Register Clean - Windows register clean up

Windows Register Clean Up - Why You Really Need One

Discussions around the need for a Windows register clean up can get quite heated. Some experts say registry cleaners cannot possibly help matters, while others think they offer some worthwhile benefits.

So to help you make up your own mind, here are some facts to consider.

Windows constantly creates new entries as you use it from day to day. However, it very rarely removes these entries once they are no longer needed.

The registry in your PC is a very complex directory, with files grouped in "hives", each holding hundreds of entries. Over time, that directory can grow very large - in fact, the word "bloated" is commonly used together with the word "registry".

Every time you install, update or remove a program, information is written to the registry.

It is a fact that many installers, updaters and removal programs do not treat the registry gracefully or cleanup properly. The average Windows installer cleanup utility rarely removes all traces of of the original programs, and leaves the registry cluttered with bits and pices of unwanted info and useless references to programs that no longer exist.

The registry grows over time, becoming steadily larger and larger - and thus taking more time to read by the operating system.

Your security could be compromised by settings in your registry put there by malware - and which keep that malware spying on or even controlling your machine.

Key values and settings do become irrelevant or corrupted.

You could have an entry that says that a particular program needs to be run at startup. If you have removed that program, your startup will be delayed until the network protocol timeout occurs - making your startup take longer than it should.

If the registry chokes up enough, you could start experiencing the following:

You start getting error messages.

You see complaints about missing DLLs.

The startup take forever.

Some programs stop working.

Sometimes the computer freezes

And in the worst cases, sometimes it even crashes, you lose data, and have to restart.

Here are two generally-accepted truths:

If you're using a more recent version of Microsoft Windows, such as XP or Vista, you have less of a problem than with older systems - but the problems have not disappeared.

The Windows registry is complicated and over-engineered and has made the operating system difficult to maintain.

If you don't know exactly what you're doing, don't fiddle with Regedit or the registry itself. Far better to use specialised utility software that has been specially designed for the job.

Summary - the registry does need some tender loving care from time time. Providing that care will keep your system in optimum shape and as reliable as possible.

Unless you're a software Geek, choose the right tool for the job. Here is a link to Registry Mechanic, our recommended Windows registry cleaner.

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