If your computer used to run like a rabbit but now crawls like a tortoise, it's probably time to clean your Windows registry. Although it is possible to do this by hand, it is much safer and faster to perform this task with registry cleaning software. Learn why your computer slows down over time and how to safely fix that problem.
The Windows registry is an index of information your computer needs to retrieve in order for it to work as it should. If you display the registry in a text editor, it appears to be a long inventory of gobbledy-gook however to the computer, it’s vital information regarding things like ports, user profiles, installed hardware, applications (programs) and types of documents (data).
When your computer is first out of the box, everything should function seamlessly, smoothly and swiftly but after the passage of time, the Windows registry picks up a lot of bits and pieces of instructions that are no longer legitimate. Some of these orphaned bits come from computer programs that were uninstalled improperly or incompletely. Others were moved improperly by the system and though they continue to exist on the hard drive, Windows can not find them because the entry for them in the registry is no longer accurate.
Clogged with these orphaned pieces of information, the registry runs like a tortoise and error messages and system crashes begin to occur. A good registry cleaner will locate all those stray bits and indicate which ones will be able to be safely erased. On occasion, the same file is needed by more than one computer program. Although one of the computer programs that used it has been uninstalled, the file should remain for the other programs that need it to function.
Good registry cleaning software should give you an opportunity to pass on the removal of each bit of information it suggests can be safely deleted. If you have uninstalled all of the computer programs you are no longer using, obsolete file folders, etc. and if you have run your anti-virus and spyware removal programs and even then, your computer is still crawling along like a turtle, it’s time to use a registry cleaner.
The reason to utilize a registry cleaner program instead of trying to accomplish it manually is that it’s hard to determine which items belong with which applications. The danger is that you may inadvertently delete a crucial item which will then force your system to crash. One way to make sure that you won't be creating a lot of stray registry entries is to, at all times, use the “Windows Add/Remove Programs” icon located on the control panel to uninstall computer programs. Access the control panel by way of the Start button.
Before you start employing a registry cleaner, it's a wise idea to create a full backup of your computer’s hard drive. I advise Norton Ghost® as a backup application because it creates an image (snapshot) of your entire hard drive, including the Windows operating system, the registry, and all files and programs. So, a restore utilizing Norton Ghost® puts everything back exactly the way it was, saving you the trouble of re-installing Windows, then all your applications from program disks you might not still have, and next all the files. By backing up your hard disk this way, if anything goes wrong during the registry cleaning process, you can, with no trouble, restore your hard drive to the way that it was before you began.
You can also use the Windows System Restore feature but I don’t advise it. System Restore will perform only if your computer is working properly. When you have done something during the registry cleaning process that forces your computer to crash and you can't get it operating again, System Restore won’t be much help. That’s why I recommend the Norton Ghost® route. If you insist on trying System Restore go to Start> All Programs> Accessories> System Tools> System Restore. Tell System Restore to restore your computer to an earlier time (before the attempt to clean the registry).
There are a number of registry cleaners available. Some are freeware, some are shareware and still others are paid software. With so much at risk, I suggest you part with a few bucks for a good paid application. Take the time to pick the best one by reading reviews from people who have actually used the programs. Just Google “registry cleaner reviews.”
© 2011 Robert M. Gillespie, Jr.
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