In Windows operating systems (OS), the registry is a central hierarchal database that stores configuration information related to system, user profiles, applications, and software on the system. OS utilizes the registry to store both static data similar to environment variables and dynamic data such as information related to system performance. Windows XP and the applications running on it constantly use the registry to query, read and write information to and from the registry.
Need to clean registry
With continuous and regular use, a lot of unwanted information starts accumulating in the registry. This leads to unwarranted registry growth pertaining to obsolete entries related to hardware, software, ActiveX and OCX controls, invalid DLLs and shortcuts, and empty keys. This growth and increase in undesired information makes the registry corrupt and fragmented. Due to this, the registry becomes unstable and starts generating errors on your PC. In severe situations, the registry can even crash and render your system unusable.
Steps To Perform Registry Clean
Due to its importance in the functioning of your PC, it is essential that you perform regular maintenance of the registry and keep it free from unwanted information. Listed below are the steps that you can use to perform a simple and efficient registry clean.
- Create a backup of the registry.
The registry is a very important part of an operating system and any wrong edits can render it useless. Therefore, prior to making any changes to the registry, first create a backup. Remember that even an expert computer maintenance professional will create a registry backup before making any changes to it. To create the backup, open the Registry Editor by running the Regedit command. In the Registry Editor window, select ‘File’ and then select the ‘Export…’ command. In the ‘Export Registry File’ dialog box, select the ‘All’ option in the ‘Export Range’ section, give a name to your registry back up file and select the ‘Save’ button. You can use this backup file to restore the registry, in case you encounter problems while fixing registry problems. - Download and install a registry cleaner software.
Today, a large number of registry cleaners are available on the internet for download. These registry cleaners enable you to easily scan the registry for errors and perform registry clean procedures. Double-click on the downloaded file to install the software. - Run the registry cleaner software and select the option to scan the registry.
Next, double-click the program icon of the registry cleaner software to run it. Select the ‘Scan’ option from the software’s window to scan the registry for different types of errors. Many registry cleaner software enable you to perform a customized scan to search for specific types of errors if required. After scanning, the registry cleaner software will list the errors on the screen. - Repair the registry.
From the displayed errors, you can review the errors and select the Repair option to remove these entries and restore your registry to a healthy state. - Restart the system.
After the repair is complete, restart your system. In case you encounter any problems, restore the registry from the backup you made earlier.
The registry is the heart and soul of your Windows OS. Therefore, to keep your PC error free and in its best working condition it is very important for you to take proper care of the registry. To do this, you must perform registry cleans on a regular basis. The best and simplest method to perform a registry clean is by using a reliable registry cleaner software. The software enables you to efficiently scan the registry for errors and remove these errors to repair the registry.