Read what cleaning Windows 7 means. When it should be done. All ways to clean the registry and junk files. Useful programs and simple instructions.

Even the most professional users have to clean their operating systems from debris from time to time. If you have installed it on your computer, you need to constantly monitor its status. Microsoft no longer releases regular updates for this version (only basic security packages are available), so you will have to fix the seven yourself.

Let's look at how you can quickly and without harm to the system clean Windows 7 and significantly speed up tasks.

Why does my computer freeze?

System freezes are always the result of user actions. The exception is those cases when the computer does not support the installed OS: the available hardware components cannot ensure the normal execution of the program code.

If immediately after installing Windows 7 everything worked fine and very quickly, but over time frequent freezes began, programs began to shut down, and the system itself started very slowly, all this suggests that it’s time to clean up unnecessary data and processes.

Freezes appear in the following cases:

  • There are a large number of programs installed on your computer, half of which you do not use;
  • Startup Full – in parallel with turning on the operating system, other programs that you did not launch yourself begin their work. Because of this, the Windows startup process may take many minutes instead of several seconds;
  • The system is infected with viruses. Malware can run processes in RAM that cannot be closed. As a result, the computer starts to get very hot and other programs run very slowly. Also, there is a danger of your personal data being stolen;
  • The contents of your hard drive are cluttered with files that are no longer needed. This includes both temporary files created by the OS itself, as well as user documents, films, and a large number of photographs. There can really be a lot of them, because most users may not clear their PC memory for years.

How to get the system working

A comprehensive cleaning of your Windows 7 computer will help return the OS to normal operation. There are two ways to get rid of unnecessary data and processes:

  • Manually using standard Windows services;
  • Using special software to optimize the OS.

First, we recommend performing the simplest steps. As a rule, this is enough to return the system to normal. If you continue to experience slow performance, try installing third-party utilities. They will help not only free up disk space, but also clean the registry, analyze the operation of all system modules and fix errors.

Using the built-in Disk Cleanup utility

The first and easiest way to clean your computer from junk on Windows 7 is to work with a standard hard drive file removal service. It automatically detects and deletes temporary files, various error reports, thumbnails, Trash contents, and other system junk.

To get started with the Disk Cleanup service, follow the instructions:

  • Open the My Computer window. All available hard drives will appear in it. By right-clicking on one of the elements, go to its properties window. Detailed information about free and occupied space is displayed here. If you see that there is less than 20% of free space left (or less than 1 GB), you need to perform a cleanup. First of all, we recommend checking the status of the system drive C;
  • In the properties window, click on “Clear”. The memory size analysis window will open;
  • Next you will see a list of groups of files that can be deleted, as well as the amount of memory consumed. We advise you to check all the boxes and perform a disk cleanup.

This service is often very slow. All due to severe clutter of disk space. Do not cancel the action and wait until the removal is completed. As a result, you can free up several gigabytes at once.

Clearing temporary files

Temporary files are entries that are created by all applications that are launched. The computer will no longer need this data, so it needs to be deleted from time to time. To perform the procedure manually, you need to go to the root folder of drive C. Open “My Computer” and click on the drive icon.

Go to the path C:\\Windows\Temp. A directory can contain several hundred files. You can select all elements using the keyboard shortcut CTRLA. Then delete the contents and empty the Trash. Next, restart your computer and check if it runs faster.

Sometimes the Temp folder may not appear on the system. To do this, you need to enable its visibility:

  • Go to the Start menu;
  • Open the Control Panel window;
  • Set list items to appear as Small Icons and find the Folder Options option. Open this window;
  • Go to the “View” tab and in the list of additional options, mark the “Show hidden folders” field with a marker, and also check the box next to “show compressed and encrypted files”;
  • Save your changes and try to find the Temp folder again.

Uninstalling programs

Often the cause of insufficient space on drive C may not be temporary files, but a lot of installed applications or games. If you leave unused programs on your computer, this will result in a pop-up window like this:

Follow the instructions to remove programs on your Windows 7 computer:

  • Open the Start menu and click on “Control Panel”;
  • In the window that opens, find the “Add or Remove Programs” field and click on it;
  • Wait for the list of all software installed on your computer to load. This may take a long time, especially if the system is running slowly;
  • To remove a program or game, click on the desired name and in the window that opens, wait for the process to complete.

