Windows Registry errors can cause serious problems requiring the reinstallation of your operating system and possible loss of data. Use the Windows Registry Editor and the following directions at your own risk.
What is the windows registry?
The Windows Registry is a database that stores critical information and settings for all the hardware, software, users, and preferences on your Windows PC.
Over time, the registry grows and can become corrupted as software and hardware is added and removed from your computer. This corruption can occur for many reasons including being left-behind after the un-installation or incorrect removal of software, by missing or corrupt hardware drivers, or orphaned startup programs.
These registry errors usually lead to slow unpredictable operation and can cause crashes for no reason or PCs that refuse to startup at all.
Accessing the windows registry
Currently, there are two registry-editing programs, Regedit and Regedt32. Windows 95/98/Me use the 16-bit version, Regedit, while Windows NT, 2000 and XP use both versions. Regedit, the 16-bit version, offers faster searches, while Regedt32, the 32-bit version, allows you to prevent automatic saving. To start either program, click Start>>Run and enter the command regedit or regedt32, depending on which one you want to use.
Backing up the windows registry
Backing up the registry is tricky since many of its parts are constantly in use by Windows. Trying to back up the registry while Windows is accessing the registry can cause a sharing violation. To solve this issue, Windows NT and Windows 2000 Resource Kits offer two programs: RegBack.exe to back up the registry and RegRest.exe to restore the registry. Windows XP has the System Restore utility. A Windows Emergency Repair Disk can also be used as a registry backup, if it was updated recently using the RDISK utility. In addition, there are many third party utilities, such as Roxio's Go Back, that will back up your registry.
Error Nuke - The free tool to repair the Windows Registry
Error Nuker identifies the precise problems in your Windows registry so you can determine exactly what your PC is suffering from. Even if your PC is perfectly fine, you should try the diagnostics tool if you want to avoid serious problems before they happen.
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Best of all you can keep the tool and find out if your PC has problems for free as often as you like.
