Deciding which one of the many Windows registry cleaners we should install and use on our computer might be a difficult task, simply because of the huge number of options available. First of all, we should ask ourselves whether we actually need to clean the registry. If the pc is brand new, we definitely don’t need one. Problems start to arise when we install or uninstall various software or hardware, because this can create broken keys or wrong associations for example. An optimized registry is important from the smooth operation of any computer, that’s why using a Windows registry cleaner is essential in the long run.

We can edit the Windows registry manually, however it’s not advisable to computer users who are not very technical. Most of us, do use software applications which facilitate the whole process. There is a huge selection of registry cleaners for Windows XP and Vista. However one must be very careful before deciding which product to download, install, use for free or purchase, because using the wrong software you can even create much more problems than you actually had. It’s always important to backup your registry before making any changes, this way will be able to revert back to old setup if you encounter any problems.

Selecting the best registry repair software is not an easy task. You should check what features does the software include. The most common important ones will be the backup and restore facilities, cleaning of course and defragmentation. When trying out any free downloads, don’t pay too much importance to the number of errors the software finds, because all registry cleaners will report a different number and it doesn’t mean that the more errors the scanner finds, the better it is either. Some software take a very deep approach to registry cleaning, which sometimes only increases the chances of creating even more errors.

Cleaning the Windows registry might be a complicated task, but the best software utility should be very easy to use by even a novice computer user. Make sure you can download the software for free and be able to try it out and check out if it’s to your liking. Having said that, there isn’t a completely free solution that will have all the features of a fully licensed product. You should always look for the official website of the company producing the product and research about the vendor’s reputation in the software industry. Buying the registry cleaner from a company which is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner will be ideal.

Participate in online software forums and check comments of other users who used the Windows registry cleaner before you. Read the various reviews by reputable software magazines or websites. Don’t base your decision on a simple comparison web page full of affiliate links, where the author will be promoting software and giving best reviews to products that earn him or her the most commission. Make some own research and do your own conclusions.

Last but not least, make sure the company offers money back guarantees. We all do mistakes and if something goes wrong or you don’t have the support promised, you can always ask for a full refund and look elsewhere.