RegGenie: Overview
RegGenie is an advanced registry cleaner tool that is designed to help Windows users to optimize the performance of their computers by cleaning and repairing several Windows registry-related issues in an easy and efficient way. The simplicity of RegGenie makes it an attractive option for a novice user. At the same time, it has the precision, flexibility, and functionality that make the tool quite useful and impressive to advanced Windows users.
In addition to easily scanning and fixing your computer problems, you can also use the RegGenie tool to perform many other useful tasks. For instance, you can use the tool to schedule periodic registry scans, defrag the registry files to ensure that the registry stays compact and contiguous, backup and restore the registry easily, and manage startup programs.
This article provides a detailed review of the RegGenie tool.
RegGenie: Installation
To install the RegGenie tool on your Windows computer, visit the RegGenie website, and download the RegGenie setup file to your PC. Next, double-click on the setup file to launch the Setup wizard. Finally, follow the simple instructions given in the wizard to install the tool on your PC.
System Requirements
To effectively utilize all the useful features of the RegGenie tool, your Windows computer should meet the following minimum system requirements:
- RAM: 128 MB (Recommended: 256)
- Hard Disk Free Space: 15 MB (Recommended: 75 MB)
- Internet access to register the tool and receive product updates.
The tool supports the following Windows operating systems:
- Microsoft Windows Vista
- Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 or higher
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
- Microsoft Windows ME
- Microsoft Windows 98
- Microsoft Windows 95
Note: RegGenie offers the Registry Defrag feature only for the Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems.
RegGenie: How It Works
The RegGenie tool helps users repair many common computer errors and also resolve several PC performance issues. For example, you can use the tool to fix computer errors, such as, ActiveX errors, DLL errors, application errors, EXE errors, runtime errors, Windows installer errors, Internet browser errors, stop or blue screen errors, and Windows Explorer errors.
The tool also helps you deal with several Windows performance issues including problems with file associations, help files, startup programs, invalid device drivers, incorrect application paths, and corrupt registry entries and files.
Let us now see how you can use the RegGenie tool to repair your registry and enhance the performance of your computer.
Registry Scan and Repair
When you install the RegGenie tool, its folder comprising the shortcut to launch and uninstall it is added to the Start menu. Therefore, to launch the utility, open the Start menu, point to All Programs, point to RegGenie, and then select the RegGenie command.
By default, the Scan & Fix page is displayed when you launch the RegGenie tool.
If you want to perform a selective scan, you may select the checkboxes of the items you want to check. For example, you may select the Shared DLL Entries checkbox if you want to scan the registry only for DLL related problems. If you want to scan the registry for all possible issues, select the Select All checkbox.
After you have made your choice, select the Start Scan button.
Depending on the number of errors and the size of the registry, the scan should take around 2-5 minutes to complete.
Note: It is essential, that as a vigilant user, you make sure that the tool you purchase ensures you of desired results. It is also important that you find it easy to use. To help you ensure this, RegGenie offers a free download and registry scan. You can use these free options to first scan your registry, and then purchase it only if you like the results and you find the tool user-friendly. We found the tool quite effective and easy-to-use.
After the registry scan is complete, the tool displays identified errors on the Scanning Results page.
RegGenie enables you to scan through the detected errors and select the ones you want to repair. By default, all reported errors are marked to be fixed. If you do not want to repair some of the reported entries, click the expand (+) icon for each error category and then clear the checkboxes of the errors you want to retain.
In case you want future scans to ignore a particular category of errors, click the Ignore All link for that category. In case you want to just ignore a particular item, click the Ignore link only for that item. After you are done, click the Fix Errors button to repair all the selected errors. After the scanning is complete, a message box informing you about the number of errors repaired is displayed on the screen.
If you want to view the statistics of the number of errors reported, cleaned, or ignored, click the Statistics button on the left panel of the RegGenie tool.
The Safe Scan Feature
One of the impressive and useful features of the RegGenie tool is that it offers Safe Scan. The option to perform a safe registry scan—Safe Scan: All repairs can be undone is enabled by default. The Safe scan feature enables RegGenie to create a System Restore point every time you use the tool to repair the registry. In case something goes wrong with the repair process, you may perform a system restore and undo the changes made to the system settings.
To restore a System Restore point created by RegGenie, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then select System Restore. On the Welcome to System Restore screen, select the Restore my computer to an earlier time option and then click the Next button. On the Select a Restore Point page, select the RegGenie restore point you want to revert back to and then click next. Confirm your restore point selection and then click Next to perform the system restore.
Registry Backup
In addition to creating a system restore point, the RegGenie Safe Scan feature also creates a Safe Scan registry backup. If you are not satisfied with the registry repair you can use this backup to restore your registry to what it was before the scan.
To view your registry backup, click the Registry Backup button on the left panel to display the Registry Backup page.
A separate backup file is created every time you clean your registry using RegGenie. If required, you may choose to restore one or more backup files at the same time. To restore, select the desired checkbox or checkboxes and then click the Restore button.
After the restore, the selected backup is removed from the list. In case you want to manually remove one or more backups, select them and then click the Delete button.
RegGenie also allows you to make manual registry backups when required. This is also quite a useful feature and you may use it to make registry backups before making major changes to your system, such as changing system configuration or installing large software. To create a manual registry backup, click Backup Now on the Registry Backup page.
