How to Clean the Computer Registry

Level of difficulty: Easy

The computer registry is regarded as a catalog of every piece of information regarding the computer, as well as all the software that had been installed in the machine. This computer database can however become corrupted with the entry of viruses and spyware which can be manifested by slowdowns and computer errors. There are two main ways in cleaning a corrupted registry. These are by manually cleaning the registry with the use of the Registry Editor or with the use of software designed specifically for cleaning the registry.

Materials Needed:
- Windows computer
- TweakNow Regcleaner
- Norton
- Registry Mechanic
- Registry Healer
Step 1
Prior to cleaning the registry, the user must first create a backup of the registry in the event that something goes wrong in the cleaning process. The backup can allow the user to start over the process in case an important file has been accidentally removed from the registry.
Step 2
Proceed to the desktop function and left click on the 'Start' button on the bottom left corner of the computer.
Step 3
Click on the 'Run' function to enable the opening of a new window where the user can enter and type the particular command, folder, Internet resource, file or Window the user desires to run.
Step 4
Next, type 'regedit' in the command window box and then click the 'OK' sign just below it.
Step 5
Once the OK sign has been clicked, the user’s registry editor window will appear. Click on 'File' on the topmost portion of the new window created and then go down to 'Export' to export the registry file. To create a backup for the current registry, enter a name for the registry file exported and then save it on the desktop or at any other place where the user can easily locate it.
Step 6
Once the backup registry has been created, review the computer’s configuration by first looking down at the left portion of the registry window at the folders. A directory that contains a list of various folders with various names such as 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER', 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE' or 'HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT' can be seen.
Step 7
Click on the 'plus' sign located just next to the folder to enable you to have a wider view of this particular portion of the registry editor. Usually, the 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE' folder is the folder cleaned up when cleaning the registry manually. This same folder is also used as the folder where the user changes the hardware and software registry.
Step 8
Once the resizing has been completed, the confirmation of the correct partition may be conducted using the 'print' command. After a successful repartitioning, type 'exit'.