The Microsoft Windows operating system contains something called the Computer Registry which is a special database used by the operating system to hold information and settings for all the computers software, hardware, and user preferences etc. When you make changes via the Windows Control Panel, or you change file settings or install or uninstall software these activities all result in information being changed in the Registry.

As time goes by all these alterations to the Registry database can result in some of the stored information becoming inaccurate or incorrect or badly organised. As an example, running the uninstaller software to uninstall a particular program may not remove all of the information from the Registry for that program.

Experienced PC users can examine and edit the contents of the Registry via the Registry Editor program called RegEdit. To run the RedEdit program click the Windows Start button and then select Run from the menu and enter regedit in the Open: text entry field and then press Okay. Please note that altering the Registry incorrectly can cause your computer to have problems or even stop the Windows operating system from starting.

If your computer system is running slowly or taking a long time to boot up it might be because the Registry has become very inaccurate or incorrect or badly organised, so if you are experiencing any of these types of problem then it might be a good idea to use specialist software to detect and correct problems with your Registry data.

Such Registry repair software must perform the following basic types of action such as:

1. Backup your current registry, just in case you need to restore the original settings.

2. Detect and remove any remaining uninstalled software information.

3. Correct and allow you to manage which programs are run when the operating system starts.

4. Checks that all references such as paths to programs etc. are valid.

Many of the Registry cleaning / maintaining programs often allow you to scan your Registry for free to give you a report on any problems, but they will not correct any of the problems that they find. Running one of these free scans will mean you can decide if you need to obtain this type of software to maintain your Registry.