Registry Defrag
With loads of data added, removed and modified everyday, registry files tend to get fragmented. A fragmented registry slows down and as a result, slows down the performance of your computer. Using RegGenie you can easily get rid of this problem by defragging your registry in just three mouse clicks:
1. Click Registry Defrag on the left panel.
2. Click Analyze to ensure that your registry needs defragging.
3. Finally, if required, click Defrag Now to start defrag and speed up your registry.
To keep your PC safe, RegGenie creates a new System Restore point and makes a complete registry backup before proceeding with the defrag process. Because the registry is loaded into the system memory when the PC is operational, you will have to restart your PC to defrag the registry.
Manage Startup Programs
Unwanted startup programs are a major cause of PC slowdowns. To help you scan through and disable unwanted startup programs, the RegGenie program comprises the Windows Startup Manager feature.
To use this feature, click the Windows Startup Manager button on the left panel, and then clear the checkboxes of the programs you do not want to load at startup. After you are done, click the Apply button.
RegGenie Settings
The RegGenie tool is quite simple to configure and customize based on your needs. To access the Configure Program Settings page click Settings on the top panel.
The Configure Program Settings page that opens comprises four tabs to easily enable you to customize your RegGenie tool.
General Options
The General Options tab enables you to configure the tool to automatically:
- Start RegGenie at system startup.
- Close the tool after the repair process is complete.
- Start registry defrag everytime the system restarts.
- Display registry splash screen when the tool is launched.
- Log the results of the scan process.
To enable these options, select the respective checkbox and then click Apply.
Schedule Scans
If you have a busy work schedule and if you often forget to perform the most desired PC maintenance tasks at regular intervals, do not worry. Using RegGenie, you can schedule periodic and automatic registry scan and repair on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.
To schedule your registry scan, click the Schedule Scan tab on the Configure Program Settings page. On this tab page, select the Enable Scheduling checkbox, configure the period at which you want to perform the registry scan and then click Apply.
Manage Ignored Objects and Keys
RegGenie also enables you to manage the registry objects and keys that you would have ignored during the registry scan and repair process. To manage these entities you may open the Ignored Registry Objects and Ignore Keys tabs on the Configure Program Settings page.
RegGenie Updates
To keep a software program at its best performance, it is essential that you update it on a regular basis. Regular updates are released for the RegGenie tool to ensure that it is free from any vulnerabilities. To update your RegGenie tool, connect your PC to the Internet, and then, click the Update option available on the top panel.
RegGenie Help
With its user-friendly interface and features, you may hardly need any help with the RegGenie tool. However, if you find yourself stuck, then you may click the Help option on the top panel and open the online help web page for the RegGenie tool to find out the solution to your problems.
RegGenie: Pros and Cons
After learning how to work with the RegGenie tool, let us now go over the strengths and weaknesses of the RegGenie tool.
The First Look
The bright colors and impressive layout instantly catch our eyes as soon as we launch the RegGenie tool for the first time.
The tool comprises two panels, one on the left and the other on the top. All registry and PC maintenance activities can be easily performed by using the options available on the left panel. Whereas you may use the options on the top panel to configure, update, and register your tool. Options on the interface are accessible in the form of large and easy to locate buttons. This makes the software quite simple to use and a very good option, especially for novice users who are not very well versed with various aspects of PC maintenance.
The Best Features
Simplicity: Ease-of-use is the most appealing feature of the RegGenie tool. Easily accessible options make the tool self-explanatory and there is no need for you to be a technical expert to use it.
Safe Scan: The built-in Safe Scan feature makes registry scan and repair using the RegGenie tool safe. Whenever you use the tool to repair or defrag the registry, an automatic registry backup is made. Additionally, the tool makes a system restore point using the Windows System Restore utility. So, if something goes wrong with your fixes, you can easily reverse them by restoring the registry backup or by reverting to the system restore point created by the tool.
Speed: RegGenie is quick and scans through all the categories within a few minutes. We ran the scan on multiple computers and not a single scan took more than 5 minutes to complete. Even the fixes are done swiftly without causing any unnecessary delays.
Registry Defragmenter: Registry files fragment over time, causing the data access speed from the registry to slow down considerably. Registry defrag is a useful feature that reorganizes these fragmented registry files and makes them contiguous. When you defrag the registry, it is compressed and reindexed. This enhances its performance and as a result speeds up your PC.
Automatic Scans: RegGenie can be easily configured to perform automatic registry scans at regular intervals or at system startup. This feature is quite useful for new and not-so-technical users and also for users who frequently forget to perform regular PC maintenance.
Startup Manager: You can use the Startup Manager feature to easily disable unwanted startup programs. Doing this helps in freeing valuable computer memory and thus speeds up system startup and shutdown processes.
Automatic and Manual Backups: RegGenie makes automatic registry backups every time you use it to repair or defrag the registry. You may also use the tool to make manual backups, especially when you are trying to make some major changes to the system configuration. All backups are stored in separate files and, if required, you may choose to restore one or more than one backup files at the same time.
The Weaknesses
For a tool that offers so much at such economical rates, there are not many weaknesses to it. However, nothing is perfect, so, RegGenie has it own drawbacks. It lacks the automatic update feature. So, if you fail to update it yourself, you may miss on some necessary updates. Also, it would be good to include some type of off-line help documentation. Currently, you can access help only when you are connected to the Internet.
These drawbacks, however, can be easily overlooked if you make it a practice to update your tools and applications at regular intervals. Also, the tool is so simple to use you may rarely find the need to seek additional help.
Conclusion
Finally, we can say that at such low costs the tool is a boon for all computer users who want to maintain a healthy, high performance Windows computer. A detailed analysis of the reported errors revealed that the tool reports many more genuine errors in comparison to other registry tools available today. Also, the Safe Scan feature ensures a secure registry scan and repair process. This is the reason why we highly recommend the RegGenie tool to all Windows users.
