Surely every user of a personal computer has at least a rough idea of what the registry of the Windows operating system is. Nevertheless, not everyone knows that it needs to be cleaned periodically. Because of this omission, complaints about a drop in performance, unexpected crashes from programs, hangs and other delights are increasingly appearing.
After reading this article, you will learn how to clean the registry and thereby significantly increase the speed of your computer. Moreover, special programs that will help you perform this operation without risk of spoiling any important system files will be considered here.
Why clean the registry?
First, a little theory. Any application installed on your computer leaves in the registry the keys necessary for its correct operation. However, such records do not always disappear even after the program is deleted. Over time, there are more and more garbage keys in the registry, the operating system begins to get confused in them, which ultimately leads to a significant decrease in performance.
First of all, the problem is expressed in the increase in the time required to start Windows. The fact is that when the system starts, the registry is scanned, and the more keys it contains, the correspondingly longer this process takes. Naturally, such a situation needs to be corrected, and it is better not to be allowed at all.
By regularly cleaning the Windows registry, you will get rid of junk keys, preventing their accumulation. Thanks to this, your operating system will not only start loading faster, but will generally become more stable.
Manual way
Before considering special programs for cleaning the registry, it is worth mentioning the so-called manual method. Unfortunately, this operation is available only in the standard editor, so you should not count on great functionality and especially automation.
To perform a cleanup, the first thing you need to do is use the Run command (via the Start menu), and then write regedit. So you will be taken to the editor, where you will have to open the registry branches one by one and delete unnecessary keys from them.
The problem is that even one program can leave a couple of dozen of its entries, which will also be scattered across different branches. Moreover, the key does not always contain information about the program to which it belongs, so only the most experienced users can find out.
If all of the above does not scare you, and you still decide to clean the Windows registry manually, then you definitely need to make backup copies of those entries that you delete. Otherwise, you risk deleting any important key and thereby disrupting the operation of the operating system.
Ccleaner
Well, now it's time to consider programs that allow you to clean the registry without any headaches. And the first application, considered the best of its kind, is called CCleaner.
This utility will pleasantly surprise you with the simplicity of its interface, rich feature set and high speed. Clearing the registry in CCleaner is done by going to the appropriate section (on the left side of the program) and clicking the Scan button. After that, you just have to wait until the application finds all the junk keys, and then delete them after making a backup copy (you can refuse, but it’s better not to risk it).
Another big plus of the utility is that it is distributed for free. True, there is the opportunity to buy an extended Pro-version, but it is unlikely to be useful to most ordinary users.
Wise registry cleaner
This program is suitable for cleaning the Windows 7 registry, as well as for the same operation in later versions of the operating system. I am glad that when you start the utility immediately prompts you to backup all the keys. Then, if necessary, you can also create control points that will help you in case of any problems.
As for registry cleaning, Wise Registry Cleaner copes with it one hundred percent. Separately, it is worth mentioning the option "Deep Scan", thanks to which the program finds even more problem keys than CCleaner. Relatively much time is spent on this, but the result fully justifies it.
Auslogics Registry Cleaner
According to many experts and ordinary users, this is the best application for cleaning the registry in Windows 10. It is in the “top ten” that Auslogics Registry Cleaner is fully disclosed, and developers, in turn, are constantly improving the already excellent optimization.
It is worth saying that this utility differs from its counterparts in that it is primarily designed for advanced users. Here, in addition to the automatic mode, there is a powerful functionality for finding keys by one or several parameters, which greatly simplifies the process of fine-tuning the computer.
The only disadvantage of Auslogics Registry Cleaner is the relatively low speed. Although in most cases no one pays attention to this.
Reg organizizer
A powerful program to clean the Windows registry. Allows you to completely remove unnecessary applications from the system, as well as clean the "tails" that remain after improper uninstallation. The main tools of Reg Organizer work in automatic mode, so it’s very easy to understand.
Of particular note is the tracking function for individual keys. Using it, you can find out what changes an application makes to the registry, and this, in turn, will allow you to identify potentially dangerous software.
Unfortunately, Reg Organizer is distributed only for a fee. If you do not want to give money for this program, you will have to look for a hacked version on specialized sites.
Advanced system care
A program for cleaning the registry of Windows 7 and older versions of the operating system. It is a comprehensive optimizer that will help you not only get rid of junk keys, but also perform disk defragmentation, eliminate various adware, close vulnerabilities and much more. Perfect for those users who do not want to bother with manually configuring the operating system or installing several highly targeted utilities for these purposes.
As for the cleaning of the registry, you will have a choice between manual and automatic mode. In the first case, after the garbage keys are found, you can independently specify which of them should be deleted. In automatic mode, Advanced System Care itself will do all the operations and remove unnecessary entries from the registry.
Registry life
Free utility to remove problem keys. It has a very high speed and minimally loaded interface. The program is definitely suitable for those users who do not want to delve into the intricacies of numerous settings.
Unfortunately, Registry Life cannot boast the same functionality as its more famous counterparts. But the program is free, so you won’t lose anything, even if it doesn’t suit you with something.
Auslogics BoostSpeed
Another application for the comprehensive optimization of the operating system, which allows, among other things, to clean the registry. Absolutely in no way inferior to its counterparts and is characterized by high speed, as well as ease of use.
Cleaning the registry in Auslogics BoostSpeed is made in a separate section, which you can easily find in the main menu of the program. In addition, you can use the scheduler built into the utility to set a schedule for automatically performing this operation.
Defragment the registry
In the context of the discussion of registry cleaning, one cannot fail to mention its defragmentation. The meaning of this operation is not to delete the keys, but to sort them, which allows the operating system to quickly access the necessary information.
Most programs for working with the registry defragment it automatically. In the same CCleaner, for example, this function is not placed in a separate section, but is performed simultaneously with cleaning. In addition, there are separate narrowly targeted applications for defragmenting the registry, so that, if necessary, you can use them in parallel with cleaners without problems.