|
|
|
Registry Cleaner and Registry SnapshotOver time, the windows database "the registry" in which Windows and other applications store information can begin to hold data that is no longer valid. Such information links points to a location where there was a file, but the file is no longer there. Often such invalid links occur because programs uninstalled do not completely remove their registry entries, programs were not correctly uninstalled by the user, a user views a file attached to email without saving them to disk first, and applications have been moved without uninstalling and reinstalling them. This invalid data eventually begins to clutter your Registry, slowing Windows down and causing other possible problems. The Registry Cleaner and Fixer will cleanup and streamline your Registry by finding and removing these invalid data references. Invalid links are common in system registry, and it is always a good idea to clean them out regularly. How to use Registry Cleaner and FixerThe default options of Registry Cleaner and Fixer are best. You only have to press the Start button and it will start its hard work. It will search the entire registry for a links pointing to a file and then searching your hard disk for that file. Registry Cleaner and Fixer is the only tool that has intellisense search technology. It will show you in a well formatted list the registry key name, with its invalid file name. You can at any time stop the search process by pressing the stop button. After the search is complete Registry Cleaner and Fixer will show you a complete list of invalid registry keys it has found. You can then check the items you want to delete or press select all to select all the items and press the delete button to delete the keys. An undo file is created whenever you delete an item from Registry. You can manage your undo information by pressing the Undo button and can selectively undo any items. You can set options in Registry Cleaner and Fixer for what to scan in the registry. They are described as follows: Activex OLE COM Sections Registry Cleaner and Fixer will search for currently installed COM and Activex objects. Please note that searching Activex OLE COM sections can take several minutes. Registry Cleaner and Fixer is the only tool that does complete heuristic analysis of Activex OLE COM sections as they are interlinked and interdependent. User Software Settings Registry Cleaner and Fixer will search for software settings of current logged in user. System Registry is divided into two parts per user settings and settings for system as a whole. So only the currently logged in user settings will be searched for invalid references. System Software Settings Registry Cleaner and Fixer will search for all the system software settings. They are not for current user but are applicable for whole system. Most of the Windows stuff is hidden here. Searching System Software Settings can take several minutes. Shared DLL's Section Registry Cleaner and Fixer will search for orphan reference to System Shared DllÆs. Windows keeps list of system Dlls with there path in registry. Some times due to installation / uninstallation of software it may contain invalid reference links. Fonts Section Many users install new font faces and remove them if they do not like it. Many software comes bundled with there own fonts. Windows store each reference to a font in the registry. If it is not cleaned regularly, Windows can get confuse and start showing different font faces instead of what you expect. Invalid File Associations Windows remembers which program to use to open what type of files. Example notepad to open text files. This is known as file associations. Sometimes a file association is created but its opening program is removed or deleted. Thus windows gets confused when you open these files or will show icon associated with the program, with the program no longer installed. Registry Cleaner and Fixer will search for such invalid file associations and report them to you. Sound and Appevents Windows gives you facility to associate an application event with a sound event. Like a ding dong sound you hear when Application shows you a Message Box. If a sound file used for that event is missing Applications and Windows have to wait in confusion and sometimes may show incorrect results. Such as playing irregular sounds. Virtual Device Drivers and Services Device Drivers are important software files that Windows loads into memory when it starts up in order to support specific hardware like printers. Symptoms of having invalid device drivers include messages upon startup similar to: "This file is either referenced in your Registry or your Win.ini... You should either remove this reference or reinstall this fileÆs associated application...". Sometimes if a problem is too graved windows can failed to start up normally. Application Paths Section Many applications store there programs association with their installed directory. Sometimes they are moved or changes such reference keep cluttering the registry. When ever you launch a program Windows first search Application Paths Section. Missing entries will only increase such search time. Removing Invalid DataAfter the scan is complete Registry Cleaner and Fixer will show you complete list of invalid keys it has found. To remove the keys you have the option of either selecting each key and press the Delete Button or Press the Select All and Delete button to delete all the invalid keys. When ever you press Delete button an Undo file is created in your My Documents folder which you can undo at any time either from Registry Snapshot Service or from My Documents folder. You are advised to be extremely careful when deleting the registry entries. Even though you have option to undo. Always have a current backup of your system (using the System files Backup and Restore tool). Systweak Inc. will not be responsible for lost files, data, or loss of information or any other damages. Registry Snapshot ServiceBoost XP includes a new feature. Registry Snapshot Service. It takes the backup of Windows Registry and list it in the list box right side. It helps you to restore or recover from the registry failure or corrupted registry entries. To restore select the available entries and press the "Undo Selected Change" to restore that item. Besides the above Boost XP on Windows XP (and above) uses the System Restore Service to take the System Snapshot. Boost XP by takes the snapshot when first executed and every week or when you press take the Snapshot. You can revert back to last known configuration with this Tool. System Restore Tool is Available in Start Menu -> Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> System Restore. When you start System Restore it will give you two options. Restore system to previous state or Create a System Restore Point. We will use restore System To Previous State. From there we will choose the available Restore Points and your System will be restore to that good configuration.
|