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. Continue reading...