What Is The Windows Registry?
The Windows registry was introduced with Microsoft Windows 95 to make the Windows operating systems more systematic and ordered. It has a hierarchical structure comprising keys, subkeys, and their zero or more values. On your Windows computer you can open and edit the registry by using the Registry Editor (regedit) tool. When you open the registry, you will notice that the registry tree is a lot similar to the folder structure in Windows Explorer, where Keys stand for the folders and Values are the registry values which make up the Keys.
The registry database keeps a watch on the processes like installation and un-installation of software on your computer. However, its main aim is to inform the programs and the Windows operating system about the location of a resource to perform a particular action. Your Windows computer refers to the registry every time you make changes within a software program or make any new file associations. Because the Windows registry is frequently used it is quite vulnerable to errors that may lead to problems, such as deletion of relevant information. Therefore, as a vigilant user, it is important for you to take measures that may help you prevent these problems.
To know how to prevent these errors, first we need to know how these errors are caused. The following are some of the common reasons that cause registry errors:
- Problems while installing or uninstalling software programs.
- Frequent Installation or un-installation of programs.
- Failure to remove old device drivers.
- Installation of programs bundled with spyware and adware.
- Frequent changes in hardware components.
You may use the Registry Editor tool to clean your registry manually. However, because the registry tree is quite complex, performing manual registry cleanup is not only tedious but also quite prone to errors. This is the reason why many computer experts and even experienced computer technicians use and recommend the use of a good and reliable registry tool. A registry tool helps:
- Prevent any unintentional damage to system files and registry entries.
- Perform easy, effective, and safe registry scan and clean up.
- Cleans up the invalid entries and enables you to fix several computer errors.
- Detect all the errors using advanced algorithms and fix them.
- Detect practically non-removable, embedded spyware registry entries and enable you to get rid of them to ensure complete spyware removal.
- Perform a complete backup of the Windows registry for recovery in case of failure.
- Defrag the registry database to speed up data access speed and thus, enhance the performance of your computer.
You can search for a good registry tool on the Internet and then download and install the one that is compatible with your operating system, carries good user reviews, and comprises the features you need. After you have installed the tool, do the following:
- Backup the registry to ensure you can restore it if the cleanup process fails.
- Perform a full registry scan and then clean up all the errors.
Note: If you are a novice, you may choose the automatic cleanup option to let the tool handle the clean up task. However, if you are an expert, you may choose the manual cleanup option and then go through all the reported errors and select the ones you want to repair.
- Defrag the registry to compress it and speed it up.