How to Perform Registry Cleanup on Windows XP
The Windows XP registry contains important information about the files, disk drives, memory and system performance. Over the course of normal computer use, through the creation and deletion of files, software and hardware resources, the registry may become cluttered and contain errors that can cause significant adverse affects to overall system performance. The registry can be cleaned and restored relatively easily regardless of a user's level of knowledge of how the registry functions.
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Instructions
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Download a registry cleaning tool from the Internet, such as Free Registry Cleaner. Follow the on-screen prompts to install the registry cleaner using the recommended user settings.
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Launch the registry cleaning software by clicking on the Start menu and pointing to the program, or by using the desktop icon to launch the program.
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Begin the scan by clicking the option to scan the Windows Registry from within the registry cleaning software. The amount of time it takes to complete the scan will vary depending on the number of items in the registry, the errors that may be found and the speed of the computer.
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Clean the errors from the registry by selecting the option to clean the registry.
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Back up the registry when prompted to do so, using either a USB flash drive or a blank CDR-W disk inserted into the CDR/W drive on your computer.
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Finish the registry cleaning process by following the prompts on-screen from within the registry cleaning software. Reboot the computer once the registry cleaning software has completed.
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Tips & Warnings
Users with advanced knowledge of computers may prefer to manually edit the registry by clicking "Start" and "Run," typing in "regedit" and manually deleting items that are no longer needed in the registry before running a registry cleaning application.
References
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