Almost all users of computer systems are familiar with the concept of a system registry. True, very few ordinary users know that it needs to be cleaned periodically, and there is no question of how to do it. Cleaning the Windows 10 registry , as well as any other similar OS, without using special utilities, is painstaking and sometimes even unsafe. Let's try to consider what tools can be used for this, so as not to harm the system and not waste time manually cleaning and optimizing.
Why clean up the Windows 10 registry or any other version of the system?
Before you consider the possibilities of special applications that allow you to perform such processes in automatic mode, it is worth acquiring theoretical knowledge in this area.
Let's see why cleaning up the Windows 10 registry is necessary. If anyone does not know, a great many incorrect or outdated entries and keys can accumulate in the registry, and this is connected not only with installing or removing programs, but also with calling individual applications. And all this stuff over time begins to slow down the system. A characteristic manifestation of this is the increased loading time of the "OS" itself. At startup, the registry is scanned, and the more entries in it, the more time is required for this process. The same applies to running programs on an already loaded system when it accesses certain keys. And if, for example, several applications correspond to the opened file, and some of them are deleted? So the system begins to rush about in search of the key that is most suitable. Naturally, this situation needs to be corrected radically.
Registry Defragmentation Issues
Now one more important aspect. The deletion of incorrect or outdated keys and entries may not be limited. It is often recommended that you also defragment the registry, as this is done to speed up access to the most commonly used programs and files for hard drives.
Only in this case, the keys do not move to the fastest areas, and the OS organizes the records, combining them, say, by similar signs. In addition, this process occurs not only in the registry files themselves (ordering of the structure), but also concerns the acceleration of access to them, as if the disk were defragmented.
Cleaning the Windows 10 registry: how to conduct the process?
If we talk about manual cleaning, on Windows systems there is only a standard registry editor for this . There can be no talk of any automation.
Of course, if the user understands these issues and knows what and where to look, he will not be able to delete any keys. Another thing is that there can be dozens of such keys, and they will be located in a variety of branches. So even the use of a search engine, for example, by the main name of the program, often does not give the desired result.
But if someone even decided on a manual cleaning, the most important condition is to make a backup copy of the registry file (in case of incorrect actions or system failure due to the changes made, this will help to restore it). It is immediately worth noting that in the editor, unlike other settings and parameters, there is no button or command to save or cancel the changes made, so be especially careful.
In order to prevent malfunctions in the system, and special programs have been created that automate all these processes without explicit user intervention. Let's try to consider the best programs for cleaning the Windows 10 registry. Naturally, absolutely nothing can be mentioned, so we will limit ourselves to a few of the most popular.
CCleaner App
So, we are faced with a specific task: cleaning the Windows 10 registry. CCleaner, according to many experts, is the simplest solution in this case (by the way, users who use it for practical purposes also respond rather flatteringly).
Here we are interested in two modules that are responsible for cleaning the registry and defragmenting it. True, they are not the main ones, but are included in the general package designed for complete system optimization. However, as practice shows, it is this application that handles registry scanning, subsequent optimization and defragmentation most quickly. The interface is very simple and not overloaded with unnecessary elements. In terms of work, the user only needs to start the general scanning process (or use individual modules), wait for it to complete, and then click the troubleshoot button. In general, an excellent program for cleaning the Windows 10 registry, created for those who want to tidy up the system quickly and without consequences. Yes, the application itself is free and is available in both stationary and portable versions.
Auslogic Registry Cleaner
The Auslogic Registry Cleaner application is the best program for cleaning the Windows 10 registry. This is evidenced not only by user reviews, but also by the findings of testing conducted by independent experts. At least, professionals are claiming this.
True, in terms of speed it is somewhat inferior to CCleaner, but it performs a deeper scan. In addition, the program is designed for the most part not for the average user, but for a person who has good knowledge in this matter. So, for example, in addition to fully automatic mode, it has a special filtering and search system in which you can find data based on one or more criteria (file extensions, ActiveX controls, DLLs, remnants of remote applications, history, Internet, shortcuts and much more). For a professional, the tool is indispensable. By the way, complaints about the fact that the package in the "top ten" does not work or is malfunctioning is absolute nonsense. This applied only to Windows 10 Preview. Now it functions like a clock.
Advanced System Care optimization system and the like
Naturally, many may argue that the best cleaning of the Windows 10 registry can only be done using highly targeted utilities. This is partly true, but you should not discount complex optimizers. One of the most prominent representatives of this group of software packages is Advanced System Care.
In it, as in the CCleaner application, there are the same cleaning and defragmentation modules, but they work somewhat differently. If you do not go into technical aspects, we can say that this is something between CCleaner and Auslogic Registry Cleaner. At least, many experts have such an opinion.
Again, the scan time is quite long, but the result dispels all doubts. In addition, initially, before starting the problem determination, you can use the automatic correction option, that is, after detecting problems, they will be corrected immediately (you do not have to press the repair button). As the saying goes, a trifle, but nice.
Uninstallers
Finally, another type of program is uninstallers. And where are they? Yes, despite the fact that some advanced programs are also able to clean the registry from unnecessary junk that remains after uninstalling applications. Standard Windows 10 tools can’t cope with this, no matter how widely this system is advertised.
Let us illustrate with the example of the iObit Uninstaller program. Programs are uninstalled first using either a “native” application uninstaller, or using standard Windows modules (Unwise or Windows Installer) with the preliminary creation of a system restore checkpoint. Upon completion of the process, an in-depth scan is turned on for the presence of residual files and folders, but - and this is most important - the application searches for registry keys corresponding to the remote program in all sections. After that, the results are displayed on the screen, and at the bottom there is a button to completely delete all selected objects. Thus, in addition to uninstalling software components, the Windows 10 registry is also cleaned. In addition, there is a special Forced Uninstall forced removal mode that allows uninstalling even uninstallable, from the Windows point of view, software components.
What to choose?
So, what is the cleaning of the Windows 10 registry and why is it needed, we figured it out a bit. What to choose from all that is offered today on the Internet? Of course, you can use programs designed exclusively for working with the registry, but most users who are not familiar with the intricacies of such processes can be advised by the simplest optimizer utilities. Most of them contain all the necessary modules. But in parallel with the registry, you can fix a huge number of various errors (for example, the same Advanced System Care package has a built-in antivirus module and patches holes in the Windows security system). However, what exactly to use, each user decides for himself.