How to Clean Your PC Registry
It is generally agreed that with the more recent Microsoft operating systems like XP and Vista, it is no longer necessary to run a registry cleaner. Because these operating systems are based on Windows NT, invalid keys in the registry should not slow your computer down.
On a practical level, however, if you have removed adware, spyware or other malware from your computer system, there may be bad registry keys that are messing up your PC performance despite the fact that the computer’s operating system is XP or Vista.
If your software takes forever to load or does not run right, it is worth your time to check out the registry.
Microsoft’s operating systems include a program that is called “regedit” that you can access from the “start/run” command. When you run the regedit program, you will be presented with the contents of your registry folder. This will give you direct access to your system registry, where you can identify and remove any bad or corrupt keys.
The average PC user does not understand what the registry keys mean. Fortunately, there are some software programs available for free or for a small price that will identify any bad keys. Most of these programs will give you a choice. The first option is to let the registry cleaner software automatically delete any bad keys. The second option allows you to select the invalid keys that should be deleted.
Be cautious about downloading and installing free registry cleaners or antivirus programs. Some of these programs have malicious code and trojans installed in them that can cause a lot of grief for you down the road. If you prefer not to spend money on a registry cleaner, download from a trusted service like cNet that verifies that your freeware is free of malware.
If your software programs are not running efficiently, visit the NotGuru blog’s computer tips section, where you will find a step-by-step tutorial on how to clean your registry. For easy reference, the tutorial includes screen shots, and also recommends trusted registry cleaner software.
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