Registry Maintenance
Although a lot of people had heard about "the registry", a good portion of them do not even have the slightest idea about what it is, what it does and how important it is to them.
Windows registry is a hierarchical database which contains all of the vital system settings as well as third party applications and hardware parameters. Despite the fact that it can be critically damaged, most of the users continue to use their computer without any apparent issues. Once they start to feel the consequences of a highly unoptimized registry, they usually confuse the performance loss with something else.
The information in the registry is stored in the key/value system with each key featuring subkeys that may feature more subkeys and so on. Third party applications also use the registry to store their information. Users who install and uninstall a lot of applications are expanding their registry to a considerable size. Millions of entries can be created and a lot of them will still remain in the registry even after the applications are uninstalled.
Cleaning the registry manually is highly unpractical. A high quality registry cleaner is required to quickly scan through the registry, remove the invalid entries and optimize it further by defragmenting it.
Before the actual cleanup is performed, registry cleaners should create a backup copy of the registry in case that something goes wrong. This is a good measure of precaution even though the top cleaners are highly unlikely to cause more damage to the registry.
Cleaning up the Registry
To cleanup the registry effectively, you will need a high quality cleaner. A quality registry cleaner application must be compact, fast, reliable and effective. Your ideal registry cleaner has a large user base with plenty of testimonials to back it up.
Anything else should be skipped. Rogue cleaners are known to trick users into paying for the full version in order to repair their registries. Although there is nothing wrong with paid registry cleaners, they will actually do what they say unlike the rogue ones which may even cause further damage and infection by additional spyware/malware. Always check for user reviews before installing the application.
Eusing Free Registry Cleaner
Eusing's free registry cleaner is one of the better free cleaners on the market. The application has a large satisfied user base, it is fast, reliable and detects most of the issues within a non optimized registry database.
It can scan for entries of files that are no longer present on the hard drive, invalid third party application entries, links between shared DLL (dynamic link library) files that are no longer required and much more.
Official Website | Features | Download
Wise Registry Cleaner
This cleaner can scan for everything that we've already mentioned, plus help with computer tuneup by optimizing a couple of dozen system parameters to improve the runtime performance as well as system boot up and shut down sequences. It is also capable of defragmenting the registry. A highly recommended product.
Official Website | Features | Download
Registry Defrag
Registries can also be defragmented. In fact, it is highly recommended that you do so after you've cleaned it from invalid entries. Removed sequences will be marked as blank but they will be still there. Registries can become highly fragmented over time causing the computer to require and use more resources while it performs the standard read/write operations.
Eusing Free Registry Defrag
Also coming from the Eusing family of products, Free Registry Defrag can do this for you. The defragmentation process is rather quick. The application is very simple and easy to use with clear step-by-step instructions.
Official Website | Features | Download
Scheduling the Maintenance
Tuneup utilities will feature an additional module dedicated to repairing, cleaning and optimizing the registry by defragmenting it. PC repair utilities can be configured to regularly optimize your computer by automatically performing tasks that you would normally do by hand.
Users should be able to schedule complete operating system maintenance and use their time in a more productive way.