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The windows registry contains lots of information. It's consistency can be
checked with good commercial programs like Symantec™ System Works. But there
are some small things I miss with those programs. Here's what SpyBot-S&D
searches for:
- Missing help files – 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 – 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 – 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 – every program that has it's own
uninstall routine stores some information about it in the registry. If this
information is incorrect, Spybot-S&D will tell. For example, the uninstall
program may have been located inside a temp directory (there are lots of
programs that stupid!).
- Broken Desktop Links – if one of the links on your desktop links
to a file that no longer exists, 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 these items can corrupt your
system! If you are not sure whether a setting is really a problem, it is
better leave to it alone!
This warning especially applies if you use Microsoft Office™. This software
suite has some registry entries pointing to 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" basis.
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