Registry is nothing but collection of information in Windows which keeps important information about your system hardwares, configuration of application programs that are installed and settings. When a particular program runs, Windows continually refers this database. For example- these are some entries in registry file - HKEY_User – keeps all the current user information for each user of the system, HKEY_Local_Machine - settings for hardware, operating system, and installed applications.
Application programs write data into registry file during installation and keep using it as a reference. Thus, this is very critical information. Any changes in it could lead to your computer, in an inoperable state. Thus, it is very important to deal with an extra care while modifying this registry file. I would rather suggest taking a backup before making any changes to it.
Importance of registry files in computer?
Registry in a computer system is like a blueprint, which contains information about drivers and other important components. DDL's are kept in this file which is used by more than one program. Thus, we can say that registry includes very important data which fits together to run an applications.
Why to remove registry entry?
As i earlier said that registry can contain hundreds or thousand entries, and over the period of time entries in this registry keeps created. Since it fills with information, it takes memory space on your system and causes computer’s performance issues. As I told you in the beginning of this article, that entry in the registry is made during the installation of a program, but it never get deleted by Windows even after uninstallation of a particular application. Such type of entries which are pointing to a program which no longer exists is called unwanted entries. This type of unwanted entry can cause great issues related to your computer performance.
How to remove unwanted registry entries?
Fortunately, you can clear all unwanted entries and you do not have to tolerate these errors. However, a Windows OS provides a feature by making use of which you can fix registry and this way your registry can be cleaned up. Cleaning registry is to be done with great care as this file is a very sensitive file on your computer. And, you need to be extremely careful, while making any changes in this file.
Follow the below steps to remove the registry entries manually:
Step 1: Hit the “Start” button on your Windows desktop
Step 2: Select “Run” and type “regedit” and press “OK”
Figure 1: Open Registry Editor
Step 3: Now, a registry editor Windows will open and at the right hand side, you can see a list of registry keys.
Figure 2: Registry Editor Window
Step 4: Now, in the list select “HKEY_CURRENT-USER”, “Software” where in you will find many keys
Figure 3: Select Registry Key
Step 5: In case you find any keys of the applications that no longer exist select them, right click on them and press “Delete”
Figure 4: Delete Registry Keys
By doing this all your registry keys Trying to remove unwanted registry entry from your computer manually is almost equal to invite serious errors on your computer which can create problem in booting of your system. Thus, it is advisable to make use of a tool, which can easily find out, unwanted registry entries from your computer and remove it automatically, so that removal of unwanted registry entries do not affect the other programs of computer. Remo Optimizer is a unique tool which has capability to remove all useless and unwanted registry entries from your computer within a very less time span. It uses its highly advanced algorithm to find all unwanted registry. Remo Optimizer does not cost even a single penny and can be downloaded from Internet. It is being used across the globe and has earned much appreciation from various industry experts.
Step to use Remo Optimizer for clearing unwanted registry entries:
- Download and install Remo Optimizer software on your system and launch it. After launching, the software will automatically start scanning of your system
- After completion of scanning process, it will display number of junk files and issues that are there in register and need to deleted or fixed as shown in
- Before fixing the issues, it takes backup of registry file automatically
- Now, you need to select unwanted registry entries which you want to remove and click on Continue option to clean unwanted registry as shown in
- Next, click on 'Fix Issues' button to start repairing issues as shown in
- At last you will get the detailed report of deleted items from different as shown in
By using Restore option, you can restore backed up registry file. Even, it allows you to remove existing or old registry backup file.
Learn how to manually remove virus easily from your PC by watching this video:
[video='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbRQc1nLOEo'][/video]
This guide focuses on manually removing viruses and malware from your computer. If you want to use an anti-virus program instead, please check out this tutorial written by Burritobob. This tutorial's best intention is focused around removing RAT and Keylogger viruses.
Step 1
Run msconfig and look for suspicious files. Here we see one. It’s unknown, and it also has a startup key that we’ve never seen until recently. Uncheck it from start up and/or from services.
If you think you are being monitored. Open Command Prompt and do the following
Step 2
Boot into safe mode. This can be done by checking the box in the “boot” tab in msconfig.
Step 3
Run msconfig in safe mode and we can see it’s checked because the virus is persistent. The virus will not be running however, due to the fact that we are currently in safe mode.
Step 4
Navigate to the registry. We are doing this in safe mode because some viruses disable the registry.
Note: Be sure your folder options are set to show hidden files and folders
Step 5
Navigate to the location of the virus. If you are not sure which one is a virus, locate to all of the following possible locations:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunOnce
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunOnceEx
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunServices
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunServicesOnce
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesExplorerRun
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunonce
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunServices
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunServicesOnce
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesExplorerRun
Step 6
Section a) if you are unsure if it is a virus of not, right click the suspected file{s} and click modify
Since you are unsure of the integrity of the file, put a “:” in front of the value data. This will disable the start up of the virus but it will still be in your computer.
Section b) if you are certain that you’ve found the virus (like I have in the picture) you can delete the registry entry.
Step 7
Be certain it is gone; it shouldn’t even be listed as a startup item anymore.
Step 8
To be certain, use CCleaner to scan the registry and fix any issues there are.
Recap
Hopefully this should’ve gotten your computer rid of any viruses. It is recommended to download the latest version of an Anti-Virus program and scan your computer fully even after doing this.
Please Note: If you still feel insecure it is recommended to do a clean reinstall of Windows. After reinstalling, install Microsoft Security Essentials as it is the most trusted anti-virus.
