You may have heard that registry cleaners could help get your computer back up and running at blazing fast speeds like it used to when you first unpacked it and plugged it in. However, before you assume that downloading a registry cleaner is some sort of magical cure all that will fix everything that is ailing your PC, it is important to know what exactly these cleaners do.

Registry Repair 101

As I mentioned in a previous blog, the registry is data base for your systems configuration information. Everything that you look up or down load or install end up in your registry , as do all your different user settings, preferences, and information. Even that kitten themed desktop background that you used for a while is in there somewhere ( don’t worry, I won’t tell). Like your old man’s garage, as time goes by your PC’s registry gets filled with useless clutter such old file paths to that one Chumbawumba Mp3 that you liked for a while but then deleted, or that free trial game that you played until they wanted money to continue and so on. As all these things start to pile up, you computer has a harder and harder time slogging through the mess and you end up experiencing lag time.

Just like how the old man finally got sick of not being able to find his post hole digger in his garage and decided to haul some stuff off to the landfill, you may need to find a way to clean out your registry so you PC has an easier time finding the information that it needs.  One way to go about it is to run Regedit on your computer. This will take you to your PC’s registry and allow you to delete unnecessary files. The only problem with this, is that you better know you know what from shinola about  registry repair before you begin, or you might end up wreaking havoc on your computer by deleting the wrong registry keys.

What a good registry cleaner does for you

Downloading a decent registry cleaner can save you a lot of hassle when it come to cleaning up your PC’s database. This program will scan your registry for you and find all the problems and then help you repair them.  What a registry cleaner does is look for unnecessary values and redundant information in your database and attempts to repair it. These cleaners rely on a set of  rules in order to determine what values are worth keeping and which can be tossed out.

Not all registry cleaners work the same

Some cleaners are more aggressive at deleting things than others, but this is not necessarily a good thing.  A more aggressive cleaner could end up getting rid of stuff that you actually end up needing for some programs. Before you decide to use any cleaner, it is important to make a back up of your PC so you can undo any undesirable changes.

The future is now

This past year, there has been a lot of talk about cloud computing and how it is going to change the entire world of personal computers. There has been speculation that Apple and Google are going to join forces to create a cloud network, and Windows and IBM have both announced plans to move into the cloud industry. Even the internet retail giant, Amazon, has been rumored to be planning to utilize its vast database warehouses to set up a cloud network.  Advocates of the idea claim that cloud computing will revolutionize the industry, eliminating viruses and computer crashes as well as the need for bulky hard drives and optical drives. They also tout the new cloud computers as being green since they use less power than a typical computer and last twice as long since they lack moving parts and their software is continuously upgraded.

What is the cloud?

The idea of cloud computing focuses around keeping all applications and data storage online in massive warehouses and making the computer merely a tool in which to access this information cloud via the broadband Internet. the cloud computer is essentially just a processor along with a screen,  keyboard and  mouse that is connected to a high speed Internet connection. Applications that you want to utilize are downloaded from a central database and data that you want to save is stored online in your personal storage space.

The advantages

One of the main advantages of cloud computing is that it the applications that you use are continuously updated, allowing you to get the latest version every time you use it. Having the operating system that works behind a powerful supercomputer with a ton of redundancy also ensures that the system is safe from viruses and software crashes. Since your computer is essentially just a processor and a Internet connections, there is really no worrying about corrupted registry problems, fragmented hard drives, or busted optical drives. Cloud computing will also allow the freedom of data access wherever there happens to be a high speed Internet connection. A cloud computer will be small and easy to take with you, and access to your personal cloud network will be as simple as typing in your user name and password.

The problems

While it would be nice to have a computer that always boots up in twenty seconds, never gets viruses and uses less power than a light bulb; it may be a hard sell for many people to let all of their personal computer data to be stored in some massive database somewhere.  If something does happen to the host server, all of this data could be lost or compromised and businesses who deal in sensitive information would be hard pressed to let anything go out past their firewalls. Also, even though the little cloud computers might be able to run on a watch battery, the mega super computers that actually run the show are the size of football fields and have cooling towers that are four story buildings.

Another problem are the applications. While these documents may be free to download, there has to be some way that you are paying for them and that way is through advertising. While embedded text might be less intrusive, do not be surprised if in the future, you are forced to watch a car commercial before you are allowed to access your term paper that you stored online. Another problem is the need for broadband access. If you do not have it, getting your cloud computer up and running will be an impossible task.

