by Lizzy Cornwell

Created on: February 18, 2010   Last Updated: February 22, 2010

Most computer users have heard of the Windows registry and are aware that registry errors can cause computer slow-downs. That's why the first thing a lot of people do when they notice their computer becoming slow is download a registry cleaner. Any registry cleaner. And that's a big mistake, because a lot of registry cleaners can do more harm than good.

The Internet is full of various ads prompting you to download the best ever registry cleaner that will solve all computer problems in five seconds. Unfortunately, that's not always true. In fact, that's not true most of the time, because those magical registry cleaners are often loaded with viruses and spyware or are so poorly made, that they seriously damage your computer. So the question is - which are the best PC registry cleaners? To be able to determine which registry cleaner is reliable and which is not, you need to understand what the Windows registry is and what should good registry cleaning software do.

The registry is one of the most vital part of any Windows computer. Basically, it's a complicated database that stores all Windows settings and options - all hardware, operating system, and software information, and all user settings. Some registry entries are absolutely essential and the computer will not boot if they are missing. Just like any other database, the registry accumulates outdated and useless data. Imagine that the registry is a library. It's not a problem to find the book you need if all books are catalogued and are standing on their assigned shelves, but you will never find what you need if it's either missing or is in the wrong place. Same goes for the registry - if it's cluttered and bloated, your computer will slow down because it will need a lot more time to find references in the registry.  So whenever you install and uninstall hardware and software, create and delete files, browse the web, and so on, you add stuff to the registry. When you remove software and files, some registry references might get left behind and that's how the registry becomes cluttered with invalid and corrupted entries. A registry cleaner removes all invalid registry entries, which helps your computer find what it's looking for a lot quicker. That's why you need to clean the registry every once in a while.

To choose a good registry cleaner, you have to keep certain things in mind:

• the registry cleaner should come from a reputable software developer

• the registry cleaner should offer you to

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