The registry is where your computer stores details about its hardware and software, and if you have hundreds of programs installed on your machine, it can get quite cluttered. The more cluttered it becomes, the slower your computer will run, and that’s why periodically cleaning your registry can be very beneficial to both the speed of your PC and its overall performance in general. If you need some extra convincing, here are the top five reasons to clean your registry.
1) Uninstall Applications Safely
To uninstall applications, you can use the menu bar or the Applications folder. To remove individual apps, click and hold on the icon until it starts to wiggle. Click on the X in the top left corner of the icon and then click Move to Trash. If you have a folder full of icons that need to be removed, click and drag them all into your Trash. Empty your Trash by selecting Empty Trash from this same menu bar. Finally, when done with all of this, select Quit Finder.
2) Delete Browser Hijackers
Browser hijackers are a common problem on computers, and they can make your browsing experience really difficult to navigate. They typically come with advertising pop-ups and search engines that redirect you to other sites when you type something in the address bar. If this sounds like something you’re experiencing, it may be time to take a look at what’s lurking in your registry.
Windows 10 has some built-in features that will help clean up your registry. However, if these don’t work for you or aren’t enough, then there are a few other options available as well. One such option is using CCleaner—a free program which automatically removes any files that might be slowing down your computer or causing crashes.
3) Optimize Startup Programs
Startup programs are programs that load automatically when your computer starts up. Startup programs can be helpful but they also can slow down your startup time and increase the chance of system errors. Start by closing all of the programs you don’t need open at startup. There is a program called Autoruns which will show you what is loading, and to disable it click Disable. To do this, go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Autoruns.
Another way is to use msconfig, which will show you all the items that start up with Windows and how each item loads when your computer starts up.
4) Remove Malware From the Registry
Malware can be anything from a virus, to spyware, to a Trojan horse. There are many different ways it can get on your computer and the registry is one of them. It’s not always possible to tell when you have malware on your system but there are some indications that may point towards it. Keep reading for five signs that your computer has malware in its registry.
5) Fix Corrupted Files
One of the most common causes of performance issues, corrupt files often start appearing when your computer has been running for long periods of time without a restart. These problems will make it hard to run new programs or access old ones and can result in freezing, crashing and blue screens of death. To fix these errors, you can use a registry cleaner to scan through your computer and pinpoint any problem areas. You can also use a disk utility program like Disk Scanner to find and repair corrupted files on your hard drive.