Not for everyone

While these new Net computers might find a niche in this newly wired world of ours, I have my doubts that everyone will take a shine to them.  Perhaps the younger generations will be attracted to them and their low cost (around 200 bucks)  might make them appealing in this economy of ours, but I think many people are going to have issues with trusting all their data in the hands of a few.

Sure little little laptop computers are all the rage and can be very convenient if you happen to be a commuter  or addicted to those wonderful little snack items at starbucks.  However, Laptops are still PC’s and are susceptible to slowing down in terms of performance and start up after being used and abused for a period of time. Here are some ways to get your little laptop up and zipping again, so you can sip your latte and check youe e-mail in relative peace. 

Slow Internet?

If you are having trouble with your browser, it might be something as simple as a really poor wi-fi connection that is causing your trouble. The more people there are sharing your broad band space, the slower your Internet connection is going to be. If you are at home and using a router, check to make sure that the other PC’s in your house are not hogging all the bandwith. Also, if  you do have a wireless router, it might be a good idea to have it password protected, to keep you nieghbors from sneaking onto it. 

Spyware, malware, viruses

If your Laptop is running really slow and having trouble booring up, you could be harboring a host of viruses or spyware. Make sure you have an up to date spyware and virus protection running and to periodically scan your Laptop for trouble. Spybot is a great spyware eliminator and AVG is a great at getting rid of viruses. 

On a little side note

Sometimes it might be the programs that are installed to protect you that are slowing you down. Certain AntiViral programs are notorious RAM hogs (ahem- norton) who will make it their mission to scan everything and anything before you are allowed to use it. When you download a AV, make sure you check the setting so that it only does what you want it to do. 

Registry

If you download a lot of stuff unto your trusty little laptop, then your registry might be corrupt and need fixing. Download a good registry fixer and see how many mistakes there are on your file database. read more about your computers registry here. 

Mechanical problems

If you have an older Laptop, it might not have enough RAM to go around and need to install more. Your Hard Drive might also be slow and you might want to consider buying a newer, faster one and cloning your old one onto it. The fan that keeps your Laptops innards cool may also be malfunctioning, causing overheating.  Also, if you are running off of battery power, your laptop might be in a energy saving mode that makes everything run just a little bit slower as well as makes your screen much less bright.

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The way to a faster PC is sometimes as simple as doing a little bit of cleaning up on your disk and registry. However, if you have some serious lagging problems due to embedded viruses that just will not go away, or applications that keep crashing for mysterious reasons that you just cannot figure out, you may want to consider starting off fresh by reformatting your Hard Drive.

The Last Resort

Deciding to reformat your drive is considered to be a last resort option for desperate people who want to relive those days when they first pulled their computer out of its box and booted it up. Remember how fast your brand spanking new PC booted up and how quickly it zipped through the Internet?  Reformatting your hard drive can get your PC back to that state, but at a cost. Reformatting your computer pretty much involves erasing all the data off of your Hard Drive and then reinstalling the Operating System that came with your computer along with all the device drivers. Unless you save all of the contents on your hard drive on a back up disk, this process is irreversible and should only be done when no other options seem available. (Unless you happen to be one of those geeks who likes to keep your Hard Drive in pristine condition.)

First: back everything up

Before you  reformat it is important to save everything that you want to keep onto backup files. All your MP3′s and video files, that novel you have been working on for the past two or three years, programs and applications that you have accrued over the years, and even sytem updates should all be saved to a back up disk. While you want to be sure to save all of your precious information, it also important to remember that some of the stuff you might want to keep, might be the stuff responsible for your lagging PC, so use a bit of discretion when reinstalling.

Boot from CD

Before you start, it is important to switch to the “boot from CD” option on your Bios system. Entering your Bios system can be tricky and usually incolve hitting a command  button of some type during your PC’s initial boot up. Once you are in the BIOS system, go to the boot order menu and choose the CD first option. Now all you have to do is unplug your Internet connection, insert your the Windows CD that was shipped with your computer and then restart. If you did things correctly, something like this should appear.

Now  you are ready to begin.

Deleting Partitions

After installing some set up files, Windows will then display the partitions on your drive. You can Delete these partions by using D and confirming with L.  Now you should have nothing but unpartitioned space on your hard drive. 

Now Format

Now Windows will ask you how you want to format the drive. Choose “Format using NTSF file system.” AFter the formatting is done your computer should reboot and began installing the OS system. While this is being done, do not touch anything until promted to do so. Be sure to have the product key handy (either on the box the software came in, or on your computer) because you will be asked for it. You may also have to reinstall drivers and devices so make sure that you have all those CD’s the computer shipped on hand also.