What is the Windows Registry?
How do Registry Problems Arise?
The Registry
The Microsoft Windows Registry is a hierarchical database used to store all the information that the operating system needs to function. The Registry was first introduced in Windows 95 and replaced most of the text-based .ini files that were used in Windows 3.x and MS-DOS, such as the Autoexec.bat and Config.sys. Although the Registry is common to several Windows operating systems it has been developed over the years along with Windows itself.
The Windows registry is thus the “brains” of the operating system. It contains all the information relating to the PC’s configuration, users and their permissions, the hardware and the software installed. This database is constantly being updated whilst the computer is in use and when programs are installed/uninstalled and hardware added/removed.
When the Windows installation is new the registry is uncluttered and error free which means that the PC runs fast and efficiently. However, overtime the registry increases in size as it gets filled will redundant, incomplete and possibly corrupt entries. The results can be the PC:
- becoming slow to startup
- running slowly
- freezing or crashing
- displaying odd error messages
- displaying unwanted pop-ups
- displaying ‘Unable to load’ .dll errors.
Of course a slow computer can have causes other than registry problems see “Fix My Slow Computer“.
How do Registry Problems Arise?
If you were to just use a PC for, say, web browsing and word processing it is unlikely that windows registry problems would arise. But most users often install new software packages and utilities and then maybe uninstall them and try something else. Whilst day to day activities will have an effect on the registry, it is installing and particularly uninstalling software that can cause problems. An installation may overwrite an existing registry entry and affect another program whilst an uninstall may delete an entry required by another program (especially if you don’t take care with any warnings). Some programs do not uninstall completely leaving remnants to cause registry problems. Registry problems can also result from partially installed programs caused by an interrupted installation. The outcome is missing or corrupt files which cause an error (or worse).
In addition, there is also always the danger that installing free programs downloaded from the internet may result in malicious damage to the registry.
How to fix Registry Problems
It is possible for an expert to edit the registry manually but unless you are 100% sure that you know what you are doing you should not attempt this. Making incorrect changes could render your PC unusable. For most people the obvious option is a software package designed for this purpose. See the following:
Will Registry Repair Software Fix Windows Registry Problems?
