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One of the few important parts of your Windows operating system (OS) is hidden from view: the System Registry. Microsoft deliberately keeps the registry out of sight and out of mind because unauthorized changes to it can be devastating to the health of your computer. Unfortunately, even authorized changes – such like these made by various software programs and even by Windows itself – can be just like devastating if done incorrectly or if single change conflicts with configuration information that is already in the registry. Most people know to back up their information, but some know to backup the registry itself.

Many versions of Windows will give you to back up your registry or set a “system restore point.” Much of this is done automatically for you. Unfortunately, if the OS itself stops working for some reason, you may not be able to get to the restore service for your particular flavor of Windows. And a backup without the ability to restore is useless.

For Windows Vista, you begin by typing “systempropertiesprotection” (without the quotes) in the Start Search box then press ENTER. You may be asked for an Administration password. Once you Press Allow, Windows will search every hard disks for the most recently saved system restore points. Windows need create on all time it detects a major change to the system. For example, when installing new software, Windows will make a system restore point before the installation and every changes take place. This way, if something goes bad and wrong Windows can restart safely as if the errant installation never happened.

To backup the system in its current configuration, press on the System Protection tab in the System Properties dialog box, then press build(create). Enter a name for the new restore point you are creating and click Create again. Once the restore point has been created, click OK twice to return to the desktop.

To restore the system to a previous restore point, follow the same procedures like above, but this time choose System Restore under the System Protection tab. Select the “Choose a different restore point” setting and then choose the restore point you wish to revert to. Generally speaking, you should try to restore using the most recent restore point to ensure that most of the functionality remains intact. Unfortunately, Windows has a nasty habit of going through what seems like the entire restore process only to give a message that the restore failed. If that happens, work your way back until you come to one that works.

There are another options available as well. Third party software can backup and restore your software, in lot cases even if your Windows OS stops functioning completely. Such programs often can prevent problems by properly maintaining and optimizing the registry by deleting unused keys that clog your system. Removing these keys can significantly improve performance.

For more info about the Windows Registry, check out the articles at Answer Registry Reviews There are reviews of popular registry cleaning, backup and restore software products and you can even use links on the site to download and purchase software online.

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The System Registry has been called the most important part of any Windows PC operating system (OS), but you probably didnâ

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In many ways, computers are magic. Billions of electrons flow across a screen to create the illusion of a picture that we seem to control.

A magnet holds bits of information in place to indicate if a bit is off or on, and millions of those bits combine to form files that hold our information. Powerful graphics, sound and Internet capabilities combine to form powerful applications for work or video games for our amusement.

The vast majority of computers run on some version of Microsoft operating systems (OS), which brings the computer to life. Although Microsoft is sometimes criticized for its Windows OS, the task of creating a system that will run an unknown quantity of diverse software on an unknown combination of hardware created and compiled by manufacturers from all over the world is a daunting one at best. Frankly,

it’s amazing that computers ever work, given all the variables. It really seems like magic.

Of course, it is not magic, it’s the result of decades of development and the Computer continues to evolve. At the core of the Microsoft system is the Windows Registry,an amazingly simple yet complex assembly of information, codes and keys that control every aspect of the PC. The structure is simple, although the accumulated wealth of cress-referenced information can become quite large and complex.

The registry is basically made up of “keys” and “values.” The keys are essentially folders for information about a particular computer element and how it should run. The values are the dope (information). PC components receive their operating orders,so to speak, based upon the expected value in the keys.

The complexity comes from the ability to store subkeys — keys within a key – and subkeys within another subkeys. Values themselves can be as simple as a 1 or 0, or a word or a string of characters or words. All of which is grouped into logical sections within the registry known like hives. registry controls who caswer-registryreviews.com/reviews/n log on to the computer,records Internet surfing settings and historical information, location of files and hardware, current settings and configurations, software and applications etc.

One drawback to the registry is that if something goes wrong, it can be extremely time consuming and practically impossible to trace the error manually. There is easliy too many information to sift through. There is serious risk involved like well, in that one mistake can have extensive consequences to the entire system.

Not surprisingly, several software companies have developed programs for the non-expert to optimize the Windows Registry quickly and efficiently.

One website that reviews and compares registry cleaning software is Answer Registry Reviews The site offers relevant articles on the Windows Registry and compares various registry cleaning software products. The website even offers links to directly download and purchase products such like RegCure, Registry Mechanic and Registry Easy (among others) online. If your Windows system is running slowly or you suspect a virus, Answer Registry Reviews should be the first stop for information on what might be causing the problem and to download a product that would meet your needs to correct it.

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The next time your change the oil in your car, think of your personal computer. You flush the oil in your car to get rid of the gunk and sediments that have slowly been deposited over time. Your PC tends to have a lot of deposits that come from a variety of sources. Each time a file is modified it may be moved or become fragmented (spread across different areas of the hard disk instead of remaining one intact complete). “Temporary” files are created that remain in the system, potentially forever. Keys and entries are added to the Windows Registry that are never removed. It all adds up to one slow computer, but there are some things you can do to fine tune your PC into top performance.

