Your computers registry may be one component that you have never heard of and for good reason. If your hard drive is the brain of the computer, then you can think of the registry as the central nervous system. The registry  literally controls every aspect of your computer and is very sensitive. If you want to see what your computers registry looks like, you can type "regedit" in your Run Box (Windows XP) or your Search Box (Windows Vista) and hit enter. However, do not change anything!!!

Having said that, registry errors can cause slow or erratic behavior on your computer. There are hundreds of programs out there that claim to fix registry errors but there are only two that I trust.

The first is Eusing Registry Cleaner, a free program available through download.com... I would give it 3 out of 5 starts on overall performance.

The second program, Registry Patrol, costs $39.95 and includes lifetime updates. While you do have to pay for this program, it is well worth it in my humble opinion and I would give it a 5 out of 5 on overall performance. Not only does it have the ability to fix registry errors but also has a built-in startup manager and Internet optimizer.

Publishers Description of Eusing Registry Cleaner:

Eusing Free Registry Cleaner is a free registry repair software that allows you to safely clean and repair registry problems with a few simple mouse clicks. After scanning and fixing the invalid entries, your system will be more stable and run faster. For maximum safety, Eusing Free Registry Cleaner will make a backup of the repaired entries. You will be able to restore any changes made using the software by choosing Restore registry backup. Version 2 build 20081022 has added several translations and functions and added the system restore point creation on Vista.

Eusing Registry Cleaner