Windows Registry – What Is It?
So what exactly is this mysterious Windows registry we hear so much about?
And why is it so important?
Every Windows based PC has a database at the heart of it’s workings, known as the registry.
This contains data files relating to every aspect of your computer, hardware, software, user files, everything.
Every time that you ask your PC to perform any action the registry will be called on to reference the correct data, so you can imagine how important that makes it to the smooth running of a computer.
As you use your computer some of the data is constantly changing and being updated, you will be adding fresh files every time you make a change to any configuration, or install new programs.
Then as you uninstall programs areas of the registry are left blank, these get filled in randomly as new data is added, so not all the files relating to one aspect will be found together and when they are called on it takes just a little longer to access them.
Sometimes uninstalling can leave behind damaged or invalid areas in the registry which again make it work harder and slower.
At the start of it’s life it will be relatively small, neatly organized and easy to find things in.
As time goes on there’s so much data being stored, no longer in sequence, there’s gaps where info has been removed, there’s damaged areas where files were uninstalled badly, it takes so much longer than it used to to find the correct info.
Imagine it as a filing cabinet, neat and well organized with little paperwork to begin with, a year later there might be so many papers stuffed in any old place, spilling out onto the floor, crumpled into a corner, how long would it take you to pull up the right file?
So as the registry becomes larger and less carefully structured your computer becomes slower to respond.
In the main it’s not a big deal, but if you want tip-top performance, or maybe if there are other issues as well then the slow down will become a problem that needs fixing.
And sometimes the registry errors can be more serious, even system threatening.
If you are starting to see dll file error messages, getting freezes or hanging constantly when using certain programs it’s likely down to registry problems.
To fix computer registry problems manually is really best left to the experts.
It is possible to go in through Regedit, and delete registry keys but make a mistake and you could have serious operating system problems on your hands.
The recommended solution is to use registry repair software, which will scan the registry files, detect all the damaged and problem areas, and then usually offer an automated fixing.
Not all registry tools are equally good, in fact some can do more harm than good so do be careful in your choice.
The best registry cleaners have other tools and optimizing utilities as well as the registry repair facility, and can give your PC an all round tuneup.
