Registry Cleaner Software

Before examining software known as registry cleaners, we first take a look at the registry. The Microsoft Windows operating system registry is a database that stores settings related to system hardware, systems and applications software and user preferences. Most user and computer changes are reflected in the registry. This database is so fundamental to system functioning that Microsoft’s policy is clear (and in my mind justified): if you err in changing the registry we cannot guarantee that your problem can be repaired. You may have to do a reinstall.

The registry contains two basic elements: keys and values. Registry keys may contain values and several layers of subkeys. The syntax is somewhat heavy. For example, "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Vendor's name\Application's name\Version\Setting name" is only part of one registry key. Different versions of Windows had incompatible registries.

Be careful before buying Registry Cleaner software.

Windows Vista contains five groups of registry keys, HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, HKEY_CURRENT_USER, HKEY_CURRENT_MACHINE, HKEY_USERS, and HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG. Each group is subdivided into groups and subgroups. Windows offers at least one registry edit program, but use it at your risk. It’s usually safer and easier to make changes via other interfaces such as the Control Panel. Some keys may be modified only via the registry editor. There are several methods to back up and restore the registry, but unsophisticated users are rarely familiar with these methods. Unlike some competitive operating systems, corruption of the Windows registry can affect the whole computer system rather than a single application.

Sooner or later your registry will contain unnecessary or erroneous keys and values. For example, when you remove a program from your computer some program settings may remain in the registry. The registry is important, it is complex, and error prone. What about using software to clean it up from time to time?

Learning to use Registry Cleaner software.

A registry cleaner is a program designed to remove redundant or unwanted items from the Windows registry. You have probably seen on-screen ads claiming that your registry is corrupted and offering to clean it for a price. Given its complexity only experts with a lot of time on their hands can clean the registry manually. Even they would have trouble finding broken links among registry entries. The more often that you install and uninstall programs the more you could benefit from a registry cleaner. On the other hand, it is difficult for a program to know exactly what you are doing. The registry cleaner might remove control information from a rarely used program. The next time you try to run that program, you are out of luck. And it might be very hard to repair the damage.

If you see ads that claim your registry is corrupted close your Internet connection. At best they will steal the price of the software, at worst they may infect your computer. Microsoft and the attorney general of Washington State recently filed a lawsuit against two Texas companies that specialize in this sort of garbage. This is one lawsuit that I hope Microsoft wins. Should you wish to purchase a registry cleaner, go through the usual software review process. Don’t buy anything from a site with a figurative knife at your throat.