Tuesday, October 14, 2008
How to fix the windows registry
What are the signs of a registry problem?
One of the most common and hard-to-fix causes of a computer not functioning correctly is if there’s a problem with its registry. Symptoms of registry problems are fairly typical computer problems: slow loading times, constant freezing, instability and crashing.
What is the Registry?
Basically, the registry is something that every Windows system has and contains information on all of your software settings and configurations. The registry is central to your computer’s performance so if there’s something wrong with the registry, chances are you computer won’t function correctly. Unfortunately, the registry is extremely delicate; if you delete one of the countless .dat or .ini files contained within the countless registry subfolders, the entire system can be irrevocably ruined. Even if you haven’t tampered with the registry subfolders directly, it doesn’t mean that they haven’t been corrupted indirectly. Every time you download, install or install a program, an entry (often an unnecessary entry) will be entered into the registry; over time this useless entries compound, causing the system to get clogged up with them, hence making it run a slower and less smoothly.
Paths to fixing the registry
The manual way (i.e. the hard way)
Since the registry is so fragile, fixing it manually is generally a tasked reserved for professionals, and even they view it as a measure of last resort. You need a wealth of technical expertise to even make an attempt at this so I won’t canvass it here and even if I did, it still would not be a good idea to try it.
The easy (and recommended) way
Even though the registry is central to computer performance and so fragile, damage to it is, fortunately enough, easily reversible. There is a lot of reputable software out there (known as ‘registry cleaners’) that are built specifically for this purpose; it’s simply a matter of loading the software and letting it do its thing. Many find that a registry clean with a registry cleaner restores their computer to full functionality, even computers that are seemingly useless because of the abundance of registry errors. In the interest of maintaining functionality in the long run, many registry cleaners offer periodic registry cleaner so that the whole process is completely automated.
One of the most common and hard-to-fix causes of a computer not functioning correctly is if there’s a problem with its registry. Symptoms of registry problems are fairly typical computer problems: slow loading times, constant freezing, instability and crashing.
What is the Registry?
Basically, the registry is something that every Windows system has and contains information on all of your software settings and configurations. The registry is central to your computer’s performance so if there’s something wrong with the registry, chances are you computer won’t function correctly. Unfortunately, the registry is extremely delicate; if you delete one of the countless .dat or .ini files contained within the countless registry subfolders, the entire system can be irrevocably ruined. Even if you haven’t tampered with the registry subfolders directly, it doesn’t mean that they haven’t been corrupted indirectly. Every time you download, install or install a program, an entry (often an unnecessary entry) will be entered into the registry; over time this useless entries compound, causing the system to get clogged up with them, hence making it run a slower and less smoothly.
Paths to fixing the registry
The manual way (i.e. the hard way)
Since the registry is so fragile, fixing it manually is generally a tasked reserved for professionals, and even they view it as a measure of last resort. You need a wealth of technical expertise to even make an attempt at this so I won’t canvass it here and even if I did, it still would not be a good idea to try it.
The easy (and recommended) way
Even though the registry is central to computer performance and so fragile, damage to it is, fortunately enough, easily reversible. There is a lot of reputable software out there (known as ‘registry cleaners’) that are built specifically for this purpose; it’s simply a matter of loading the software and letting it do its thing. Many find that a registry clean with a registry cleaner restores their computer to full functionality, even computers that are seemingly useless because of the abundance of registry errors. In the interest of maintaining functionality in the long run, many registry cleaners offer periodic registry cleaner so that the whole process is completely automated.
A quick guide to computer repair
There's nothing quite as annoying as being stuck in the middle of a task on the computer - be it a research report for work or just a regular chat session - only to have it freeze up, slow down intolerably or just plain crash. Unfortunately, computers can be tricky machines at the best of times so pinpointing (let alone fixing) the problem can be a daunting task. Here are some of the most common problems and how you can fix them.
Viruses
This is a big one. Viruses usually take the form of .exe files and are basically malicious software specifically engineered to destroy your computer. The best way to fight these is via preventative measures. First thing you should (if you haven't already) is install a reputable anti-virus software. The main problem with all the big name anti-virus programs out there is that a lot of viruses are specifically designed to bypass these programs because of their popularity. Personally, I recommend AVG - many people a lot more tech-savvy than I swear by it. When you get a decent anti-virus program you should regularly scan your computer or program the anti-virus software to regularly scan your computer for you if it has that feature (it probably will). Another way you can prevent viruses is simply by being extra cautious about what you download (especially if it's a .exe file, though viruses aren't limited to .exe files).
Fragmented hard drive
Over time, your hard drive may become fragmented, thereby slowing down your computer. You should therefore de-fragment your computer every few weeks or so. Just go to the start menu à accessories à system tools à disk defragmenter.
Overheating
Computers can generate a lot of heat, especially if they're left on for long periods of time. A simple way to combat this is just to turn off your computer for a while and give it time to 'cool off'. If overheating is a recurring issue, you might want to look into investing in a larger cooling fan for your computer.
A corrupted registry
The most common computer problem BY FAR is a corrupted registry. In a nutshell, the registry basically stores all the information of all your computer's settings and configurations. Aside from being infinitely complex, the registry is also extremely fragile - tamper with one of the countless .dat or .ini files contained within its countless subfolders and you might just cripple your computer to the point where it's unusable. You don't even need to open the registry to corrupt it. Every time you install or uninstall something, another (probably useless) entry is added into the registry. Over time, these superfluous entries build up, slowing down your computer to no end. In many cases, all the computer needs is a simple registry scan to bring it back up to full functionality.
If the problem isn't immediately apparent, just go through the list I've set out above systematically. Chances are you'll find your problem and fix it. Easy is as easy does.
Viruses
This is a big one. Viruses usually take the form of .exe files and are basically malicious software specifically engineered to destroy your computer. The best way to fight these is via preventative measures. First thing you should (if you haven't already) is install a reputable anti-virus software. The main problem with all the big name anti-virus programs out there is that a lot of viruses are specifically designed to bypass these programs because of their popularity. Personally, I recommend AVG - many people a lot more tech-savvy than I swear by it. When you get a decent anti-virus program you should regularly scan your computer or program the anti-virus software to regularly scan your computer for you if it has that feature (it probably will). Another way you can prevent viruses is simply by being extra cautious about what you download (especially if it's a .exe file, though viruses aren't limited to .exe files).
Fragmented hard drive
Over time, your hard drive may become fragmented, thereby slowing down your computer. You should therefore de-fragment your computer every few weeks or so. Just go to the start menu à accessories à system tools à disk defragmenter.
Overheating
Computers can generate a lot of heat, especially if they're left on for long periods of time. A simple way to combat this is just to turn off your computer for a while and give it time to 'cool off'. If overheating is a recurring issue, you might want to look into investing in a larger cooling fan for your computer.
A corrupted registry
The most common computer problem BY FAR is a corrupted registry. In a nutshell, the registry basically stores all the information of all your computer's settings and configurations. Aside from being infinitely complex, the registry is also extremely fragile - tamper with one of the countless .dat or .ini files contained within its countless subfolders and you might just cripple your computer to the point where it's unusable. You don't even need to open the registry to corrupt it. Every time you install or uninstall something, another (probably useless) entry is added into the registry. Over time, these superfluous entries build up, slowing down your computer to no end. In many cases, all the computer needs is a simple registry scan to bring it back up to full functionality.
If the problem isn't immediately apparent, just go through the list I've set out above systematically. Chances are you'll find your problem and fix it. Easy is as easy does.
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