The Windows registry is a giant database where your computer keeps urgent information about the programs it should run at start up, user settings and profiles, and soft and hardware installed, among other things. Its entries are read, written, and deleted lots of times an hour, and this steady changing of info can defragment the registry. Empty registry keys, entries left at the back by uninstalled programs and other old or erroneous information expands the registry. This could cause your computer to boot up and operate slower.



Defragmenting your Microsoft Registry should keep it fresh, or at the very least manage the data bulge that happens to the registry over a period to sufficient levels. Which brings us to your question, "How do I defrag my registry?" The fast answer is to utilise a computer registry cleaner or optimiser.



Employing a registry cleaner

However, there is no tool built in Windows to wash up the registry, but there are a few available third party programs out there that helps address the fragmented registry problem. You really ought to be vigilant when making an attempt to find a honest registry cleaner as some contain spyware and other dodgy software. You can check out honest review sites to find out which registry cleaner and optimiser software are effective and which aren't. Reading forums to determine how happy other users are is also a pretty good way to figure out a registry cleaner's integrity.



It is recommended to get a registry cleaner and a registry defragmenter or optimizer for max results. A registry cleaner will remove the unused and empty registry entries, while a registry optimiser will put the entries in order.



Things to remember: How do I back up a registry?

After finding a registry cleaner, you need to then back up your registry before using it. Some registry cleaner, optimiser, and defragmenter programs back up the registry automatically, though it's still advised to try this manually. Backing up your Microsoft Windows Registry is easy: just create a System Revive point and you are all set. After backing up your registry, you can install the registry optimizer and it will do the defragmenting for you.



Overall, registry maintenance tools are easy and acceptable to use, as long as you are assured about the programme you are using. Even bearing that in mind backing up your registry before doing anything is a very important initial step to avoid any problems.