Please note that using the list of installed applications you can analyze your work with the software. The “Usage” column displays the startup frequency (Frequently, Rarely, Never). With the help of this information, it will be easier for you to figure out what software should not be stored on the system.

If you are deleting a game, we recommend that you also check the Program Files folder on drive C. If, after uninstallation, a folder with the name of the game remains in it, delete it. Thus, developers often leave cached files and mission progress records in case the user decides to reinstall the software.

Fixing slow PC loading

The reason may also be the load on the RAM. After deleting data from the hard drive, we recommend moving on to working with the OP.

All processes that occur in RAM are regulated by the Task Manager. With this system utility, users can view a list of running processes and the programs that created them. Also, you can manage system startup and user accounts.

To launch Task Manager in Windows 7, open Start and enter the name of the utility in the search bar. The system will immediately display the result. Open the field as shown in the image below:

Another way to launch the Manager is to use the Run window. You can open it using the WinR button combination. Enter the TASKMGR command in the text field and click OK.

Startup Management

To edit the list of programs and services that are loaded with the OS, go to the “ ” tab. Uncheck the boxes next to the processes for which you want to disable autorun. This will not harm the system, because in Windows 7 the Task Manager does not display services that are important for the operation of the system. This means you won't be able to kill a system process by mistake.

Removing it from Startup will not harm the program or game in any way. They will remain installed on the computer, they will only stop turning on when the desktop starts. In the future, you can enable the program yourself using its shortcut.

Closing unnecessary processes

If the computer turns on quickly enough, but after some time you start to experience severe OS freezes, check the running processes. In the Task Manager, open the appropriate tab and analyze which tasks are consuming a large amount of RAM. Close the most time-consuming objects by clicking the "End Process" button.

Advanced SystemCare utility

Advanced SystemCare is a Windows 7 cleaning program that allows you to perform all system optimization options in one window, from deleting files from the hard drive to adjusting RAM.

A special feature of the application is its ability to monitor system performance in real time. The utility identifies errors and allows you to eliminate them in a few mouse clicks.

The application interface is divided into several tabs:

  • Speed ​​Up – This built-in service allows you to speed up your computer. In simple words, the utility removes unnecessary processes from RAM, thereby speeding up the operation of the system at the moment;
  • Protect is a protection module. With it, you can scan the OS for virus software and remove all found malware. Also, Advanced SystemCare will be able to check the reliability of the EXE files that are launched. A notification about the threat will appear in the tray;
  • Clean&Optimize is the main and most functional tab. By clicking the Scan button you will start the service for checking the hard drive, system registry, and Startup. As a result of error correction, all garbage will be removed from the system, shortcuts will be corrected, the registry and RAM will begin to work in normal mode (without erroneous entries and processes);
  • In the Toolbox tab you can buy additional tools to monitor system performance;
  • Action Center allows you to set the next time your computer is scanned for errors.
Red Button is a handy tweaker that will allow you to access all OS processes.
A tweaker is a special utility for viewing and editing all hidden functions of the system. As a rule, developers hide these functions so that the average user does not delete important settings by mistake.

The Red Button interface is completely Russified and very easy to use. All tabs are conveniently divided into the main modules of the computer - the central processor and RAM, hard drive, detected junk files and data for cleaning the Windows 7 registry.

Go to each tab one by one and check the box next to the actions you want to take. Using each of these actions will speed up your overall performance. To apply the changes, click on “OK” in the lower right corner.

AusLogics Boost Speed ​​– increasing PC performance

AusLogics Boost Speed ​​is another good program for cleaning a Windows 7 computer. Its features:

  • Quickly scan the system and fix fatal errors;
  • Shows hardware failures of the processor and connected buses;
  • Built-in Assistant. With its help, you can quickly decide which files need to be deleted and which ones should be left alone;
  • Browser protection and acceleration. Often the cause of slow Internet is not connection problems, but a cluttered browser. The AusLogics Boost Speed ​​utility will clear the cache, cookies and improve the speed of loading pages in the browser;
  • Acceleration in real time. With the press of one key, you can close all unnecessary processes and unused applications.

Disk Cleaner to clean up disk space

The task of Disk Cleaner is to optimize Windows 7 by cleaning junk files and records on the hard drive. Unlike the standard cleaning utility, this cleaner will help detect all hidden folders that are inaccessible to the average user.

Among the features of the program, it is worth highlighting the effective detection of registry errors, useless files and incorrect shortcuts. Also, the system analyzes how each problem affects the speed of Windows.

