The Windows Registry is an enormous batch of files containing information about
almost everything that occurs on the computer, from a visit to a Web site to a
program installation. The registry also contains information about drivers and
other essential programs, likeDLLs -- small helper programs that often work
with more than one application. This information is stored in the form of
"keys" that help programs run. It's like a big blueprint for where everything
goes on your computer and how it all fits together. Only computers running
Windows operating systems have registries, and despite rumors to the contrary,
Windows 7 will have a registry.A registry may have hundreds of thousands of
entries, and new entries are created all the time. As it fills with
information, the registry may cause a computer's performance to suffer. One
problem is that Windows almost never removes registry entries, even if a
program is uninstalled, as most uninstallers aren't able to effectively remove
their own
registry keys. And as files are moved around and programs are uninstalled,
some registry keys point to programs or files that no longer exist or are
located elsewhere.Fortunately, these errors don't have to be tolerated. The
registry can be cleaned up, though not completely. And for your troubles, you
may get better performance and decreased boot
time. Some satisfied users report fewer instances of lag or Windows hanging
(when the computer isn't responding). The exact performance boost varies
depending on the state of the registry and the effectiveness of the cleaner
program employed. You may also free up disk space, although most registry
entries are very small.
Registry cleaning is not without risks. This is a very sensitive area of your
computer, and if you're happy with how your computer is running, don't go
digging around. Trying to manually edit your registry can create errors in the
registry that make it impossible to load Windows. Some registry-cleaning
programs have been known to delete important registry keys or essential DLL
files. And the performance improvements may be negligible, while running the
program and approving each recommended deletion could take hours. In addition,
reliable data on how registry cleaners affect performance are almost impossible
to find. Most "performance tests" are actually produced by the developers of
registry-cleaning tools.Despite these concerns, it is possible to clean out
some of the registry's gunk, and your computer may be better off for it. On the
next page, we'll take a look at how to go about this delicate job.Cleaning the
Registry
Screenshot of the registry editor on a computer running Windows XPBefore you
mess around with the registry, it's best to to create a backup copy of the
registry and to also save any important data to an external hard drive or disk.
Some registry-cleaning programs have a feature to back up a copy of your
system's registry. If not, a simple Internet search should lead you to a free
backup program.Windows has a built-in program for editing the registry. It's
creatively titled regedit.exe and can be accessed by going to the Start menu,
clicking Run and typing in the program name. While this program is easy to
access, it's difficult to use. Registry entries have long, oblique names that
don't say much about what they represent. Even savvy computer users may have no
idea what a particular entry points to. So unless you have specific
instructions for how to alter or delete a clearly defined
entry, it's best not to experiment with regedit.exe.Third-party
registry-cleaner programs are plentiful and remove a lot of the confusing grunt
work of parsing and deleting registry entries. To find a program that suits
you, check reviews on sites like ZDNet, CNET, PC World or PC Magazine. Some of
these programs are free or only fix a few entries at a
time, which can be quite laborious when a registry may have 2,000 broken
entries. Others may cost $20 or more and may come as part of a package of
system utilities.It's not necessary to clean a registry more than once a month.
Using a disk defrag program may provide additional performance boosts.Before
you run the program you've chosen, make sure you close all other open programs,
as well as those running in the system tray, next to the clock in the bottom
right corner of your screen. Follow directions closely: Most of these cleaner
programs are intuitive, first scanning the registry for errors and then
offering choices to fix broken entries, but you may miss an important step or
warning if you
click madly and try to speed through the process.Some experts recommend
against using programs that automatically delete registry errors [source:Bass].
Instead, it's better to approve deletions manually. The cleaner will likely
offer a list of registry entries that it's safe to delete because they are
certainly obsolete. It may also provide an option to "repair" an entry. Going
deeper and deleting borderline entries could affect a program's ability to
function, such as by deleting a DLL that the cleaner doesn't realize is shared
by more than one program -- or you may irreparably damage your installation of
Windows. When in doubt, let the entry stay.And that's about it. Hopefully you
managed to clean up a few hundred entries without bricking your computer. If
not, well, then you probably can't read this anymore and won't be interested in
the links on the next page about registry cleaners and other related topics.
