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The windows registry contains lots of information. Ités consistency can be
checked with good commercial programs like SymantecÖ System Works. But there
are some small things I miss with those programs. Here's what SpyBot-S&D
searches for:
- Missing help files û the registry contains information about the
location of some help files. If those information points to incorrect
directories, SpyBot-S&D will tell and allow to fix.
- Missing shared DLLs û the registry contains a list of dynamic
link libraries, where they are located and how many programs use them.
SpyBot-S&D checks if all locations are correct and allows to change
them if not.
- Application paths û some applications (mostly those registered to
a file extension) are registered in the registry. If they are pointing to a
no longer existent program file, SpyBot-S&D can change their path or
delete their entry.
- Wrong Uninstall information û every program that has it's own
uninstall routine stores some information about it in the registry. If those
information is incorrect, e.g. because the uninstall program was located
inside a temp directory (there are lots of programs that stupid!),
SpyBot-S&D will tell (and allow a change in future versions).
- Broken Desktop Links û if one of the links on your desktop links
to a file that is no longer existent, Spybot-S&D will tell you and allow
you to either point the link to another file or delete it.
Warning: Please be aware that changes to this items can corrupt your
system! If you are not sure whether a setting is really a problem, better leave
it alone!
Especially Microsoft OfficeÖ has some registry entries pointing the wrong
directories and some even pointing to non-existent help files. I've changed
the first, but I wouldn't delete the second kind of, because they may well
point to files that will be installed on that "Install on first use" base.
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