By pressing the “Fix” button, the built-in assistant is launched, which independently corrects the system without user intervention. After using the utility, it is recommended to restart your computer.

Results

It is recommended to start cleaning garbage in Windows 7 with a standard utility for deleting temporary files from your hard drive. If this does not help speed up the work, we recommend using third-party software. Before starting the installation of any utility, do not forget to scan its installer with an antivirus.

Which of the programs mentioned above helped you clean Windows 7? Write your own ideas for useful applications that can help solve the problem.


So, today we will talk to you about how to clean the registry in Windows 7 manually. This is a rather interesting activity that will help us stabilize the operating system. In addition, this process is a great help in freeing up free space on your hard drive. Let's quickly see how Windows 7 goes manually.

First stage

Well, it’s worth noting right away that any manipulations related to the operating system and its settings can backfire on all users. So our idea today requires some preparation. Which one? Now we'll figure it out.

First, save your In cases where something goes wrong, the integrity of your files is at risk. Once you have made sure that you don’t have to worry about your documents, you can think about how to clean the registry in Windows 7 manually.

First of all, we need to get into it. The “execute” function will help us with this. It can be found in “Start” or simply press Win + R. In the line that appears, you need to write a command that will open the registry for us. This is "regedit". Press "Enter" and wait a moment. A window will open in front of you, which will be called the system registry. Now you can think about what to do next. Windows 7 won't take very long, especially if you know where to click.

Copy

So, here we are with you in the service we need. Before you start working and thinking about how to clean the registry in Windows 7, it is best to play it safe and create the so-called Now we will learn how to do it.

In order for manual cleaning of the Windows 7 registry to be successful and not cause concerns for data integrity, we will have to click on “File” and then select “Export”. In the range, select "Entire registry" and click on save the document. It's best to place it on your desktop and then copy it to removable media. After you complete this step, carefully examine the service window. The right side displays individual folder elements, and the left side displays the folders themselves. You will recognize them immediately - they have long and incomprehensible names.

Now that the preliminary preparation is completed, you can get down to business. Now we will see how to clean the registry in Windows 7 manually. Let's start with the most interesting and fun activity.

Programs

If you are thinking about how to remove the Windows 7 registry (or rather, all the “garbage” from there), then you need to start by cleaning the system from. This activity, frankly speaking, is quite “fun”. Especially if you don't remember what you once had installed. Stretch your memory and remember all the applications that could have settled in the registry.

To get started, double-click on the HKEY_CURRENT_USER folder and from there go to Software. A list of programs that only remain in the registry will appear here. So don't be alarmed if you suddenly forget the name or developer of an application. Here you will find everything that could possibly be in the system.

Select the required folders, and then click on the Del key. Delete all files of ever uninstalled programs. This will help you get rid of unnecessary hassle. Afterwards, you can think about what else is needed if we clean the Windows 7 registry manually.

By name

Well, we continue our work with you. Now, in order to permanently get rid of unnecessary files in the operating system, we should look for documents remaining from applications under the name “programs”. To do this, just press Ctrl + F in the registry, and then enter the desired name in the search bar.

In fact, this process will not take you much time. After you wait for the search results, simply delete all the files displayed on the right side of the window. Next, we will need to perform a few more fairly simple actions that will help implement the idea.

Autoload

Now all we have to do is clear the startup settings, and then look at the final result. Now we will figure out how to do this.

To begin, go to the folder located at: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Windows\ Current Version. After this, you need to go to Run, and then delete all available files. Ready? Then follow the following address: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Windows\ Current Version, and then do the same as last time.

Now we can say that the matter is completed. If you restart your computer, you will notice that there is free space on your hard drive. So manually cleaning the registry in Windows 7 was not in vain.

In fact, the “manual” method helps well when your operating system is infected with some kind of computer infection. But in other cases, as a rule, users prefer more advanced measures to combat the “clutter” of the system. Now that we already know how to clean the registry in Windows 7 manually, let's introduce you to a more interesting and easier method.

Programs

As already mentioned, “manual” work with the registry is a “dusty” and rather time-consuming task. It helps well in the presence of viruses. Especially when they are registered in startup. But if you are wondering how you can make your work easier, you can use specialized programs.

The most popular application is CCleaner. It is free and can be easily downloaded from the Internet. You just need to install it and then run it. A few mouse clicks - and that's it.

