that needs defragmenting, and other factors can contribute to the problem.
Main options for a good windows registry clean and repair program
Automatic Scan
This is the simplest way to clean up the registry.
Custom Scans
You customize your search and scan Windows registry for particular types of errors (shared DLLs, missing fonts, invalid start-up entries, etc.).
Manual Cleanup
After the scan is complete, the program should show you a full list of errors with details, broken down by types and let you fix individual invalid entries or all invalid entries of a certain type.
Backup and Undo
Before removing an entry from your registry. To avoid changes without a backup
Scheduler
Scan the registry whenever you start your computer, or at a preset time.
You must run it on a regular basis to keep your registry clean and without errors. This will help the stability and speed of windows
Apply Windows Updates
If you run Windows and you use the Internet, you simply MUST stay up to date with the system patches that come out in response to the privacy and security exploits that are discovered every week. Failure to do so is an open invitation to hackers and crackers to invade your privacy and enslave your.
Make sure that you are running a good anti-virus program with automatic updates. A good habit is to also scan your system for spyware, adware, and malware.
More ideas to keep your system running faster
- clean all your temporary files on a regular basis. These tend to grow really quick and take up space needlessly
- your temporary internet files folder can become quite large, causing Internet Explorer to slow down or malfunction
- hard disk defragmenting
- drive clean up (Windows)
- slim your Startup selections. To manage the list of startup programs, click on Start / Run, then type MSCONFIG. Press Enter, and then select the Startup tab. If you see items in the list you know you don't need to run at startup time, UNcheck the box(s) next to them and press apply. Some common examples are things related to AOL, RealPlayer, Napster, instant messengers, and video managers. If you're not sure about an item, you can turn it off, restart your PC, and see if everything seems to work. If not, you can always go back and re-enable an item in the Startup list.
- RAM and Virtual Memory Settings
- Turn Off Extraneous System Services. Disable only the ones that you're sure about. If you encounter a problem, you can always go back and turn a service back on.
Article written by Bernie Delorme, webmaster of many Computer Security resources such as
PCSecurityPost,
Antivirus,
Spyware.
Registry Cleaner.
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