Backing up the registry in Windows Vista is never a bad idea. It’s easy to start making changes to your computer without backing up the files you’re working on, but that’s a little bit like walking a tightrope without a net. Whenever you make changes to a sensitive area of the computer, like the registry, you should always make a backup. Even if you haven’t made any obvious changes, backing up the registry periodically is an excellent idea.

No Matter What Else You Do, Back Up Your Registry

If you’re adventurous enough to edit your computer’s Registry file, you’ll want to make a backup before you start any heavy lifting. You can make a backup of the Registry’s state at any time using RegEdit. To make a backup copy of the registry, open RegEdit via the search box in the Start menu.

Once RegEdit is open, select “computer” from the left pane of the user interface. Choose File > Export. Select a location in your file system to place the registry’s export file. If you want to be very safe, export the registry file to an external location like a thumb drive. You could also write your registry file to a writeable CD and store it in a safe location, preferably away from the computer.

A good naming strategy is something like RegBackup200904301. Each time you make a backup of the registry, name the file and include the full date and a simple serial number with the file. That way, if you make more than one backup of the file in a day, you can increment the last number and keep your backup versions easily identified.

If you ever have to restore the Registry using a backup file, open RegEdit and choose File > Import and select the backup file.

RegCure always backs up the registry before making any changes to it. This allows you to revert back to the system state you had prior to the changes RegCure makes. You always have the opportunity to reject suggested changes as well, so you don’t have to give up control of your system when you work with RegCure.

Your registry is a work in progress, and over time, many changes accumulate. Developing a regular backup routine for the Registry is a good idea. You may want to back up your registry every month or quarter, and before loading new software on your computer. If you back up your registry before installing new software, you can more easily recover your system if the new software causes problems. It may also help you clan up after a virus, spyware or adware mishap.

Photo Credit: Alexaner Muse

While cleaning your hard drive and registry is an extremely important step in keeping your PC running fast and smooth, a process that is often overlooked by the more casual PC users is the actual physical cleaning of their computer. Most people seem to think that since their computer is an electronic appliance, cleaning it is not really necessary. This is a wrong train of thought. Computers have a lot of different components within and one of the main reasons that computers fail, is that these components can overheat due to the accumulation of dust. Others may be just be too afraid to open up this mysterious biege box and tinker around inside. While, opening up you PC to do some maintenance is serious on some levels, you really do not have to be some bonified expert to do a good job.

Cleaning supplies

Here is a short list of stuff you are going to need to clean your PC…

1. A can of compressed air ( this can be found at most electronics stores)

2. A small paint brush

3. Q-tips

4. A Phillips screw driver

5. A flat head screw driver

6.Paper Towels

7. Glass cleaner

8. A flash light

9. A pencil wrapped in some insulating tape

10. A vacuum with a nozzle ( if you happen to have one)

Okay, so this list is not really that short, but I imagine that you already have most of this stuff laying around the old homestead with the exception of the can of compressed air. Please note, whie you may be tempted to haul the compressor out of the garage instead of spending a few bucks on a can of duster from Office Depot, please do not, since compressor air contains moisture which will corrode the innards of your PC.

Static Electricity

The main thing that you do need to be worried about when monkeying around the inside of your computer is static discharge that may happen if you come into contact with the more sensitive part of your computer. Try not to wear any synthetic clothing while cleaning your PC, opting instead for the cotton. Also, you might want to get yourself a static strap, which you can attach to wrist and the metal chassis of your PC to insure that nothing bad happens. If you do not want to use a static strap, make sure that you touch the outside metal of your PC before opening it to discharge any built up static charge that you may have.

Getting Started

Okay now first unplug everything from your PC (except for the main power cord), making sure to not where all the plugs go for easy assembly later on and haul your PC to a well lighted and well ventilated work station with a surface covered with some old newspapers.

Use your screwdriver to remove the screws that hold the cover and put them aside. Carefully remove the cover and put it aside. Now touch the metal chassis with both hands and then remove the power cord. Now, if you have a vacuum with a nozzle, run it over the power supply unit ( that metal block located at the top of your PC) and get all the dust out. Now use the pencil to hold the blades of the PSU cooling fan and blow some compressed air through the PSU into the fans, pushing out all the dust that has built up.

Now it is time to clean the CPU fan and heat sink….

This is the most important part of the PC when it comes to maintaining temperature and a lot of dust and dirt can get trapped here especially if you are a smoker or have pets. Use the brush to clean the vents and then use the pencil and compressed air trick to blow all the dust out of the heatsink. Now use the Q tips and cleaning solution to clean the individual blades. After you finished with the heat sink and CPU Fan use the compressed air to clean the RAM Sticks and expansion slots and then clean the other case fans using the pencil and compressed air ( it is important to keep the fans from spinning to prevent damaging static build up from a dynamo effect)

Once you are done blowing out all the dust, replace the cover and then wipe down the case using the paper towels and glass cleaner. Then put your plug everything back in. Cleaning your PC  is important thing that should be done every couple of months to insure optimal performance.