All About Registry Errors on Windows

The Windows Registry is an important database in your computer that stores all of the options, settings and configurations of every hardware, applications, and programs on your computer. Every time you install any software on your computer, its values and settings are embedded into the Windows Registry, where you may later on go to configure these settings or perform necessary troubleshooting steps in case they encounter or cause any problems.

A poorly maintained registry can cause a lot of problems on your computer. Not only will it slow down your computer, but it will also create errors that will cause some of your applications and programs not to run properly.

Causes

To avoid registry errors, it will be helpful to know what common actions can cause them.

* Uninstalling an application or program improperly can leave fragments of registry entries that may cause problems with your computer's start-up process.

* Downloading files or installing anything that may have viruses, Trojans and spyware will most likely cause registry errors. Their entries in Windows Registry are harder to remove manually, and uninstalling them can lead to the above mentioned cause. They can also change file association and even prevent executable files form properly functioning.

* Errors can also come from keeping too many unnecessary files and programs. They can use up your system's resources without causing any real benefit to the computer system.

3 Most Common Types

Blue Screen of Death - This is the most common type of registry error. It occurs when your registry has improperly configured settings, which causes the computer to crash and display a frequent blue screen error.

DLL Errors - Another common type of registry errors, these occur as a result of missing DLL files that help run the executable files of one or more applications. Because of this, error messages will frequently pop-up on your computer, and some applications will slow down, freeze, or fail to run.

Start-up Errors - Registry start-up errors can happen when there are start-up items that are either missing or improperly configured. They can also be caused by viruses and some malware. These may slow down your computer during boot-up and sometimes even prevent your computer from starting up.

Tips for Preventing and Resolving Registry Errors

* When removing programs and applications form your computer, do not simply delete them. Uninstall them properly from the Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs. If there is no option to uninstall the program from here, you may have to use a removal or uninstall tool form the software's manufacturer.

* Scan your computer regularly to get rid of viruses and malware.

* Don't download any files, documents, games, programs or other applications from unauthorized websites. Many of these downloads carry with them Trojans that will embed entries on your Windows Registry.

* Always have a back-up registry so that you can restore them in case you encounter any system errors.

What to do when your computer has registry errors that need to be fixed?

* In case your computer already has registry errors, it is possible to manually edit the settings on your Windows computer's registry. However, while most Windows operating systems include tools that can do this (through MSCONFIG), it is not wise to attempt to fix them unless you are a professional or you have knowledge on how to do it. Editing your registry entries incorrectly may cause further damage to your computer rather than resolve them.

* You may also use free registry cleaning tools that can be downloaded online. These registry cleaning tools will start by scanning your registry for any errors. They will then repair missing file extensions and remove any registry entries that are no longer needed to fix any existing errors and prevent them from causing any more problems to your registry.

* When all else fails, you may seek the help of a professional to perform a complete reinstall of the programs that are causing problems on your computer. In worse cases, you may have to request for your whole operating system to be reinstalled.

The proper maintenance of your Windows Registry is no small matter. Neglecting it may lead to a lot of computer problems that will later on cause it to completely crash if not addressed immediately. If you fear that your computer already has some registry errors, don't hesitate to seek the help of a professional so that these errors may be resolved in the timeliest manner without adding to the risk of causing any further errors on your computer.