The registry is a key component of the Windows operating system. Think of it this way. The registry is like a very large database that keeps tabs on every action your operating system performs. Some of the things your registry tracks include the software and hardware that is currently installed on your computer, it keeps tabs on your system preferences, your control panel settings and other vital information that the Windows operating system needs to perform smoothly.

If a change is made to your computer system, such as installing new software, then the registry updates itself to include this new information. Over time, however, the registry can become bloated from storing a lot of unnecessary data. For instance, when a program isn’t fully uninstalled by Windows or when software is moved to another area on your computer this information is kept by the registry. As more of this information is gathered by the registry it becomes corrupt and will slow down the entire performance of your computer system or in the worst case scenario can lead to system crashes.

Here are just a few of the more common symptoms of a corrupted registry that you may experience:

Computer Slow Downs
If you have noticed your system becoming slower over time then this is a good pointer that your registry have become corrupted. This occurs because when changes are made to your system, like removing software, the changes aren’t recorded correctly by the Windows operating system thus you can get duplicate entries which over time bloat the registry immensely.

Multiple Errors
As your registry gets more and more clogged up then you may notice programs that refuse to start or crash one started. You may also see errors with Windows when it boots up.

Blue Screen Of Death
This happened a lot more on older versions of Windows but still occurs from time to time on newer versions. If you are having this happen on your system it means your registry is definitely having some severe issues and it should be fixed immediately.

Errors When Windows Loads
If you are receiving errors messages when your system is booting up or if you have noticed your computer is taking longer and longer to start then this is a good indication of registry problems.

Your Computer Freezes
This is a common problem and a big sign of registry issues. Your computer will suddenly freeze and stop responding to your commands while you’re busy doing something.