Several unique terms and phrases describe the features of software we review on this site, some easier to grasp than others. This list briefly defines terms relevant to Registry Repair Software.

Ratings

Ease of Use

Is the software simple to use or does the cleaning process require several complex steps? Is the software intuitive and safe, even for a registry novice?

Feature Set

Does the software have a lot of bells and whistles available? The list of the software's abilities and unique attributes printed on the outside of the box is often called the feature set.

Ease of Installation

How easy is it to install the software? Are there any additional programs that are required to run the software? Does the program come with default settings optimized for safety and convenience?

Safety

The main concern most people have with registry repair-many worry that messing with the registry will do more harm than good. Safety is paramount.

Does the program you are evaluating rate the system errors it finds, so you can tell which errors are urgent? Does the software categorize the error list so that it's easy to review and manage? Does the software offer you several options to fix an individual error? Does the program have automatic deletion as well as manual deletion? Does the program come with an undo feature as well as backup and restore capabilities?

Features

Novice

A novice is someone new to the computer registry.

Advanced

An advanced person has the skills and experience needed to successfully perform tasks that affect the computer registry.

Automatic Removal

This tool cleans, repairs or removes errors in the registry automatically.

Manually Removal

Allows the user to choose which files to remove and fix.

Shows Scan Progress

This feature shows how much of the scanning process has been completed.

Indicates Registry Severity

This feature identifies how dangerous removing an error file may be to your system.

Backup / Restore

Backup Registry

This feature permits you to make a backup copy of your registry.

Individual Undo

This allows you to undo a single deleted action.

Built-in scheduler

This allows you to schedule reoccurring registry cleaning.

Compress or Defrags Registry

When you use the same file repeatedly by adding, deleting and modifying entries in the registry, the database becomes fragmented-bits and pieces of it are stored in various locations. Although fragmentation isn't noticeable to the average computer user, your operating system will operate much slower since it much search the entire database to locate all the parts needed to operate a program. Eventually, a fragmented disk is prone to failure.

Defragmentation collects all those scattered parts into one continuous stream of data again, cleaning and speeding up your system. Compression-the same amount of data stored in a smaller area-is the natural result of defraging your registry.

Exporting / Importing

This is a means of taking information out of the registry and saving it as a text file. A text file is a harmless format that can also be reverted back into the Registry, if needed. Replacing this information in the registry is called Importing.

Program Cleaning

Clean Windows add/remove Software List

The registry contains information for your installed programs; these are listed in Add/Remove section from the Control Panel. Occasionally, even after you uninstall properly, remnants of a program remain in the registry. And if you uninstall incorrectly, the registry will become cluttered quickly. This feature cleans out all remnants of deleted programs.

Cleanup Internet Explorer

This feature cleans up your Internet activity and Internet settings.

Manage/Cleanup Startup Programs

Startup sections of the registry contain information about applications and services that are launched each time the system boots up. When Windows loads, several unnecessary programs start as well. With this feature, you can manage which programs you want to start each time your machine boots up and which you want to delete.

Checks Obsolete Start Menu Items

There can be several programs listed on the start menu. Some of them do not need to be there; this option allows you to edit them.

Scans For Invalid Program Shortcuts

This feature scans for invalid shortcuts throughout your operating system and deletes them. If the shortcut reference is invalid or has an invalid icon, then the registry repair utility tries to find the original object/icon in order to repair the shortcut.

Clean Unneeded Junk, Temp, and Obsolete files

This feature clears out your temporary folders and deletes obsolete files.

Uninstall Information

Sometimes, you might already have uninstalled a program but it may continue to show itself in the registry. Uninstall information is to remove software from your PC correctly; registry cleaners check the validity of references in this section so that all of these references point to existing paths. If not, they are removed.

Most Recently Used Files

This section contains references to files and folders that were used recently.

Registry Cleaning

Scans Registry for Spyware

This feature cleans spyware and adaware from the registry. This feature is an excellent addition to spyware removal software.

Fix/Remove Corrupt Files

This feature fixes or removes any corrupt files within the registry.

Removes Duplicate Files

Duplicate files are files that have the exact same name, size, update date, time and same contents. Duplicates are deleted with this feature.

Deletes Empty Registry Keys

You can only delete empty registry keys. If the registry key you want to delete contains any keys, subkeys, or values, you must delete them before you can delete the parent key, and this feature helps you do this.

Checks For Hidden Traces of installed software

This feature looks for hidden objects that are sometimes installed from software applications.

Checks Invalid Class Keys

This feature checks for invalid class keys and gives you the option to delete them.

Checks Shell Extension

A shell Extension enables the third-party developer to run his program inside the Shell. Some registry cleaners check for the validity of the shell extension.

Checks Invalid Help Files

Some applications store information help file location data in the registry. This area of your computer may contain incorrect and outdated entries for programs you have uninstalled; registry software cleans these.

Checks Invalid CLSID/ Typelib/Interface Entries

This feature removes unnecessary interfaces, or operating screens, from your operating system.

Checks Invalid Shared/known DLLs

A DLL is a Dynamic Link Library that is shared among applications. Some registry cleaning software will find and repair orphan references to shared DLLs. DLLs hold functions that can be called up by different applications, so if removed, the link becomes invalid and should also be removed.

Dynamic-Link Library, they are routines linked into applications at runtime, that's why sometimes applications don't work and get errors such as x.Dll is missing, DLL's are usually made w/ high-end languages such as C

Checks Com / Activex

Entries in this section contain information about COM and ActiveX programs registered in the system. These are compiled, executable programs; the registry cleaner.

Checks Sound and Appevents

Application events (appevents) that are associated with sound are checked for validity.

Checks Invalid Paths

Registry Cleaners check the validity of the referenced programs to make sure all the paths exist. Otherwise, the entry is invalid and should be deleted (unless the registry repair tool can find an alternate path).

Checks Application Path keys /Orphan References

When a new program is installed, information about its location will be added to this section of the registry. If the application's path is changed or if it is removed at all this entry becomes invalid and should be removed by a registry cleaner.

Many applications store their program's association with their installed directory. Sometimes they are moved to some other location but their associations are not updated and such references keep cluttering the registry. When you launch a program, Windows first searches the application path's section; missing entries increase search time. These items can be repaired with registry cleaning software.

Checks Invalid fonts

Many people install new font faces and remove them later. Windows stores references to each font in the registry. If the registry is not cleaned regularly, Windows font reference data can become jumbled and start showing different font faces than you plan. Some registry software checks for this type of anomaly.

Checks Invalid File Types / Extensions/ Entries

Windows keeps a record of which program to use to open all types of files. For example, Notepad is the default to open basic text files that have names that end with the extension .txt. This relationship between file and program is known as a file association. Sometimes a file association is created, but its opening program (such as Notepad) is removed or deleted. In this case, Windows cannot open the file. Software that checks for invalid extensions checks that all your files' extensions have programs that match; any deviant files are highlighted.

Checks Shared Folders

This section contains references to shared folders on your computer that hold settings for the folders on your network. If a particular shared folder is deleted or removed, then the reference becomes invalid since it no longer points to a valid location. Checking these folders in order to delete broken links cleans your system further.

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