Registry Errors

• Through normal use, your computer's registry gradually becomes filled with instructions that are no longer necessary. This can happen when you change a program's settings or when you uninstall a program. The leftover bits of information provide commands to the computer that are no longer necessary or are even contradictory. Sifting through all of these false files to find the proper information slows your computer.
  
  

Cleaning

• You can manually clean your registry using the integrated Windows registry editor. This process is, however, extremely complicated and could easily cause system instability since the registry holds all of your computer's settings. It is much easier to use one of the multitude of free registry cleaning software programs available on the Internet.
  
  

Software

• The CNET editors recommend Piriform's CCleaner, WiseCleaner's Registry Cleaner Free and Auslogic's Registry Cleaner, among several others (see Resources). All three work equally well and use very simple, intuitive interfaces.