The registry is essentially the catalog or reference source for the computer. Only those with a meticulous knowledge of computers should attempt to change the registry. If you make a mistake while altering the registry and it isn't backed up, you may lose information critical to the proper performance of your computer.

After you run an antispyware application that deletes active spyware files, you are still left with references to those files in your computer registry. These traces will clog your registry over time, leaving your computer susceptible to failure.

Symptoms of Windows Registry Problems:

Problems with the Windows Registry are a common cause of Windows crashes and error messages. Your PC is likely infected with Windows registry errors if it has ever undergone any of the problems:

• PC runs much slower than when you first bought it • PC keeps crashing at vital times • PC doesn't startup correctly • PC doesn't shutdown correctly • PC needs frequent rebooting • Unable to remove a software using add/remove dialog • Getting the "Blue Screen of Death

The registry records the relationship between hardware, memory space, and addressing. It contains information and settings for all the software, hardware, users, and preferences of the computer. The registry is stored on your computer in several files and depending upon your version of Windows, there will be different files and different locations for these files. The registry keep growing when you use Windows and become corrupted as software and hardware is added and removed from your computer.

To keep your computer in top performance, it is recommended to periodically clean the Windows registry with a reliable and efficient Registry Cleaner. Registry Cleaner is an utility program that scans the Windows Registry and looks for outdated and invalid entries.

In short, the registry cleaner cleans the following:

Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera Temporary files, URL history, cookies, Auto complete form history, index.dat. Windows Temporary files and Log files, recycle bin, recent documents,. Advanced features Removes unused and old entries, including File Extensions, ClassIDs, ProgIDs, Uninstallers, Help Files, Shared DLLs, Fonts ActiveX Controls, Icons, Invalid Shortcuts, Application Paths, and more... Third-party applications Removes temporary files and recent file lists (MRUs) from many apps including Media Player, Kazaa eMule, WinRAR, Google Toolbar, Nero, Adobe Acrobat, WinAce, WinZip, , Netscape, MS Office and many more...

There are dozens of programs on the market that cleans registry, boosts PC's performance, get rid of unwanted material and prevent crashes. Some of the prominent ones are: Error Doctor, Reg Cure, PAL Registry Cleaner, Easy Cleaner, Adv. System Optimizer, Fix-it Utilities, Ace Utilities, Registry Mechanic, Registry Fix, JV16 PowerTools, etc.

A good windows registry clean and repair product should have the following options:

Automatic Scan It is the simplest way to clean up the registry. Automatic Scan is recommended for 'non-technical' users.

Custom Scan One can customize the search and scan Windows registry for particular types of errors (shared DLLs, invalid start-up entries, missing fonts, etc.).

Manual Cleanup After the scan is complete, the program should show a full list of errors with details, broken down by types and let you fix individual invalid entries or all invalid entries of a certain type.

Backup and Undo Before removing an entry from the windows registry, an automatic creation of a backup file should be done, that can be used to undo the changes. This to avoid changes without backup.

Scheduler Schedule the program to scan the registry whenever you start your PC.

Using the registry cleaner software is not a one time fix. One should run it on a regular basis to keep the registry clean and without errors. This will help the stability and speed of windows.