Improving Your PC's Performance by Cleaning the Registry
By Glenn Haertlein
Chances are that if you have used your Windows PC for any length of time, you've noticed that its performance isn't as snappy as it once was. Some of the slowdown in performance could just be simple wear and tear.
Some could be caused by a lack of space on the hard drive from all the programs you've installed. A large part of it could be problems in your Windows System Registry.
Windows System Registry? What's that?
The system registry is a database used by Windows to store everything it 'knows' about your PC. In one sense it's a map containing the locations of every file and program on your computer. In another sense, it's a history book, keeping track of every program installed, modified, or removed during the life of your PC. In yet another sense, it's a photo album containing 'snapshots' of your computer's present condition.
All the programs on your PC use the system registry to store information, receive instructions, and to make modifications. All of this is done 'on the fly,' with programs and processes all running to the system registry for information. Picture the registry as a very busy secretary with all kinds of demands made on its time and resources. It's very easy to see that after a while, that database of information can become bloated and disorganized.
Any number of things can lead to registry problems including regular usage, improper shutdowns, and programs that fail to properly uninstall.
How can cleaning the registry help?
In order to keep your computer running at its best, its system registry needs to be reorganized every now and then--about once a week. Again, imagine the busy secretary. In order to meet the needs of everyone coming into the office, it helps if all the information was organized and easy to find, but with everyone coming into the office all the time, that's hard to do.
Sometimes information gets duplicated. Sometimes it gets misplaced. Sometimes, it might even be lost all together! All of that can result in slower system performance. Taking the time to 'straighten up the office,' or clean the registry will help improve performance.
What are some of the signs that a good registry cleaning is necessary? Signs of a registry in need of repair include:
- slow boot up
- system hang-ups at start up or shutdown
- error messages during boot up
- error messages during shutdown
- missing .dll or .exe error messages
- failure to boot
- individual programs hanging up, freezing, or crashing
- system-wide crashes
The list can go on and on, and sometimes can be misdiagnosed as a virus problem. In fact, viruses can also cause problems with the system registry. If a virus scan does not fix your PC's problem, a system registry cleaning is most likely in order.
How do I clean the system registry?
When it comes to cleaning your Windows system registry, you have two choices: you can do it yourself, or you can use a system registry cleaning program to do the work for you. The first choice--doing it yourself--is cheapest in the short run, but not recommended. Going through the registry yourself is a tedious process, and unless you know what it is you are looking for, it can also be very dangerous.
You could end up rendering the system registry invalid and that could prevent your PC from booting up at all. It could even require that you completely reformat your hard drive and start from scratch. The cost in time, lost data and frustration just isn't worth the effort.
Using a good registry cleaner with features you can manage is definitely the better options.
What will a good registry cleaner do?
A good registry cleaner will do the following:
- check/repair application paths and shortcuts
- check/repair shared program paths
- check/repair file associations
- check/repair Active X controls
- fix your Add/Remove programs file
- check help, font, and most recent files
- check/repair shared DLL files
- check startup programs
- describe problems
- backup your registry
Cleaning the registry should be a regular part of your system's maintenance along with defragmenting your hard drive, and scanning for viruses. By including a regular system registry cleaning in your regular maintenance, your can keep your PC in top condition for a long time to come.
