What is a Windows Registry and How Do I Clean It?

The Registry in your Windows-based computer (Windows 95 through Windows Vista, Win 7, and Win 8) serves as a repository for configuration information. Any program installed on your computer can use the registry to store data.

Is your registry dirty? Does it need to be cleaned?

Yes, your registry is probably dirty. How dirty it might be is subjective. Some registry information is absolutely necessary for the correct operation of your Windows computer, some is merely helpful, and some is a pure hindrance. Depend on a reputable software vendor to provide a Registry Cleaner utility that knows the difference.

Your registry doesn't accumulate filth as your living room rug does. In general, digital dirt consists of data that is no longer related to any program installed on the computer. The smaller your registry is (within reason), the more efficiently your computer will operate. However, Don't delete everything in your registry.

How do you know it's dirty? Hmm.... run a Registry Cleaner program and let it tell you. That's the easiest way to find out.

If you just can't stand the thought of your registry being dirty, feel free to clean it. Choose a reputable registry cleaner; don't accept just any program from a stranger standing on a street corner. In a perfect world, be sure to back up all your files before running any cleaner. Registry cleaning is a sensitive process that carries the possibility of utter destruction. A corrupted or improperly cleaned registry could cause you to loose everything on your hard drive.

Yes, you can use a utility called Regedit32 to manually make changes to your registry. The program is free. Download it from the Microsoft web site if you don't already have it. Warning: you are downloading a swiss-army knife flamethrower nuclear warhead. If you are in any way uncomfortable about makeing changes to your registry, think twice about thinking twice before you proceed. You have everything to loose.