Cleaning the registry has become an important part of computer maintenance these days. This is because the newer operating systems, Windows XT and Vista, very easily become corrupted. Also, though corruption could be a problem with earlier operating systems such as Windows 98, it was not nearly as big a problem as it is in today's huge operating systems.
A registry consists of a huge number of files and folders. Within these files and folders are pieces of code that show or point to the next place a command will find the information it is looking for. Of course, each operating system's command will require several, maybe even millions of these pointers to find all it needs to carry out its mission.
The Trouble Created By Registry Corruption
When pointers from no longer needed software still exist in the registry, they point to files an operation doesn't need or worse yet, they point to a file that is no longer in the registry. This means an operation will be sent out looking for something that is useless for its completion. So, all an unneeded pointer does is waste time. These types of pointers are a form of registry corruption.
In the new, very large operating systems, one false pointer can lead the operating system hunting for a long time before it discovers the hunt will bear no fruit. Multiply this type of useless operation by thousands, maybe even millions and you will have an idea of the effect registry corruption has on your computer's speed.
So you can see, the overall effect registry corruption has on a computer is that is slows down its operations. Sometimes this slow down will not be too noticeable. However, it is possible for registry corruption to slow the computer to the point it makes it difficult to use the computer at all. Registry corruption also makes a computer prone to errors and even the blue screen of death.
Registry Corruption and Viruses/Spyware Cause Similar Problems
Registry corruption may make a computer behave in a similar fashion to the way a computer operates when it is infected with spyware or a virus. Like registry corruption, spyware and viruses can also make a computer slow down and be error prone. However, where registry corruption makes the computer preform unnecessary operations, spyware and viruses steal the computer's resources.
If all, or a high percentage of your computer's resources are being used spyware and viruses, your computer won't be able to perform any task, even an easy one like connect to a Web site. The way to check to see how many resources are being used is to press ctrl-alt-del, which will open up your task manager in Windows XP. If you have Vista, you will have choose "open task manager after you press ctrl-alt-del.
If a lot of your computer's resources were being used and you tried to get the computer to do any task, like open up your word processor, you would see your computer would open it very slowly, if it was able to do it at all.
The bottom line is, spyware and viruses make a computer preform poorly. Part of this poor performance may be errors and crashes, or the computer may be just plain slow. The confusing thing is a corrupted registry will make a computer behave in the same way for different reasons.
It is not a matter of whether cleaning spyware and viruses is more or less important than scanning for and cleaning registry corruption. Doing both these things are of utmost importance for keeping your PC fast and error free. Yes, it is too bad we have to use registry cleaners and spyware/virus cleaners so we can keep are computers running well, but the fact is; we do have to. - 16459
A registry consists of a huge number of files and folders. Within these files and folders are pieces of code that show or point to the next place a command will find the information it is looking for. Of course, each operating system's command will require several, maybe even millions of these pointers to find all it needs to carry out its mission.
The Trouble Created By Registry Corruption
When pointers from no longer needed software still exist in the registry, they point to files an operation doesn't need or worse yet, they point to a file that is no longer in the registry. This means an operation will be sent out looking for something that is useless for its completion. So, all an unneeded pointer does is waste time. These types of pointers are a form of registry corruption.
In the new, very large operating systems, one false pointer can lead the operating system hunting for a long time before it discovers the hunt will bear no fruit. Multiply this type of useless operation by thousands, maybe even millions and you will have an idea of the effect registry corruption has on your computer's speed.
So you can see, the overall effect registry corruption has on a computer is that is slows down its operations. Sometimes this slow down will not be too noticeable. However, it is possible for registry corruption to slow the computer to the point it makes it difficult to use the computer at all. Registry corruption also makes a computer prone to errors and even the blue screen of death.
Registry Corruption and Viruses/Spyware Cause Similar Problems
Registry corruption may make a computer behave in a similar fashion to the way a computer operates when it is infected with spyware or a virus. Like registry corruption, spyware and viruses can also make a computer slow down and be error prone. However, where registry corruption makes the computer preform unnecessary operations, spyware and viruses steal the computer's resources.
If all, or a high percentage of your computer's resources are being used spyware and viruses, your computer won't be able to perform any task, even an easy one like connect to a Web site. The way to check to see how many resources are being used is to press ctrl-alt-del, which will open up your task manager in Windows XP. If you have Vista, you will have choose "open task manager after you press ctrl-alt-del.
If a lot of your computer's resources were being used and you tried to get the computer to do any task, like open up your word processor, you would see your computer would open it very slowly, if it was able to do it at all.
The bottom line is, spyware and viruses make a computer preform poorly. Part of this poor performance may be errors and crashes, or the computer may be just plain slow. The confusing thing is a corrupted registry will make a computer behave in the same way for different reasons.
It is not a matter of whether cleaning spyware and viruses is more or less important than scanning for and cleaning registry corruption. Doing both these things are of utmost importance for keeping your PC fast and error free. Yes, it is too bad we have to use registry cleaners and spyware/virus cleaners so we can keep are computers running well, but the fact is; we do have to. - 16459
About the Author:
As you can see, either or both registry corruption and spyware/ viruses will cause your computer to slow down and crash. Now, see how all the best registry scanners rate against one another and even get a free registry and spyware scan at Hiel Strassman's: Registry Repair Software. Also, get more inside information on registry scanners at: Registry Cleaner.
