Registry cleaners are software programs designed to scan the registry and root out corrupt, damaged, and obsolete registry entries.

Now, you might be asking, "what the heck is the registry and why do I care?"

Well, the answer is that the Windows registry is like a large filing cabinet where Windows stores important preference and settings files for drivers and software. When you install a new program it writes to the registry so that the next time you turn on the computer the program is still configured the way you want it.

Unfortunately this filing cabinet is not perfect (what Windows utility is ever perfect anyway?) The registry tends to become cluttered over time with entries that get left behind after you uninstall programs and drivers.

For example, when you add a new video card to a computer you must first uninstall all the old drivers and software. Sometimes (like my recent escapade with my ATI driver setup) they don't like to leave quietly, and a bunch of random files and folders get left behind.

As a computer gets used more and more these kinds of leftover files build up, causing the computer to slow down and display the occasional (or frequent) error message. Some people even run into problems where their computer is crashing.

If you had a registry problem in the past it used to be a pain in the next to get it straightened out. Once it became apparent that this was a frequent problem with Windows, a new type of software began to hit the market--registry cleaners.

Registry cleaners scan through your registry and find all the corrupt, old files that got left behind when they weren't needed anymore. Sounds sad doesn't it? Well the happy thing is that you can send these files to a better place (the land of deletion) so your computer can run unimpeded.

I have personally used RegCure by ParetoLogic. I had great success with this registry cleaner. It definitely helped my laptop boot faster and run faster. I wasn't having error messages or problems with crashes or freezes, but for what I needed it for it worked wonderfully.

If you think that you might benefit from a registry cleaner then you might want to check out Registry Repair Solutions. They have an amazing review section where they give out unbiased reviews of the top cleaners. I got RegCure after thorough research, but their review was the one that gave me the confidence I needed.

Anyway...if you're having problems with your computer I definitely recommend at least scanning your computer to see what it finds. (RegCure offers a free scan.) I know registry cleaners are not a magic pill...if you're having driver incompatibility issues or the like, then a registry cleaner isn't going to do the trick. However, if you haven't done anything too drastic with your computer and are suddenly having problems, it might be wise to check out RegCure or a similar program.