Why do I need to clean the Windows registry?

The Windows registry is a kind of database that stores all information about the operating system: hardware and software settings, changes in user accounts, and file and folder properties . Its function - Ensuring the normal operation of the software and hardware components of the PC. The correctness of the information contained in the registry entries depends on the operation of the entire operating system, because it constantly draws here for new data during operation, as well as when loading or shutting down.

The structure of the registry is hierarchical. The main (root) section contains more "small" subsections: parameters and keys. The total number of root partitions is five, each of them is responsible for a certain area of the operating system. The registry itself is stored in the system folder Windows, but you can edit it using the built-in utility Regedit, as well as using special programs of third-party developers.

The question arises: "Why edit the registry entries?" As mentioned above, all information about the system and the changes that have occurred in it are stored here. However, it often happens that, for example, when uninstalling a program, not all entries about it are deleted, and thus a lot of unnecessary information accumulates over time in the registry. Consequently, because of the increased load, Windows starts to "brake". Therefore, the system needs periodic cleaning of the registry.

And you can do this in one of two ways:

1. Special programs, which a great many: good and not very, paid and free. The most popular and tested are CCleaner, RegCleaner, Auslogics Registry Cleaner, TuneUp Utilities.

However, quite often after the program cleaning of the registry was performed , the system starts to give unusual errors, some applications cease to run. This is due to the incorrect configuration of the cleaner program.

2. With your own hands.

Often it happens that even a specialized program does not delete all unnecessary records, it is necessary to "clean up" it, otherwise it does not. However, if you are a novice user and do not have any idea about the device operating system, then such an independent "registry cleaning" is surely expensive for you. Sometimes after an unsuccessful attempt, you even have to reinstall Windows.

So, let's figure out how to clear the registry of Windows 7 / Vista / XP from the remnants of the components of remote programs? Hit Win + R or "Start - Run", in the dropped line, type Regedit, Then Enter. Before you clean the registry, make sure to make a backup copy in case of unforeseen complications: in the "File" tab we find the item "Export" and save it with the extension .reg. Now we can start editing and cleaning. Click on the "Computer", then go to the search menu by pressing Ctrl + F. In the window that appears, enter the name of the program whose entries you want to delete. All results will be displayed in the opened window (usually the entries for the installed programs are stored in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software section). You can proceed with their removal. Manual registry cleanup is complete. Always remember that the action taken in the Registry Editor can not be undone.