The Windows Registry

CCleaner has a handy tool for cleaning up your Windows Registry. This helps your computer's functionality and removes traces of old programs previously installed on the computer.

The Windows Registry is a database used to store information, options and settings for hardware, software and users on your computer. Whenever you make changes to your computer's configuration, install software or perform any number of other tasks, these changes are reflected and stored in the Windows Registry.

The Ccleaner registry scan makes sure that Windows does not contain outdated or incorrect information in your computer registry. Outdated information may relate to software you have removed from your computer or configuration changes you have made and do not want anyone to know about. Such information is deleted from the registry by Ccleaner.

Tip: This feature should be run at least once a month.

4.1 How to Fix the Windows Registry

To scan for and then fix Windows Registry issues, perform the following steps:

Step 1. Click: to display the Issue Scanning Settings pane as follows:

Figure 9: The CCleaner Issue Scanning Settings pane

Step 2. Check all the items in this list.

Step 3. Click the Scan For Issues button to display a progress report resembling the following:

Figure 10: The CCleaner Windows Registry progress report

This is a list of different problems found in the current registry.

Step 4. Click the Fix Selected Issues button to activate the following confirmation dialog box:

Figure 11: The CCleaner registry backup confirmation dialog box

Before fixing the Windows Registry, you will be prompted to save a backup of it as a precautionary measure. In the unlikely event of a problem during the cleaning of the Registry, you will be able to restore it to its original state using this backup.

Step 5. Click the Yes button.

You will now see a pane that lets you either fix specific issues or fix all selected issues, resembling the following:

Figure 12: The CCleaner Fix Issue pane

Step 6. Click the Fix All Selected Issues button to activate the following confirmation dialog box:

Figure 13: The CCleaner Fix all selected issues confirmation dialog box

Step 7. Click the OK button.

When CCleaner has finished fixing the Registry Issues,

Step 8. Click the Close button.

The Windows Registry has now been successfully cleaned.