| The Microsoft Windows operating system | | | | taking a long time to boot up it might be |
| contains something called the Computer | | | | because the Registry has become very |
| Registry which is a special database used by | | | | inaccurate or incorrect or badly organised, |
| the operating system to hold information and | | | | so if you are experiencing any of these types |
| settings for all the computers software, | | | | of problem then it might be a good idea to |
| hardware, and user preferences etc. When you | | | | use specialist software to detect and correct |
| make changes via the Windows Control Panel, | | | | problems with your Registry data. |
| or you change file settings or install or | | | | |
| uninstall software these activities all | | | | Such Registry repair software must perform |
| result in information being changed in the | | | | the following basic types of action such as: |
| Registry. | | | | |
| | | | 1 Backup your current registry, just in case |
| As time goes by all these alterations to the | | | | you need to restore the original settings. |
| Registry database can result in some of the | | | | |
| stored information becoming inaccurate or | | | | 2 Detect and remove any remaining uninstalled |
| incorrect or badly organised. As an example, | | | | software information. |
| running the uninstaller software to uninstall | | | | |
| a particular program may not remove all of | | | | 3 Correct and allow you to manage which |
| the information from the Registry for that | | | | programs are run when the operating system |
| program. | | | | starts. |
| | | | |
| Experienced PC users can examine and edit the | | | | 4 Checks that all references such as paths to |
| contents of the Registry via the Registry | | | | programs etc. are valid. |
| Editor program called RegEdit. To run the | | | | |
| RedEdit program click the Windows Start | | | | Many of the Registry cleaning/maintaining |
| button and then select Run from the menu and | | | | programs often allow you to scan your |
| enter regedit in the Open: text entry field | | | | Registry for free to give you a report on any |
| and then press Okay. Please note that | | | | problems, but they will not correct any of |
| altering the Registry incorrectly can cause | | | | the problems that they find. Running one of |
| your computer to have problems or even stop | | | | these free scans will mean you can decide if |
| the Windows operating system from starting. | | | | you need to obtain this type of software to |
| | | | maintain your Registry. |
| If your computer system is running slowly or | | | | |