Definitions - Getting to Know Your Registry

Now that you understand how RegCure will simplify and enhance your computing life, you know how important it is to perform this free RegCure scan. RegCure now to begin experiencing never before seen system performance at the click of a button.

The registry is a key component of the Windows operating system. Without it, Windows would not be able to run. The registry is stored on your computer in several files and depending upon your version of Windows, there will be different files and different locations for these files.

The registry records the relationship between hardware, memory space, and addressing. It contains information and settings for all the hardware, software, users, and preferences of the computer. Whenever you make a change to the Control Panel settings, file associations, system policies, or installed software, the changes are reflected and stored in the registry. The operating system continually references this information during its operation.

Active X Control

An Active X control is a component program object that has a set of rules for how programs should share information. Microsoft’s Active X technology is used to add interactivity to a web page and can be downloaded and invoked as small applications or animations via a web page. Active X controls are developed using various languages such as C, C++, Java and Microsoft Visual Basic. The technology for creating ActiveX controls are from 2 other Microsoft technologies identified as OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) and COM (Component Object Model). Active X control took over from the former OCX (Object Linking and Embedding Custom Controls) and is a similar to the Java applet in implementation and concept. When implemented, an ActiveX control is a Dynamic link library or DLL module. Active X control operates in a container (an application that utilizes the COM program interface) which increases the applications capability and quality and keeps development time to a minimum. The significance of ActiveX control is evident. All types of programmers need Active X control within their programs.  ActiveX controls (OLE controls) include features such as scripting and initialization security, runtime licensing, smaller footprint and digital certification. 

Windows Installer

Microsoft Windows Installer is a program configuration and installation engine that essentially allows you to install applications onto your PC. The information from the installation and the files are enclosed into installation packages (relational dbs structured as OLE Compound Storage Files). Some applications require that you download the Windows Installer before you run your software program.

Windows Explorer

Windows explorer or Windows GUI shell is a program that is integrated with the latest Microsoft Windows operating system that offers a user interface for gaining access to the file system. The Windows Explorer is the component of the Windows operating system that provides the graphical user interface and allows you to control the functions of your PC.  The File Management System of the OS is another term used to describe the Windows explorer. It is this system that also administers the file type associations and search tools and is responsible for such things as the Control Panel, Desktop icons, Task bar, Wallpaper and Start Menu.  

Windows Registry

The Windows registry is a hierarchical database that stores the options and settings for the 64 and 32-bit Microsoft Windows operation system.  The Windows registry also contains the settings and information for all the applications, hardware, preferences and users of the computer. Any changes a computer user makes to the file associations, installed applications, control panel, settings and options are stored and reflected in the system registry.  Before the introduction of the Windows registry there was per-program INI files which was used to record and store Windows application configuration settings. Since INI files were difficult to organize and keep track of, the windows registry became a better means to store operating system changes. The Windows Registry is broken down into a number of sections which all start with HKEY.  The HKEYs are divided into subkeys which may be broken down further. Any of these keys may contain string values, binary values, expandable string values, multi string values and DWORD values. Occasionally, you may experience windows errors and other windows problems related to your registry. If these windows errors or any other windows problems persist it is recommended you clean your PC with a registry cleaner such as RegCure.

COM/ActiveX

Invalid COM or ActiveX object entries in the Windows registry can cause application failures, document and information loss, and system crashes. RegCure will scan and remove these entries automatically, setting your mind at ease.

Uninstall Entries

When an application’s installer does not correctly set up the uninstall process, the Registry becomes clogged with invalid information. RegCure scours your registry for invalid information left behind by incorrect uninstall processes.

Font Entries

Often application errors – especially in Word processing applications – are caused by missing or corrupt font files. RegCure resolves these inconsistencies for you ensuring that font files taking up space in your registry are valid.

Shared DLLs

Invaild entries in the Shared DLLs section of the Registry can cause a certain type of application failure commonly known ad “DLL hell”. RegCure puts your mind at ease by repairing and restoring your Registry automatically.

Application Paths

Disk directories that are not referenced correctly can often cause programs to fail. RegCure will scan and fix the Application Paths section of the Window registry

Help Files Information

The last thing you need when you are looking for help on an application is for it to crash! RegCure takes care of invalid help file references so you never have to worry about the registry containing incorrect help information.

Windows Startup Items

RegCure quickly finds and deletes missing program entries in the startup items area of the Windows registry. Incorrect installation programs will cause these problems without you even realizing it!

File/Path References

Some registry items can be associated with non-existent files and folders – such as when temporary files are used for storage. RegCure will help you remove the invalid entries every time you scan!

Program Shortcuts

Incorrect program shortcuts can cause applications to take much longer to start – or simply stop them from running at all. RegCure effortlessly finds these entries and removes them for you.

Empty Registry Keys

RegCure will remove Registry keys that have no value, sweeping out the useless entries that clog up your system.

Shell Extensions

Shell extensions provide you with useful enhancements to the working environment of your PC. Invalid shell extension entries can cause irregularities that will frustrate and slow you down. The RegCure scan will find these entries so that they can be removed permanently.

Custom scans

You can customize how RegCure scans your registry by selecting only the items you want to be scanned. Automatic scanning with the scheduling tool: With RegCure you can create schedules so that a registry scan is done automatically on the time you choose. Using the scheduling feature you can set more than one schedule to run daily, weekly, monthly, at system startup, and more.

Automatic Scanning with the Scheduling Tool

With RegCure you can create schedules so that a registry scan is done automatically on the time you choose.  Using the scheduling feature you can set more than one schedule to run daily, weekly, monthly, at system startup, and more.

Selection and removal

You can choose which items RegCure has detected after it completes the registry scan. Ignore list: RegCure offers you the ability to ignore items that have been detected after the registry is scanned. In this way these items will be ignored for subsequent scans. You can manage an Ignore list should you want to have these items scanned and removed in the future.

Ignore List

RegCure offers you the ability to ignore items that have been detected after the registry is scanned. In this way these items will be ignored for subsequent scans.  You can manage an Ignore list should you want to have these items scanned and removed in the future.

Automatic Repair

RegCure offers you the ability to perform an automatic repair of detected items after a scan.  You can configure the settings so that a repair of detected items occurs after each scan.

Backup and Restore

An automatic backup is created every time you use RegCure.  You can restore any items any time for peace of mind.

Startup Management

RegCure offers quick and easy access to all the programs that are launched when you start your computer.  You can enable and disable applications in the Manage Startup list with a few simple clicks.