Posts Tagged ‘Clean Windows Registry’

Many users are confused about the need to clean and repair Windows XP registry, this articles outlines the reasons and main remedies

Overview of Windows XP registry -Windows XP registry is a core component of any PCs. PC user should clean Windows XP registry regularly. Many refer to the registry as the heart soul and mind of Windows. The registry is used by Windows XP to store the devices and file associations of the computer. Registry is also used to store critical information on directories, drivers, Windows applications and much more. You should use a registry cleaner software instead of cleaning the registry manually, unless you are very familiar with Windows XP operating system.

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Do you know enough about Windows XP registry? – If so, continue to read
 
Take a backup - When carrying out the process to clean windows XP registry, it is possible to make the entire system inoperable. Therefore, you should always take a backup of your files. Fortunately many proven registry repair tools are available. These tools can find the potentially questionable or unused references, and they prompt the user to review any entry that may cause a problem once removed.
 
Start menu - To begin cleaning Windows XP Registry manually, go to the start menu, and click on run. Type “regedit” in the text field, and press enter.
 
HKEY sections - Windows XP registry has many different entries separated in sections namely HKEY_CURRENT_USER, HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, HKEY_USERS, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, and HKEY_CURRENT CONFIG. There are different entries in each section, which are related to various aspects of Windows XP operation. Expand the plus sign to clean Windows XP Registry. You should notice a + symbol next to the root directory. This action will open a detailed list of directories, and this will make it easier to find the entries needed to correct the registry.
 
Entries causing conflicts - Next step to clean Windows XP registry is to erase the entries which are causing conflicts or are no longer required, such as redundant ActiveX components for example (click on repair activex for more information)
 
Clean boot records - It is also advisable to clean the boot records. This can be done easily by changing the list of programs that load when the system starts up. Look into the CURRENT_USER and LOCAL_MACHINE directories until you find the “Run|” and “Run Once” option. This makes is possible to remove redundant registry entries which can cause certain programes to run at start up.
 
Clean at least every six months – Users should clean Windows Registry at least twice a year to optimise the performance of their computer. This sweeps out the items no longer in use. Machines which are extremely slow usually have a large number of software, or those where drivers are constantly being installed and uninstalled, require more frequent cleanups (click on computer extremely slow for more information).
 
However tempting a manual clean or repair may be, remember that, using the appropriate registry cleaner to repair windows XP registry is usually a superior solution than attempting this manually . Many proven software will also optimise your Windows XP operating system response time (i.e. speed), and also include backup facilities to prevent accidental loss of data.

The central database of the Windows operating system is the registry. Windows maintains information in the registry concerning your PC, its users, and its environment. When people talk about a “clean” Windows registry, what do they mean?

The registry is clean if it contains only keys and data that describe the current state of the system. This means all the information about the user profiles and preferences, the computer software, and the computer hardware is valid. There is detailed information, such as file associations that tell Windows which applications use which files. Application names and version numbers are stored with their directory paths, along with software components such as ActiveX objects. Within the registry we also find information concerning computer security. Indices, catalogs, and account numbers are found there. An enormous quantity of data is kept in the registry–information that the computer needs in order to run.

What Are the Benefits of a Clean Windows Registry?

Your PC will run faster if there are fewer registry errors, without system crashes or application errors. If the data stored in the registry is not accurate, the computer will not work as it should. What would happen if some files were moved but the registry was not modified to reflect these changes? Windows can no longer find things it requires. Sometimes it is possible for Windows to fix an error and continue its operations with just a hiccup. But if there are too many errors in the registry (or a single critical error), Windows may terminate an application or even stop working altogether. Much of the time Windows is unable to find or detect the errors in the registry. Registry errors can cause cryptic error messages and all sorts of weird problems, making your system unreliable.

Before continuing, make sure you check out my Registry Repair Review

What happens when the registry starts to get full of useless information that your computer no longer needs and never uses? Windows must search the registry database a lot, so this can also be a problem. This searching is slowed down, due to the trash left in the registry. What is it that fills the registry with this junk and causes registry errors? Tens or even hundreds of useless registry entries can be left behind when you install and then uninstall a single application. What about the case where an application installation or uninstallation fails? It can leave a big mess in the registry. Unless the registry is cleaned, part of the information doesn’t remain correct.

Yet another cause of registry errors is computer viruses and malware. Terrible damage can be done by a malicious program.

How Do You Get A Clean Windows Registry?

If you erase everything on the hard disk and then reinstall Windows and all of your applications you will have a clean registry. Some experts advise you to do this. But few people can afford this radical solution. An expert user could also choose to go into the registry and manually edit the errors. This procedure is dangerous if you don’t know exactly what needs to be changed. Manually fixing the registry can take hours.

A safer and faster solution is to use a registry cleaner application. These programs are able to find and repair the incorrect entries in your registry. Your system will run faster and startup faster when it has a clean Windows registry. It will also have a better chance of avoiding system crashes, application errors, and error messages.

If you found this information helpful, you may also wish to read my article: Clean PC Registry