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Jump to side-by-side comparison. Helping you get the best PC performance possible. What is a Registry? Microsoft describes the Windows Registry as a "central hierarchical database" that Windows Operating Systems (OS) use to store information about application software installed on the computer, hardware that exists on the computer, profiles for each user and other information the operating system accesses while it is running. Why does it need to be cleaned? Whenever new software is installed or removed, shortcuts are added, configuration changes are made or you upgrade or remove hardware, changes are made in the Registry. Even something as simple as adding a new peripheral and installing its drivers will make entries in the registry. Unfortunately, because of the complexity of the Registry and because some software developers don't properly manage Registry modifications, these changes are often not done correctly. As a result, over time, the registry will accumulate information that is no longer needed or is just in error. Since the OS regularly scans through the Registry as it executes commands (such as running a program), erroneous and superfluous information can significantly reduce system performance and may even result in system crashes. For this reason, it is essential to periodically clean and compress your Registry in order to reduce the likelihood of system failure and improve overall system responsiveness. Registry Cleaners When looking for a good Registry Cleaner there are several characteristics that are a must. For example, though periodically cleaning the Registry is essential to maintaining proper system performance, if not done properly, additional errors may be introduced or needed information may inadvertently be removed. For this reason, your Registry Cleaner must not only provide for Registry backup prior to cleaning, it must also permit the selective undoing of changes. Since the Registry is constantly being modified, changes will begin to accumulate almost immediately after the cleaning is finished. Several days later, if it is discovered that an error was introduced during cleaning, Undo will enable you to selectively reverse the error without loosing other changes that have occurred since the cleaning, as would be the case if you just restored the saved registry. In addition, since the OS is regularly navigating the Registry, "holes" that are sometimes left as entries are deleted should be eliminated by compressing the Registry. In addition to these important features, the following table provides a side-by-side comparison of other capabilities of some popular Registry Cleaners and includes links to the products vendors if you care to purchase them. In the interest of full disclosure, I am an affiliate for each of the products compared below (as well as many others). That means that if you buy one of these products, I will get a small commission. One last point. Beware of free offers. Almost no one on the internet wants to help you for free. In case you missed that, I'll say it again. Almost no one on the internet wants to help you for free. As I just mentioned, I get a small commission if you purchase one of the products linked to from my website. I think that's fair. I provide you with information to assist you in making informed purchasing decisions, and I refer you to legitimate merchants who offer quality products that you may purchase. So I should receive a small fee for helping both you and the seller. That's the American way! But again, almost no one wants to help you for free. Free software is usually "bundled" with Adware and Spyware which can, at best, annoy you with unwanted pop-up advertisements and at worst, steal your personal information stored on your computer. For more information about Spyware, see my link at the top of this page. I have done my best to research and evaluate these products as fairly and as correctly as possible, however since these products are constantly being revised, I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the comparison information below. In order to purchase one of these products, you will need to download and run the trial version. When you attempt to register it, you will be prompted to purchase the full version.
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Last modified: October 17, 2008 |