To get started, set up the application. To do this, set the scanning settings on the left side of the window. It is best to check the boxes next to browsers and all partitions of the hard drive. After you complete the task, look at the right side of the window. Here at the bottom you will see the Analyze button. Click on it and then wait for the results. All that remains is to click on “Cleaning” and then look at the result. That's all. Now you know how to clean the system registry.

Today, quite often, users of computers with Windows OS installed encounter very annoying problems caused by the system registry. After months of running Windows, the system begins to accumulate all sorts of information that the average user doesn’t even know anything about. In this regard, it becomes necessary to clean the Windows 7 registry.

Gigabytes of unnecessary information

During their work, different programs create various files, shortcuts, change system settings, accumulate information about the PC owner’s Internet surfing, keep logs of various operations, carry out actions that clog the registry structure and lead to slowdown of the system. And what’s even more problematic: they fill the hard drives with various, completely unnecessary information, the total amount of which increases over time to several gigabytes. Therefore, cleaning is very necessary.

The most radical solution to this issue is considered to be reinstalling Windows 7. However, not everyone can do this, and it is not always appropriate.

As practice shows, sometimes it is better to stabilize the system. Therefore, the owner of his own computer must independently decide for himself what to do - call a specialist to reinstall Windows (and this is an extra cost) or use one of the many programs, trying to eliminate the source of computer freezes and its various failures. As a result, the Windows 7 registry will be cleaned.

What registry cleaning methods exist?

So, there are two ways to clean the registry. The first is manual cleaning, using tools that are built into the system. To perform cleaning using this method, you need to know how to open the registry in different versions of the system. Manual cleaning is rarely used because it requires specific skills.

Therefore, when there is no confidence in one’s abilities, it is advisable not to do this. After all, if the operation is carried out with errors, then in the future there may be malfunctions in the operation of Windows or some programs. Moreover, this may not happen immediately, but after some time, and identifying the source of errors will be quite difficult.

Secondly, you can use helper programs to clean the registry. Their distribution is carried out both free of charge and for money. Downloading utilities is possible from the Internet resources of development companies. Among the most famous programs are Advanced System Care. They work well for different versions of Windows. The advantage of this method of registry cleaning is that the computer owner may have minimal knowledge and experience, since the programs are usually very simple and understandable.

Manual cleaning

Manual cleaning is used mainly if you need to detect and remove a specific key from the registry. The best method for this is to use the RegEdit tool, which is built-in to the system. To open it, you need to press the Win + Q keys simultaneously. In the window that opens, you must enter the name of the program and click on OK.

To ensure that the changes that have been made do not in any way affect the operation of the system or the installation of software, it is necessary to create a backup registry copy in advance.

That is, you should copy information if suddenly something goes wrong as planned. To do this, select File - Export.

To delete records of programs that have been erased from computer memory, you need to open the folder “HKEY _ CURRENT _ USER”. To do this, click on the “+” sign, which is located next to its name. After this, select the required key and click “Delete” or Delete. As you can see, cleaning is not at all difficult.

Cleaning the Windows 7 registry is not as difficult as it might seem. You can clean it manually or automatically using special software. Further in the text we will describe both methods and find out why it is better to use each of them.

What is the Windows 7 registry and what can cleaning it do for us? This is a database that stores information about the system configuration, various settings, user profiles, installed software, etc.

All this information has a hierarchical structure, thanks to which it is possible to find information that interests the user, and also, if necessary, carry out cleaning. Over time, unnecessary garbage accumulates there - records of applications that were incorrectly deleted. Often, programs that were removed correctly leave behind garbage, which, gradually accumulating, leads to slowdowns and errors. This is why the Windows 7 registry needs to be cleaned from time to time.

Automatic cleaning

This method is recommended for beginners and those who do not want to delve into the depths of the operating system. Automatic cleaning of the registry is carried out using special software; we will use CCleaner for this. This program is preferred for the following reasons:

  • availability of a functional free version,
  • simplicity and convenience,
  • reliability,
  • Availability of Russian language.

To clear operating system entries, run the program and go to the Registry section.

Now, without changing anything, click Search for problems below. After waiting for this operation to complete, we see a list of errors and unnecessary registry entries in your Windows 7. Click the Fix button at the bottom right, after which we will receive a question about saving a backup copy. It is strongly recommended that you answer yes. After that, we will be shown the first problem from the list and offered to fix it. To have the program carry out the cleaning itself, click Fix marked ones.

