Analyze
your registry - this stage can take several minutes
to complete and suspends your system. During this time, it is recommended
that you do not conduct other tasks on your computer. Although Windows
does not shut down and reboot during this stage, it is recommended that
you save all your data and close any open applications before commencing
it.
Preview
Results - after stage (i) is complete, the Preview
Results screen displays.
The following information is presented on
this screen:
The amount of space
wasted (in MB) due to registry gaps and corrupt keys, and the amount of
space gained (as a percentage of the entire registry) when stage (iii)
of the compacting process commences.
Details of the registry
hives that are optimized when the compacting process is run. This can
be viewed by clicking "More Info >>". The main Preview
Results screen summary is retrieved by clicking "<< Back".
Backup, compact
and optimize your registry - after viewing the results,
click Compact Now to implement
the compacting changes. You are prompted to shut down and restart
your computer. Registry compacting changes are implemented when your computer
restarts.
Analyze
your registry - the Windows Registry Checker application runs and
a message prompts you to restart your computer. Upon clicking this message's
Yes button, Windows Registry Checker
analyzes the registry, then shuts down and restarts your computer.
Preview
Results - due to the implementation of the registry compacting
processes in Windows Me, this stage is skipped.
Backup,
compact and optimize your registry - when your computer restarts,
registry compacting changes are implemented.
Analyze
your registry - a Registry Mechanic message prompts you to restart
your computer and upon clicking Yes,
Windows shuts down immediately. When your computer restarts, the Windows
Registry Checker application runs and begins analyzing the registry.
Preview
Results - due to the implementation of the registry compacting
processes in Windows 98, this stage is skipped.
Backup,
compact and optimize your registry - after the Windows Registry
Checker application analyzes your registry, the compacting changes are
implemented and Windows starts up.
Compact Registry
Registry compacting removes gaps, wasted space and corrupt keys from
the registry, and performs physical defragmentation of the Windows registry
files. When the compacting process is complete, the registry acquires
a linear structure, which reduces application response and registry access
times, and improves system performance.
To begin compacting the registry, complete
the following steps:
The Registry
Compacting information screen displays further details about the
entire process, which is broken down into the following three stages:
Analyze your
registry - this step analyzes your registry for gaps, free space
and corrupt keys.
Preview
Results - this screen allows you to view details on the compacting
optimizations found. These optimizations are implemented upon starting
the "Backup, compact and optimize your registry" stage. Note: This screen is only available
on Windows XP, 2000 and NT operating systems.
Backup,
compact and optimize your registry - this stage implements the
compacting changes (as displayed on the Preview Results screen if available).
If the "Create System Restore Point"
check box is selected, Registry Mechanic creates a System Restore Point
prior to commencing stage (i) of the registry compacting process. This
option is available on Windows XP operating systems only.
Click Yes
to commence stage (i) of the Compacting Registry process, or No
to return to the Main Status screen.
From this point, the registry compacting
process differs depending on the version of Windows being used. Click
the appropriate link for further details on how these three stages operate:
