Computer Slowing Down? Clean It Out!
So you think you might have a problem with the Windows registry? Let’s take a look at some of the telltale signs of registry problems:
- Slow Bootups
- Sluggish Performance
- Frequent Error Messages
- Freezes
- Crashes
- The Blue Screen Of Death
These are just a few of the common symptoms that signal errors or corrupt files in the registry keys.
So What Is The Windows Registry Anyway?
The registry can be thought of as the central nervous system of the Windows operating system. It tells Windows how to “move.” Windows is always accessing the registry as you operate your computer, similar to the way that your brain moves your body around. If it gets corrupted or damaged in any way your computer might not run. Certain parts might not work, and this can cause systemwide problems.
In essence, the registry is really like a big filing cabinet where preference and settings files are stored. Whenever you install new hardware or software, new registry entries are created and filed in the HKEY folders. Entries are also made or changed according to user preferences in Windows. One example is that there are entries for your desktop wallpaper and default printer.
Do Registry Repair Tools Help?
Definitely. The best registry cleaner software tools are great maintenance tools that make it easier for PC users to scan their computer’s registry very quickly and then remove the errors with the click of a button. Cleaners and repair software programs will enable you to streamline the entries and HKEY folders so that Windows is not hindered in any way when it tries to read them.
Recently our website staff ran a few independent tests, and found that RegCure removed a whopping 726 errors from our test IBM Thinkpad laptop. The total boot time for our test laptop was lowered from 4:42 minutes to 2:44 minutes, and there are no errors or crashes. It shows that registry repair tools can definitely work pretty well.
Check out our website for plenty of information on some of the better registry cleaner software tools.
For a review of the top registry repair utility on the market, check out our review of RegCure.
How Does The Registry Get Damaged Anyway?
Problems start to crop up when registry entries get damaged, corrupted, broken, or simply abandoned. Probably the most common time that registry damage and clutter happens is when driver sets or programs are uninstalled. A lot of times the uninstallation process doesn’t remove all the software files. The leftover registry entries can cause problems because they clutter the registry and cause problems when Windows tries to read the correct information.
There are several other causes, but those are the most common. The dynamic usage of Windows causes the registry to become cluttered over time with obsolete entries. Just by themselves invalid entries are not really any cause for concern, however over time they build up, and once they get into the hundreds they can potentially cause problems.
Another common way for damage to occur is through viruses or spyware. These malicious programs can cause corruption or overwrite entries with bad data.