The search can be rerun, although this is not necessary. This completes automatic cleaning.

Manual cleaning

This is a more complex method, and is recommended for relatively experienced Windows 7 users, as well as those seeking to join their ranks. This method is also good in cases where you are interested in cleaning traces of malware that cannot be removed by other methods.

Open Start and search for “regedit”, then launch the application you find. This is a standard Windows 7 program used to edit the registry.

Before cleaning is performed, you must save a copy of the settings that you want to change. From the File menu, select Export, then specify the name you want to save the copy under, the location where you want to store it, and don't forget to include Entire Registry at the bottom. Now you can start cleaning.
Application entries are stored in the SOFTWARE section, which is located in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.

For example, let's delete the remains of one of the applications.

Right-click on the desired name and click “delete”.

To be more confident, we will use the search, since traces of programs (especially malicious ones) may be in other sections. To go to the search, press “CTRL” + “F”, enter the desired name in the search bar and click Find Next. What we find, if it relates to the program we are looking for, delete it and repeat the process until we delete everything we need.

This completes the cleaning. If, after cleaning, problems appear in the operation of the computer or individual applications, restore the registry from a saved backup using regedit, selecting Import from the File menu and specifying the path to the saved copy of the registry.

You can clean up unnecessary records with equal success manually or with special programs. Choose one method or another based on your experience and ultimate goal. Don't forget to save a backup copy before editing.

Reading time: 6 minutes


Today we will look at the TOP 5 best programs for cleaning the registry on Windows 7 and 10. See which one suits you best (liked it) and go ahead and use it;)

Manually cleaning the registry is an operation that requires great care and competence in the operation of Windows. Therefore, even experienced users are recommended to use special programs to remove unnecessary entries.

But when searching the Internet for registry cleaning utilities, you may come across meaningless and even dangerous applications. Below you will find 5 programs that clean the registry and do not harm your computer. The presented programs work on all current versions of Windows, from “seven” to “ten”.

Wise Registry Cleaner

The Wise Registry Cleaner utility only deals with cleaning and optimizing the registry, without being distracted by other functions. Offers three scanning and cleaning modes.

After scanning, a report appears indicating the number and type of errors. You can fix them by clicking the “Fix” button.

In addition to cleaning the registry, the program offers to defragment it. The advisability of this procedure is questionable, since sometimes after compressing the registry, problems arise in the operation of the system. Therefore, it is better to limit yourself to only deleting unnecessary records. For convenience, you can set up regular computer cleaning.

Along with Wise Registry Cleaner, the SpyHunter utility is installed on your computer. This is a useful program that helps find and remove adware applications, but using an installation that is invisible to the user does not do its developers any credit.

Auslogics Registry Cleaner

The Auslogics Registry Cleaner utility has a simple interface. When launched, a diagnostic page immediately appears where you can specify scanning parameters. The registry analysis is started with the “Scan” button. By clicking on the checkbox, you can select the “Scan and Fix” mode.

If you only ran a scan, the program will display the detected errors and their severity upon completion of the analysis. To clean the registry, click "Fix".

The program automatically creates a backup archive. If, after cleaning the registry, errors appear in the system, you can go to Rescue Center (File menu), select the latest archive by creation date and click Restore.

The only drawback of this program is the intrusive advertising of another utility, Auslogics BoostSpeed. The offer to download an application to optimize the system pops up after completing each action.

CCleaner

CCleaner is a universal system optimization program that offers deleting temporary files, cleaning the registry, uninstalling programs, configuring autorun and performing other operations.

  1. Launch CCleaner. Go to the Registry tab.
  2. Click "Scan for Problems" and wait for the scan to complete.
  3. Click Fix to fix any problems found.

The program is distributed free of charge. When you make changes, CCleaner prompts you to make a backup copy. At first, it is better to agree to this offer in order to be able to quickly roll back changes if errors appear in Windows.

SlimCleaner

The SlimCleaner program, like CCleaner, allows you to remove unnecessary files, optimize startup and, of course, erase unnecessary or erroneous entries in the registry. By default, the components that will be scanned are marked in the main utility window. If you want to clean only the registry, uncheck all the checkboxes, leaving only the checkboxes on the “Registry” tab. To start scanning, click “Analyze”.

After the scan is complete, click “Clean” to fix detected errors and clear the registry of unnecessary entries.