The fastest and easiest thing to do is defrag your hard drive. All Windows systems come equipped with Defrag.exe, a powerful little tool that rearranges the files on your hard drive for optimal performance. To “defrag” your drive, open up Windows Explorer (not to be confused with Internet Explorer) and right click on the drive you want to defragment (usually the C: drive). Click on Properties at the bottom of the drop down menu and then click the Tools tab at the top. Click the middle button that says “Defragment Now…” to make defrag.exe. Click the Defragment button and your off and running. Cclose all programs before doing this and don’t plan to do any work on your compute for a while. Running defrag could take up to a few hours or even overnight.

You should also open the Start Menu and click “Run…” Enter “msconfig” (do not use the quotes) and click OK to run the System Configuration Utility. Click the Startup tab and you will see a list of all the services and programs that load automatically any time you start Windows. Keep your antivirus program and every programs you use regularly, but if you see programs you don’t use, simply uncheck the box. When you restart Windows, you will be asked if you want to run the utility again, so you can undo any changes if you made a mistake.

It’s also important to clean the Windows Registry. This is not something you really want to try one your own, since one mistake could prevent your computer from booting or functioning properly. Several software companies offer programs to do this for you, each with its own strengths and capabilities.

One website that reviews and compares registry cleaning software is Answer Registry Reviews at The site offers relevant posts on the Windows Registry and compares various registry cleaning software products. The website even offers links to directly download and purchase products such as RegCure, Registry Mechanic and Registry Easy (among others) online. If your Windows system is running slowly or you suspect a virus, Answer Registry Reviews should be the first stop for information on what might be causing the problem and to download a product that would meet your needs to correct it.

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New cars are known for that “new car smell.” New personal computers are known for their speed. Both seem to fade, however over the months and years after buying.

Nearly all new personal computers come equipped with some kind of Microsoft Windows operating system. The operating system in the essential software that makes the computer run. Unfortunately, many computers also come with a wide assortment of “value enhancing” software, much of which has no value and no enhancement. In fact, much of this software can actually slow the performance of your computer.

Called “bloatware” by detractors, this additional software can offer anything from an introductory offer for a virus scanner or Web service to silly devices like an Internet-updated temperature report. The problem is, all of these little “nice to have” items cause a drain on the system. Even in an age where memory is measures in gigabytes instead of kilobytes, the amount of memory used to run programs is still limited and each of these programs is loaded into memory at startup. A lot of little items carving out small sections of memory for themselves can add up to a lot of waste, especially if many of them are hardly ever used.

Some programs load into memory just in case you might want to use them, patiently waiting for some event to trigger them into action. If such a device is a printer, this might make sense. However, if the software is hogging memory in case you might need to run a particular type of video that you use maybe once a month – or never – that memory is wasted.

The best thing to do is to simply cancel these programs when you are first asked if you want them to install. The second great solution is to uninstall(remove) them later. The problem with the second method is that these programs often leave files and entries in the Windows Registry even after you uninstall them. The files stole space on your hard drive and the registry entries cause Windows to run really slower as the registry expands.

Removing entries and keys from the Windows Registry is not for the faint of heart, since even the smallest change if done incorrectly can being the entire system to a halt. Fortunately, several software solutions exist to carefully prune the registry, each with its own strengths and capabilities.

Answer Registry Reviews offers relevant posts on the Windows Registry, compares various registry cleaning software products, and offers links to download and purchase solutions to clean and repair your Windows Registry.

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The Windows Registry is both the boon and bane of the Computer world, a world that almost exclusively belongs to Microsoft. The registry is the core of any Windows PC.

It hides in the background and is deliberately difficult to access manually due to the dangers involve. One wrong move and your computer becomes a very expensive paperweight.

The registry literally controls every aspect of the computer, an Orwellian Big Brother of the PC. You might think you control your computer,but no. That is the job of the registry. If you are nice, it will allow you to make suggestions from time to time, but never directly.

Of course, if you are very brave, you can attempt to speak to the perfect and powerful Oz, but it is not advised. That is why several software companies have created registry cleaners to help optimize the registry for you. You tell the software what you want to accomplish and how to accomplish it

and the software searches the thousand of keys and values within the Registry with an efficiency that no human being could hope to match. Of course, even supercomputers are not greatest, so you should always back up or ghost your PC before beginning such an operation. Of course, you back up all your important data already, don’t you?

