Cleaning up a Windows registry is one of the tasks that help keep a computer running at optimum efficiency. There are a number of different registry repair tool options on the market, leaving some consumers wondering how to go about choosing the right one. When attempting to find the right registry repair tool, it is important to consider factors like the compatibility of the tool with your operating system, the scanning ability of the software and the backup facility that is built into the tool. Along with these three main features, it never hurts to also look for tools that offer a few extras, like a junk file cleaner.
Compatibility with your operating system is a must when considering any registry repair tool. Simply put, if the tool is not configured to work with your system, not much of anything will happen. The registry will still be loaded with all the errors that are slowing things down. In some cases, the tool will not only be ineffectual, it may also cause some serious damage to the registry. If you are running an older operating system, it may be harder to find a compatible registry cleaner, but the effort is well worth the time.
The scanning engine built into the registry repair tool is also important. Ideally, the engine should be able to find and manage at least 500 error types. Tools that cannot provide at least this much assistance in clearing out registry errors are probably not worth buying. Make sure that you have an idea of how the scan works and whether it offers you an opportunity to view reported errors before they are actually fixed. This will prevent the possibility of something that is not really an error being removed and causing problems with some other function of your system.
In tandem with a scanning engine that is sufficient, it is also important to look into the backup process used by any registry repair tool you consider buying and installing. The backup facility is important, since it gives you the chance to restore something that was identified as an error by the cleaner, but in fact is something necessary for the operation of another program on the system. While a backup feature is common in many different registry repair tool programs, don’t take it for granted that this feature is automatically included.
Keep in mind that along with the fee-based registry repair tool products, there are also open source registry cleaners that are available for free. Look closely at the features offered on a free program, and take the time to read reviews and user comments regarding what the free product does and does not do. While many free software products are excellent in quality and performance, there are those that can do more harm than good to your system, creating additional issues that must be addressed.