Thank you for reading
Table of Contents
Introduction
Let's admit it, we have all at one time or another mistakenly deleted a directory or uninstalled a program incorrectly and are now left with entries in the Add/Remove Programs list for programs that no longer exist on our hard drives. When you click on these entries to remove them, Windows complains with an error or nothing happens. For some of the neat freaks out there, this can cause a problem as we now have useless entries cluttering up our Add/Remove Programs list and no way to remove them!
That's not true, though. There are ways to remove these entries from our computer so that our Add/Remove Programs list looks clean and spotless. In this tutorial we will cover a method on removing entries for programs that no longer exist on your computer. This method does require editing the registry, which if done improperly, can cause problems with your computer. If this is something that you do not feel comfortable doing, then please do not continue with the steps listed here. You are always welcome to ask us in the computer help forums. for any help with this. A list of entries that can be found in your Add or Remove Programs list can be found in our searchable Uninstall Database.
Removing entries in the Add/Remove Programs or Uninstall Programs List
Please note that this method should only be used if you can not uninstall the program normally through the Add/Remove Programs window. You should always attempt to delete the program through a supplied uninstall application or by using the Add/Remove Programs.
If you still can not uninstall the program, you may manually remove entries from your Add/Remove programs list by following these steps:
- Click Start, then click on Run and type regedit in the Open field. Then press enter on your keyboard.
- Navigate to the Registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstall. You do this by clicking on the plus sign next to each key in the path to expand the path below it. For example you will click on the plus next to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, Software, Microsoft, Windows, CurrentVersion, and finally Uninstall.
- Right click on the the Uninstall key and select the Export option. (If you are using Win98/95/ME, you should clik on the Registry menu and then select Export). This will open up a dialog box where you can select a directory and name for the file you will export to. Make the Save in: field set to your Desktop and in the File name: field enter uninstall_programs and press the Save button. This will create a backup of your Uninstall registry key on your desktop in case of a problem.
- Now that we have a backup created, we will proceed with deleting the entries for the programs that we would no longer like to appear in your Add/Remove Programs list. As long as the Uninstall key is expanded you will see below it a listing of programs. Search for the program you would no longer like to appear in the Add/Remove Programs list and right click on the name of the program and then click on the Delete key. When it asks for confirmation, click on the Yes key.
- Once the key is deleted, exit regedit, go back into your Add/Remove Programs option in the Control Panel and see if the program is now gone from the listing. If it is not listed, then you have deleted the entry from the Registry correctly. If on the other hand, the listing looks incorrect you can restore the backup you created by double-clicking on the uninstall_programs.reg icon found in your desktop. When it prompts you if you would like to merge the contents, you would reply Yes. Then you should repeat steps 1 through 5 to remove the desired program.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to keep your Add/Remove programs list clean and tidy, there is no excuse for it not being so :)
As always if you have any questions about this process, feel free to let us know in the computer help forums.
The Windows registry is one place that should be left well-enough alone, but just for the sake of argument, what would happen if you deleted the entire thing? Today’s SuperUser Q&A post discusses the possibilities in order to satisfy a reader’s curiosity.
Today’s Question & Answer session comes to us courtesy of SuperUser—a subdivision of Stack Exchange, a community-driven grouping of Q&A web sites.
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Screenshot courtesy of Wikipedia.
The Question
SuperUser reader SkYWAGz wants to know what would happen if the entire Windows registry was deleted:
![Remove Files From Computer Registry Remove Files From Computer Registry](https://s11986.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/delete-font-registry.png)
I have been wondering what would happen if I deleted the entire Windows registry (using the following code for instance). Would my PC stop working? Download anime katekyo hitman reborn sub indo mp4 shinokun.
![Registry file remove key Registry file remove key](https://quehow.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/how-to-delete-registry-files-in-windows-7-step3.jpg)
- cd %TMP%
- reg query HKCR> RegTest.txt
- reg query HKCU>> RegTest.txt
- reg query HKLM>> RegTest.txt
- reg query HKU>> RegTest.txt
- reg query HKCC>> RegTest.txt
- @pause && cls
- for /f “delims=” %%I in (RegTest.txt) do reg delete “%%I” /va /f
What does happen if the entire Windows registry is deleted?
The Answer
SuperUser contributors Daniel B and StW have the answer for us. First up, Daniel B:
![From From](https://www.remosoftware.com/images/rmore-win/optimize/privacy-cleaner/clean-pc-junk/1-clean-pc-junk-select-itmes.png)
You cannot delete the root nodes since they do not physically exist. You can, however, delete their contents via Regedit (as opposed to reg).
How Do You Remove Files From Computer
Regedit hangs as soon as I try to delete HKLMSYSTEM. After resetting the VM (because I am lazy), I get the following screen (the operating system is Windows XP):
(Translation: “Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: WINXPsystem32configSYSTEM”)
So yes, deleting stuff from the registry will absolutely positively kill Windows. And unless you have a backup, restoring it is impossible.
Followed by the answer from StW:
Windows stores a lot of critical information in the registry, which is loaded (at least a part of it) during an early stage while booting. If you remove this information, Windows will be unable to find and load critical system files and thus be unable to boot.
Such critical information is the list of device drivers needed for booting the system. This may include:
- Disk drivers (Floppies, Hard-Disks, CDs, USB Devices, …)
- Bus drivers (IDE, SATA AHCI, …)
- File system drivers (FAT, NTFS, …)
- …
However, by default Windows stores a backup copy of the registry. If you have enabled System Restore, you can find such copies in the (hidden) System Volume Information Folder inside the root folder of the system partition. Additionally, even if you do not have System Restore enabled, Windows saves a backup copy of the registry in %WINDIR%System32configRegBack.
You can manually copy the backup files into %WINDIR%System32config to restore the registry data.
Have something to add to the explanation? Sound off in the comments. Want to read more answers from other tech-savvy Stack Exchange users? Check out the full discussion thread here.