Clean Your Registry
In systems running Windows, the registry is a directory which stores settings and options for the operating system and information and settings for almost all the hardware and software. Here's how to clean your registry safely...
Steps
- Download a good registry cleaner such as CCleaner.
- Install the cleaner. Double-click the icon of the cleaner you just downloaded. This will usually start an installation wizard. Follow the instructions.
- Run your automatic cleaner. Find it in Start>>All Programs>> or on your desktop. Scan your registry for issues, and then click to repair or clean the registry. The exact method, of course, depends on the registry cleaner you choose.
- Perform weekly maintenance. Cleaning your registry at least once a week is recommended. It is highly recommended to run your registry cleaner after you uninstall software, especially freeware from the internet and also after deleting programs and temporary files.
Tips
- If your problems are exclusive to certain heavy software, try upgrading your computer.
- Go to Start>>All Programs>>Accessories>>System Tools>> and run disk defragment and disk cleanup. This will "clean" your hard disk to make files read and write more quickly.
- It is possible that your computer may have slowed down due to malware. (malicious software, like viruses or spyware) The links at the bottom of this page should assist you with that.
Warnings
- Cleaning your registry is usually unnecessary, and may not result in significant performance increases.
- Never try to manually clean the registry if you are not an expert. This could be potentially fatal for your system.
- Always backup your registry before making any changes. Serious problems could occur in case the computer were to crash or lockup during cleaning the registry or optimizing the hard drive.
