Registry Clean Up Programs - How Do They Work and Do You Need One?

The windows registry system is the central nervous system of your PC. It stores information about software programs, file locations, short cuts, and file paths. As we install software the registry gets updated, and when software is removed it gets updated, if the uninstall process goes correctly.

Some software can leave behind broken file paths, empty registry keys, and non existent short cuts after their deleted. Why does this happen? Because the uninstall process for the program didn't do it's job correctly. So what can you do about it? Registry clean up programs are designed specifically to scan your windows registry files looking for such empty items and errors.

How do Registry Repair Tools work?

The process is simple, a registry clean up program scans your entire registry and provides you with a list of items it believes are errors or out of date information. You then have the alternative to automatically repair all of the items found, or you can manually review each one prior to correcting it. For most beginners it's easier to automatically remove and repair all items. How ever what do you do if a wrong items gets deleted?

What happens if you make a mistake?

Beside scanning your windows registry files most registry cleaners also provide a backup feature. This backup makes copies of your current registry files and settings prior to repairing them. Why is this important? Because if you choose the auto repair method you could accidentally delete or repair something that wasn't actually an error. How ever because you have a backup copy of the old settings and files you can undo and revert back to the way things were before the repair.

How often should I scan my registry?

Most registry clean up tools have a schedule setting. You can set the software to regularly scan your system registry and auto fix any items it finds. Along with this you can also tell the program to make a new backup each time. This way you're always keeping items from building up, and ensuring you have a fresh backup point to start over from if need be.

It depends on your computer usage how often you should scan your registry. Average computer users should consider scanning once every 4-6 months, how ever computers that are used more often, and especially those that are installing and removing a lot of programs should scan more often.