What do my registry problems mean?
WinZip Registry Optimizer conducts a comprehensive and thorough analysis of your PC’s registry. Problems identified can lead to issues such as slowed PC boot times, performance issues, software crashes and general system instability.
So, what does WinZip Registry Optimizer scan for and what does it mean for your PC.
App Paths
What is it? The installation folders for some programs are saved in the registry. This lets these programs be started through the Run dialog without entering the complete application path. WinZip Registry Optimizer will identify orphaned references that no longer exist and safely remove those references.
What is the potential impact? Application Path repair is used for registry maintenance. The identification and removal of such paths requires technical knowledge and incorrect modification may cause problems. The potential impact is usually low to medium.
User Shell Folders
What is it? The User Shell Folders subkey stores the paths to Windows Explorer folders for the current user of the computer. WinZip Registry Optimizer will identify if folders exist and delete incorrect references so that Windows may be able to repair the appropriate folder.
What is the potential impact? User Shell Folder repair is essential to ensure correct folder maintenance and referencing in Windows. The identification and repair of such folders requires technical knowledge and incorrect modification may cause problems. The potential impact is usually low to medium.
Fonts
What is it? Fonts that are installed in Windows are registered in a special part of the registry, and if a font is missing or incorrectly referenced, it may cause problems. WinZip Registry Optimizer will identify problems with fonts and safely remove any missing or orphaned references.
What is the potential impact? These problems should be corrected as Windows will unsuccessfully attempt to load the corresponding font every time it is requested by an application. The identification and repair of incorrect or orphaned font references requires technical knowledge and incorrect modification may cause problems. The potential impact is usually low to medium.
Help Files Info
What is it? The registry contains information about the folders in which the help files for your programs are saved. If the help files have been deleted or moved, this may cause problems. WinZip Registry Optimizer will identify incorrect or orphaned help file references and safely remove them.
What is the potential impact? These problems should be corrected as Windows will unsuccessfully attempt to load the corresponding help file every time it is requested by an application. The identification and repair of incorrect or orphaned help file references requires technical knowledge and incorrect modification may cause problems. The potential impact is usually low to medium.
Windows Startup Items
What is it? The registry contains information about which applications are scheduled to launch on PC start up. Over time some applications may not be correctly uninstalled and so leave traces of references in the registry. WinZip Registry Optimizer will identify missing or orphaned startup references and safely remove them.
What is the potential impact? These problems should be corrected as Windows will unsuccessfully attempt to load the application every time the PC is rebooted. The identification and repair of incorrect or orphaned startup references requires technical knowledge and incorrect modification may cause problems. The potential impact is usually medium to high.
Uninstall Entries
What is it? The registry contains information about which applications are installed on your PC. Over time some applications may not have correctly installed, or correctly removed when uninstalled, and so leave traces of references in the registry. WinZip Registry Optimizer will identify missing or orphaned installed application references and safely remove them.
What is the potential impact? Uninstall Entry repair is used for registry maintenance and ensures correct referencing of applications in the Windows Add/Remove list. The identification and removal of such entries requires technical knowledge and incorrect modification may cause problems. The potential impact is usually medium to high.
Shared DLL
What is it? The registry contains the references to files and program libraries (DLL) that are used by one or more programs. If these files have been moved or deleted, these references may be invalid. WinZip Registry Optimizer will identify missing or orphaned DLL references and safely remove them.
What is the potential impact? DLL repair is used for registry maintenance and ensures that incorrect or orphaned DLL references are safely removed. The identification and repair of incorrect or orphaned DLL references requires technical knowledge and incorrect modification may cause problems. The potential impact is usually medium to high.
File Associations
What is it? A File type associates one or more file extensions, such as .txt or .doc, with information such as what program is used to open the file and what icon is used to represent the file in the Explorer. WinZip Registry Optimizer will identify incorrectly associated file types and delete the incorrect references so that Windows may be able to repair reference to the correct association.
What is the potential impact? Repairing file associations allows you to better manage file types and program associations, and successfully launch files. The identification and repair of incorrect or orphaned file associations requires technical knowledge and incorrect modification may cause problems. The potential impact is usually medium to high.
Program Shortcuts
What is it? Shortcuts can be found in several locations in Windows, such as on the desktop and other folders, and are normally used to quickly access programs, documents, and folders. Shortcuts can become invalid when the objects they are pointing to are moved or deleted. WinZip Registry Optimizer will identify missing or remnant Shortcut references and safely remove them.
What is the potential impact? Program Shortcuts repair ensures correct referencing of Shortcuts and removal of incorrect or obsolete items in folders or in the Start menu. The identification and removal of such entries is laborious and time consuming, and incorrect modification may cause problems. The potential impact is usually medium to high.
Com/ActiveX
What is it? