Download Free Registry Cleaners
Before you download a free registry cleaner maybe you should read this! On PCs running the Windows operating system, the registry is a database within a set of files that stores information about programs that are loaded on your Windows PC as well as Windows itself.
In addition the registry contains information about machine and user configuration settings.
Programs add information to the registry as they are installed.
During regular use of many programs they will store information in the registry as well.
For example, I am sure a number of the programs you use remember the most recently used files.
This frequently shows up as a list underneath the file menu for the program.
It is common to store this list of files in the registry.
Each time the program starts it retrieves this list from the registry and displays it for you.
As you access new files it adds them to the list and stores them in the registry.
And as a result, over time the registry becomes larger.
Often programs don't properly remove data from the registry during use.
Frequently when programs are uninstalled the program may leave information in the registry.
Running registry cleaners on later versions Windows systems such as Windows XP or Windows Vista may not result in a measurable performance gain, but older versions of Windows such as Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows ME may benefit from reducing the size of the registry.
However, even if you do not realize a performance gain from a registry cleaner, there is something to be said for "cleaning up" the registry.
But some programs use the registry for surreptitious purposes.
Viruses, adware, spyware, and malware may put information in your registry that will, at best, annoy you, and at worst cause harm to your computer system or steal valuable personal information.
The registry is also used by the Windows operating system when the system starts up.
The registry contains information about which programs and services the system will run at startup time.
If a virus, adware, spyware, or malware program infects your computer, it may insert information into the registry to start up each time you run your computer.
Sometimes it is difficult to detect.
And even the most knowledgeable of users will sometimes find it hard to identify legitimate entries in the registry from bogus ones.
Most anti-virus programs will scan the registry for viruses, but may not attempt to detect adware, spyware, and some malware.
Free Registry Cleaners There are some free registry cleaners available, but beware.
Some alleged registry cleaners (masquerading under a number of different names) are in fact malware.
Be sure and thoroughly check out any freeware registry cleaners before you unleash them on your system.
Even if it is free, or maybe especially because it is free, only download software written by reputable vendors.
And only download software from reliable websites.
You may have to do some internet searching to verify the credentials of the software and sites, but the effort spent can save you much grief and heartache.
If your browser (e.
g.
Firefox and Internet Explorer) has security settings to check websites, make sure you turn on those options before visiting websites and downloading software.
There are also toolbars for your browser that can warn of malicious websites.
In addition the registry contains information about machine and user configuration settings.
Programs add information to the registry as they are installed.
During regular use of many programs they will store information in the registry as well.
For example, I am sure a number of the programs you use remember the most recently used files.
This frequently shows up as a list underneath the file menu for the program.
It is common to store this list of files in the registry.
Each time the program starts it retrieves this list from the registry and displays it for you.
As you access new files it adds them to the list and stores them in the registry.
And as a result, over time the registry becomes larger.
Often programs don't properly remove data from the registry during use.
Frequently when programs are uninstalled the program may leave information in the registry.
Running registry cleaners on later versions Windows systems such as Windows XP or Windows Vista may not result in a measurable performance gain, but older versions of Windows such as Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows ME may benefit from reducing the size of the registry.
However, even if you do not realize a performance gain from a registry cleaner, there is something to be said for "cleaning up" the registry.
But some programs use the registry for surreptitious purposes.
Viruses, adware, spyware, and malware may put information in your registry that will, at best, annoy you, and at worst cause harm to your computer system or steal valuable personal information.
The registry is also used by the Windows operating system when the system starts up.
The registry contains information about which programs and services the system will run at startup time.
If a virus, adware, spyware, or malware program infects your computer, it may insert information into the registry to start up each time you run your computer.
Sometimes it is difficult to detect.
And even the most knowledgeable of users will sometimes find it hard to identify legitimate entries in the registry from bogus ones.
Most anti-virus programs will scan the registry for viruses, but may not attempt to detect adware, spyware, and some malware.
Free Registry Cleaners There are some free registry cleaners available, but beware.
Some alleged registry cleaners (masquerading under a number of different names) are in fact malware.
Be sure and thoroughly check out any freeware registry cleaners before you unleash them on your system.
Even if it is free, or maybe especially because it is free, only download software written by reputable vendors.
And only download software from reliable websites.
You may have to do some internet searching to verify the credentials of the software and sites, but the effort spent can save you much grief and heartache.
If your browser (e.
g.
Firefox and Internet Explorer) has security settings to check websites, make sure you turn on those options before visiting websites and downloading software.
There are also toolbars for your browser that can warn of malicious websites.
