Although we touched on this in an earlier blog post, if you find your computer takes forever to start up, or software applications such as email and internet programs are acting sluggish for no good reason, it may be a good idea to scan and “clean” the registry.
The registry: your computer’s “knowledge base”
The registry is a key component of the Windows operating system (OS), and acts as a “knowledge base” or database that enables the OS to efficiently run every single program and software application on your computer. The registry contains information about virtually everything, right up to control panel settings, user profiles, and drivers for web cameras, printers, keyboards and whatever else it takes to make computing useful and fun.
In fact, every time you install a new software program or device driver on your computer, you’re also installing new files in the registry.
A cluttered registry can affect computer performance
What does this have to do with your computer being sluggish? Well, the OS is constantly accessing registry files to make everything work. Needless to say, if your registry is “cluttered” or not organized efficiently, it may affect PC speed and performance.
In fact, the registry on your computer may even contain a significant amount of unneeded and unnecessary files. Remember, every time you install a new software program or device driver, files are added to the registry. Even if you decide to uninstall and remove unwanted programs, registry files may remain, and this can slow down your computer. Registry files can also become corrupted, which can affect computer speeds.
Cleaning the registry is important, but be sure to seek professional help!
So, to help your computer operate at peak performance, and increase speed and stability, it’s always a good idea to periodically clean the registry. However, it’s never a good idea to make manual changes to the registry. Even IT professionals need to be extremely careful when making changes to the registry.
One small change to the registry may seriously damage your computer.
Even the professionals use programs for registry maintenance
Instead, it’s much safer to use a program that has been specially designed to scan a comprehensive list of registry categories looking for old or corrupted files to clean, repair and get rid of.
In short, it’s a good idea to regularly maintain the registry, but it’s not a good idea to do this maintenance without some help. PC TuneUp Maestro’s System Registry Scan & Clean feature is an easy way to maintain a clean registry and help keep your computer from becoming sluggish.