The 10 Minute Registry Repair
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So your computer isn't exactly as fast as it used to be huh? Remember how fast it was the day you first turned it on? The Windows registry is often the cause for this seemingly inexplicable slow down. By following the simple steps below you can regain the speed you remember.
What to do now?
Here's a five step plan to whip that stubborn computer back into its original shape.
1. Let's rule out viruses and spyware
First things first, let's make sure that your computer is indeed spyware and virus free. By doing this we can be more certain that the Windows registry is indeed the problem. We recommend using this free scan to check for malicious viruses and spyware: Click Here! .
If this free scan comes up empty, proceed to the second step of the process.
2. Time for a backup plan...
Fixing the registry is no easy task. Manual registry repair can often lead to more problems than there were originally. We recommend performing a complete registry backup before trying anything!
This process can however be automated...we recommend Regclean to perform this task and the tasks which are carried out in the following steps. Check it out here , or continue to the registry backup instruction below..
For the sake of simplicity we are going to assume that you are using Windows 2000, 2003, XP, or Vista. The instructions vary from version to version but as a general rule Windows 2000, 2003, and XP instructions are the same and the instructions for Vista are a it different.
How to Backup the Registry in Win2000, Win2003 & WinXP - Tutorial:
Note: You may need to be logged in as the administrator in order perform the following tasks.
Windows XP:
1. Click Start, click Run, type %SystemRoot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe, and then click OK.
2. On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Create a restore point, and then click Next .
3. On the Create a Restore Point page, type a name for the restore point and then click Create
4. After the restore point has been created, click Close.
How to Restore the Registry in Win2000, Win2003 & WinXP - Tutorial:
1. Click Start, click Run, type %SystemRoot%\System32\Restore\Rstrui.exe, and then click OK.
2. On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Restore my computer to an earlier time (if it is not already selected), and then click Next .
3. On the Select a Restore Point page, click the system checkpoint. In the On this list select the restore point area, click an entry that is named "Guided Help (Registry Backup)," and then click Next. If a System Restore message appears that lists configuration changes that System Restore will make, click OK.
4. On the Confirm Restore Point Selection page, click Next. System Restore restores the previous Windows XP configuration and then restarts the computer.
5. Log on to the computer. When the System Restore confirmation page appears, click OK..
Windows Vista - Registry Backup & Restoration Instructions:
How to Backup the Registry in Windows Vista - Tutorial:Note: You may need to be logged in as the administrator in order perform the following tasks.
1. Click Start button, type systempropertiesprotection in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER. User Access Control permission If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow.
2. Wait for Windows to search for available disks and most recent restore points. In the System Properties dialog box, on the System Protection tab, click Create
3. Type a name for the restore point and then click Create.
4. After the restore point has been created successfully, click OK two times. Note If System Restore is turned off, click to select the local disk, click Apply and then click Create.
How to Restore the Registry in Windows Vista - Tutorial:
1. Click Start button, type systempropertiesprotection in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
User Access Control permission If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow. 2. In the System Properties dialog box, on the System Protection tab, click System Restore
3. In the System Restore dialog box select Choose a different restore point, and then click Next
4. Select the restore point that you want to use, and then click Next.
5. Confirm your restore point, and then click Finish System restore restores the selected Windows Vista configuration and then restarts the computer.
6. Log on to the computer. When the System Restore confirmation page appears, click OK..
3. Time to do some fixin':
REMEMBER: Manually repairing the registry can be dangerous!!! We recommend Regclean to perform this task and the tasks which are carried out in the following steps. Check it out here , or continue to the Manual registry cleanup instructions below..
Registry problems range from the simple: Startup Error messages and Minor slow downs, to the more serious: Major slowdowns and constant error messages during the operation of Windows.
First we can simply try to "Roll Back" our Windows machine to a previous day and time. (Preferably a day and time before the problems started) This can be done quite easily on a Windows machine.
How to Restore the Registry in Win2000, Win2003 & WinXP - Tutorial:
1. Click Start, click Run, type %SystemRoot%\System32\Restore\Rstrui.exe, and then click OK.
2. On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Restore my computer to an earlier time (if it is not already selected), and then click Next .
3. On the Select a Restore Point page, click the system checkpoint. In the On this list select the restore point area, click an entry that is named "Guided Help (Registry Backup)," and then click Next. If a System Restore message appears that lists configuration changes that System Restore will make, click OK.
4. On the Confirm Restore Point Selection page, click Next. System Restore restores the previous Windows XP configuration and then restarts the computer.
5. Log on to the computer. When the System Restore confirmation page appears, click OK..
How to Restore the Registry in Windows Vista - Tutorial:
1. Click Start button, type systempropertiesprotection in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
User Access Control permission If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow.
2. In the System Properties dialog box, on the System Protection tab, click System Restore.
3. In the System Restore dialog box select Choose a different restore point, and then click Next
4. Select the restore point that you want to use, and then click Next.
5. Confirm your restore point, and then click Finish System restore restores the selected Windows Vista configuration and then restarts the computer.
6. Log on to the computer. When the System Restore confirmation page appears, click OK..
If option one fails and you are a crafty computer guru you may want to try and track down those pesky registry keys yourself. This involved the manual editing of keys and values inside of the Windows Registry. This tutorial is too complex to list here in that there are countless thousands of variations and possibilities to consider when performing this involved task.
There are products which scan your entire registry for you, back it up, and track down each and every problem on the machine. (Even ones you didn't know existed). These products can often correct hundreds if not thousands of errors in a matter of minutes.
We recommend Regclean to perform this task. Feel free to run a free scan to shed some light on current and potential problems your computer may face Check it out here , or continue to the third option below..
Your third and final option is to have a Computer Consultant come in and repair your registry for you. This process can often be very costly and time consuming. The best part is, they are more than likely going to use a product which you can readily purchase yourself. There are very few technicians who will even consider cleaning a registry manually.
We hope this little tutorial shed some light one the options one has when his or her computers performance dwindles. Please be sure to click the button below if you would like to run a free scan with RegClean. After all it is the very same product we use for our own computer consulting work.
Run a free scan Check it out here
We have written many articles describing the steps involved in repairing the windows registry. Please click on the links below to access the appropriate article.