Some of the more popular registry cleaning software packages are RegCure, Registry Mechanic, and Registry Easy, all of which can be downloaded from www.answer-registryreviews.com, where you can also find software reviews and relevant articles on the Windows Registry. RegCure from ParetoLogic has the highest review

although the three each have their pros and cons and are rather evenly matched (each receiving at least 4 out of five stars). Registry Mechanic came in second, but it comes from PC Tools, a highly respected company that offers a number of software tools and free support. Registry Easy offers free technical support and a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee and it is, well…simply!

It’s very important to keep you registry clean as it can become quite bloated after weeks or months of usage storing Internet histories, temporary file information, and a ton of other information that is no longer relevant or useful.

A bloated registry can make your computer slower considerably, and may even harbor pernicious viruses that have hidden activation triggers deep inside where they cannot easily be found.

Computer “perfect practices” include regularly backing up all your important data, running a defragmentation utility and cleaning your registry. Failing to do any of these things is like driving your car without checking the oil – ever.

Eventually the engine seizes up into a solid mass. There never seems to be a “good time” for a computer crash, so proper maintenance is essential.

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The most vital part of any Windows operating system (OS) is the Windows System Registry. The registry controls literally all of the configuration information for all of the various components throughout your entire personal PC.

Have you ever opened the Device Manager? Each device can have a myriad of configuration setting combinations – and there are a LOT of devices.

Because it is so comprehensive, Microsoft deliberately hides the registry to prevent modification by inexperienced computer operators. Many of the most experienced PC gurus will approach the registry with all the fear and trepidation of diffusing a bomb. One mistake and the computer (figuratively speaking) will blow up,

causing unpredictable, erratic behavior or even ceasing to boot altogether. This usually does not affect the stored data, such as photos and documents, but that offers you little comfort if you can’t get to them.

If you have to perform a complete system restore, all the associations with those documents may need to be rebuilt as you also reinstall the programs that run them.

Because the System Registry is such a minefield, Answer Registry Reviews Online was launched to offer articles, advice and software. When you visit the site, you will quickly notice graphics that link to reviews and product comparisons.

The navigation buttons are large and obvious, which is good because they are not in a location you would expect. Rather than being at the greatest of the page, as is standard, they hover in a line about halfway down the page. Buttons include: Home, Reviews, Articles, and FAQ.

Home, of course, leads you back to the home page so that does nothing if you are already on the home page.

Reviews takes you to partial reviews of 5 of the most famous registry cleaning, optimizing and backup/restore programs for the Windows Registry. To see the full review, simply click where the link says, “Read the full review…” Pretty simple so far, right?

There is also a quick link box at the upper left of the page which offers one-click access to the full review for each of the products. Reviews include Pros and Cons of each product and customer ratings from one to five stars.

Compare offers a comparison of the top three rated registry software products. There isn’t too much to consider here, since they all do pretty much the same thing: clean, fix and backup the registry. The real details to look at are: program size, rating, and (last but not least) price.

posts presents a number of interesting, well-written and informative posts on the Windows System Registry and compelling reasons for why you might want to keep it clean and running properly.

One of the many amusing of these is an article called, “Top Ten Blue Screens of Death.” It includes photos of crashed systems, such as a Sony Jumbotron proudly displaying the Microsoft Windows logo thanks to a crash.

the FAQ presents frequently asked questions and answers pertaining to the registry, how it affects the PC and how to maintain it

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Nobody likes leftover night for dinner. Food that tasted good the first time is just never the same when reheated three days later. PC leftovers are no better, and they can slow your computer to a crawl.

What are Junk of the PC and where do they come from? PC leftovers are the results of running programs on your computer. The entire purpose of owning a computer is to run software. Unfortunately, every time you install software it makes widespread additions to the Windows Registry and adds “temporary” files to your computer that are anything but temporary. All of this adds to the clutter that clogs your computer when it multitasks. The system slogs its way through a ton of no longer useful information in order to find and execute what it needs.

When you surf the Internet, for example, many programs install themselves through Internet pages in order to track your Internet usage and transmit data back to their hosts. Such programs usually burrow into the registry as well, associating themselves with numerous keys and values. Some have multiple keys under multiple program names in multiple folders. It can be very difficult to track and remove these infected keys and values without removing something important. No one wants to see the “blue screen of death” because they tinkered with the wrong key in the registry.

Some programs do not have an uninstall feature, and even many that do leave more refuse behind than a Labor Day parade. Keys and subkeys often remain in the registry because they “might impact other programs.” Since the registry itself is really nothing more that a large repository, it has no mechanism to check its information with the installed programs – so it cannot determine by itself if information is needed or affects anything.

That is why software exists to make the comparison for you. It’s important to keep you registry clean as it can become quite bloated after weeks or months of usage storing Internet histories, temporary file information, and a ton of other useless information. In order to prevent elimination of potentially important information, it saves all information, no matter how potentially irrelevant.

For more information on the Windows Registry, check out the articles at Answer Registry Reviews . There are reviews of popular registry cleaning software products and you can even use links on the site to download and purchase highly effective registry cleaning software.

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