Windows 7

Are you trying to clean up your Windows XP registry? This article is intended to give you an overview of what “cleaning your registry” would entail. To be specific, I will go over how to check for errors within the registry files, instructions on backing up a registry, and how to fix some of the errors you might find.

1: Look For Error – Empty Registry Keys

Microsoft has been nice enough to include a registry viewer within Windows XP. They did not get to original with the name, it is simply known as RegEdit. Here is the easiest way to access it:

Start -> Run -> Type Regedit and hit enter

You should now see the registry editor on your screen. If you are not familiar with how it works or how to edit your registry, you should contemplate using third party software that will do it for you.

You should be extremely careful about what software you are using. Since most people who utilize these forms are software are not experts and may already be having problems with their windows registry, people who create malicious software like to disguise them as windows registry cleaners. If you do your research and find a good one though, it will do what it is intended and will scan your registry and show you the errors it is finding.

2: Backup your registry!

Windows XP has a great little handy tool. It is called the Windows System Restore. The way it works is that it will take your computer back to a certain day and time of your choosing. Naturally, the Windows Restore will do it once everyday. However, it is a good idea to manually place a Restore Point as well just before altering any of your registries.

You can do this by doing the following:

Click Start -> Help and Support -> Click on “Create a new restore point” button

You will be asked a few questions, for example, the name, and description. It is a good idea to fill all of it out for later use.

3: Repair, correct, and delete parts of your Windows Registry

The Windows XP Registry now needs to have some alterations made. The software you used should have let you know what you need to do. You have your backup and are ready to what you need to do to make your computer run more smoothly. You should go ahead and delete the items that the software tells you to. Remember, you have a backup if need be.

The software you utilized, if it is any good, should tell you which items need to be left alone and which ones should be altered. Remember, if something looks to be important; do not touch it, regardless of what the registry cleaning software told you to do. You are better off leaving something that does not need to be there in the registry than you are removing something that was vital to the operating system.

Once you have made all the corrections, you should reboot your computer. It will be the first big test to see if everything is good with your computer. It is not uncommon to see some new text display when you boot up for the first time as windows goes through the registry. You should read it and see if it can be determined that something was deleted that should not have been.

If you run into any major problems, you should utilize your system restore backup to bring your computer back to where it was prior to making the changes in your registry.

Above instruction shows you how to edit the registry manually. The better thing is, there are some windows registry cleanup tools available to download for FREE. From my experience, only fews are working with the very good results. Come to see the filtered list of windows registry clean up tools at Scan Windows Registry.

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