Before you do a Windows registry cleanup, you should first know what the Windows registry is and what it does.
Without an understanding of the registry, you won't know for sure that your computer problem is caused by the registry.
With a clear understanding of the Windows registry you will be better at recognizing and troubleshooting registry problems - you will be editing and backing up the registry with confidence.
Exploring the Windows Registry The registry is a directory or database that stores settings belonging to the hardware, software and user preferences on your computer.
Changes in these settings are recorded in the registry whenever you install or remove new or old hardware and software.
Windows 95, 98, NT, ME, CE, 2000, XP and Vista use a registry.
The registry is a key component of your computer's operating system.
Your operating system uses the registry each time you turn on your computer.
Your registry provides the information your operating system needs so you can have your computer doing the things the way you want it to.
However, sometimes problems with the registry develop...
Overtime, the registry may have accumulated too much information -- this can slow down your computer and result in many error messages.
That's the time you may be thinking about doing a Windows registry cleanup.
If you decide to edit the registry yourself, then you should be aware of the danger of losing files if you don't edit the registry correctly.
You also have the option of hiring an expert or using a registry repair program.
Bird's Eye View of the Registry Structure The Windows registry directory structure is organized as a hierarchy.
At the top of this hierarchy is what is known as the hives.
Various pieces of configuration information are stored under different hives.
For example, hives can hold user preferences, hardware data and file association information.
Looking deep into the registry can be confusing the first time if you are not a Windows registry expert.
Just under the hives are the keys which organize and store subkeys.
If required, subkeys themselves may hold additional subkeys.
Inside these keys there may be values which your operating system uses to run your computer.
What to Do When You Suspect You Have Registry Problems You shouldn't blame every computer problem on your registry.
You'll want to rule out other things that may be causing your computer to not perform normally.
With that said, if you notice your computer taking a long time to start up and shutdown, then that may be one sign that you have a registry problem.
If you are experiencing this type of slowness in your computer, then ask yourself if you've installed and uninstalled a few programs since you purchased your computer.
Some uninstalls don't remove all the associated files in the registry and your system will continue to follow these entries when you run your computer.
That can explain why it seems to take longer to get your computer to warm up.
If you want to improve poor computer performance caused by problems in the registry, then you have three options to consider: First, you can fix registry errors yourself by researching your specific problem on the Microsoft website or any reputable tech forum and follow their directions.
Getting into the registry is as easy as entering "regedit" in the "Run...
" command in your "Start" menu.
Before you attempt any changes, you should backup your registry just in case - if you do something wrong, your computer may not run correctly or even start.
The second option, if you can afford it is to hire an expert.
However, even for simple problems they are not cheap and your computer may have to stay in the shop for a few days.
If you don't mind the wait and paying for an expert who may or may not actually solve your problem, then this is the option you should take.
The third option you have are software you can download online and install on your computer which is designed to analyze your system for errors in the registry.
Some will also perform a backup of your registry and correct the errors they find.
These are instant and fairly cheap solutions when compared to doing it yourself or hiring an expert.
However, if you choose this option you should first get some feedback from users of these products before you try them on your own computer.
Summing Up We look at what the registry is, what it does and if your computer may need a Windows registry cleanup.
If you know there is a solution to your computers poor performance because of problems in your registry, then why continue to torture yourself by not doing something about it? Wouldn't you be less frustrated and more productive if you did?