Computer Registry Cleaner
and Anti-Virus Software?
Will a Windows Registry Scan detect Viruses?
All computers connected to the internet should ideally have anti-virus software, a firewall, anti-spam software, anti-spyware software and a Computer registry cleaner to enable a windows registry scan (see “Our Recommendations”).
Anti-Virus and Computer Registry Cleaner software have different functionality but they work well together. You may need Computer Registry software but you definitely need Anti-Virus software.
A computer virus is a software program designed to destroy or steal data. It attacks computers through email attachments, software downloads, and even some types of advanced web scripting. Viruses that destroy data are known as Trojan horses, viruses that explode their attacks are called bombs, and viruses that duplicate themselves are called worms. Some viruses are a combination of each. To protect a computer from getting a virus, or clean a virus from a computer system once infected requires the use of an anti-virus utility. However, anti-virus software will not run a windows registry scan and will do nothing about problems in the registry (see “What is the Windows Registry”).
A computer registry cleaner will run a windows registry scan to check the keys and values in the registry and report (then offer to delete) any invalid, redundant or corrupt data which may affect the operation of the PC. It may also defragment the problem registry to make it more efficient. A computer registry cleaner usually also includes additional System Tune-up options including memory tweaking and other housecleaning utilities but these do not include general anti-virus functionality.
A good computer registry cleaner will allow you to backup the registry and will also do this automatically after running the windows registry scan but before running a registry repair (i.e. before making any changes to the registry). This means that you can restore the old information if you experience problems afterwards. This is very important – whereas anti-virus software can be left to run in the background you must ensure that a backup is taken before running a registry repair.
You may have been heard stories where people have said that registry cleaners “trashed” their PC whilst they were trying to clean their registry or that one or more programs would not run after using a computer registry cleaner. This may be true but given the size of the market the number complaining is a very small proportion. There are numerous registry products out there and you will see more negative comments about popular products but this is inevitable given the very fact that they are popular. Providing you are careful about backing up your registry there is no need to worry about running a windows registry scan and repair (see “If I Clean My PC Registry Could I Damage My PC?”)
Your registry is the most important part of your operating system and it is worth getting a good registry cleaner from a reputable vendor which will run a through windows registry scan (see “Our Recommendations”).
