PC Optimization and Registry Cleaner Software

Most people have used a computer before, and just about all of those people are familiar with the endless frustration of using a slow or malfunctioning computer. But what to do if, like most people you have no technical skills and don't have a friend or family member nearby to help you out?

This guide is designed to provide some quick solutions to many of the most common computer issues in a way that anyone can understand and do themselves.

In all my years of writing, working and playing on computers, the one thing that would frustrate me to no end is when things are not running smoothly! And I'm sure many of you will agree. Normal simple tasks can turn into blood-boiling ordeals when your PC is running sluggishly or frequently popping up those ambiguous error messages. I can feel a vein bulging just talking about it! Not to mention the amount of money we spend to buy and maintain our computers, which these days are pretty much the portals to the world, an important part of everything we do.

That's why I wanted to put together a guide to help people, not just tech wizards but ordinary people, fix and maintain their computer quickly and with ease.

*Information supplied courtesy of 2010 Registry Cleaner Reviews

If you own and use a computer long enough, it is inevitable that it will eventually become overrun with old and unnecessary files. And the result of this is often a drop in performance. Just like a house or apartment would become pretty unlivable without some regular cleaning and organizing. I've put together a simple step-by-step process anyone can do (even if your scared of anything technical!) plus I've added a few simple programs which can make the entire process much easier, plus most of them are free!

The first step is to go through all your folders and delete any files that you know you no longer need. If you're like me, you probably have a habit of saving files that you only need once on your computer and then forgetting all about them. Get rid of these!

Next, you can download a program called CCleaner (it's free) which is designed to go through your computer with just a few clicks and clean out all the "hidden" junk files from your temporary folder, cookies, etc. This program is terrific, it works like a charm and did I mention it's free!

Now let's deal with those old and outdated programs. Go to Google and search for 'Revo Uninstaller'. It's another free but downright wonderful program for managing all your programs and getting rid of the ones you no longer need. The beauty about Revo is that it actually scans your computer and eliminates all those left-behind files that software tends to leave behind when you uninstall it the normal way.

Another important element is the Windows registry. You'll definitely want to continue the cleaning process with this part of the Windows operating system. Unfortunately, doing this manually can be quite tricky and tedious, especially for the technologically-challenged! Luckily, there are some helpful (and inexpensive) programs available that can help us out here. The programs, called Windows registry cleaners (clever, I know :) are designed to automatically clean out your registry of all the obsolete entries that can really slow down and cause problems for your PC - you can find a rundown and test results of the most effective ones here: Registry Cleaner Reviews.

With time, the registry tends to get filled with "entries" (i.e. information) much of which becomes obsolete and unnecessary as programs are uninstalled, settings are updated, files are moved and so on. This causes your computer to take longer and longer to find the information it's looking for which leads to a decrease in performance. Registry cleaners scan through and purge the registry of all that unnecessary information. These programs also have the added benefit of being able to be scheduled to scan your PC automatically on a regular basis just like your antivirus to maintain optimum performance. Plus, many of them have a feature which allows you to disable unnecessary programs from starting automatically when your computer starts - these can be a huge drain on performance!

Follow these steps to doing a big spring cleaning of your PC, which should help dramatically increase your system's performance. Don't forget to repeat this process regularly to keep things tip top!

We all love how well a new computer runs when we first get it home from the shop and nothing is more frustrating than when it starts to slow down and get plagued errors. So follow the steps above and take note of these tips to prevent it from ever getting to that point!

1. Get a good AntiVirus. There are lots of free ones available that do a pretty good job of protecting your computer without spending a dime. I like AVG, but look around and make your choice.

2. Keep track of what you download and where it's saved. Do a regular cleaning.

3. Get a good anti-malware program. Once again, there are some great free options here like Malware Bytes and Spybot S&D. These nifty little programs can keep your PC safe from harmful spyware and adware.

The best way to keep your computer running smoothly is to treat it like your house or apartment (assuming it's not a mess :) Keep things neat and organized and don't download files or visit sites you don't trust!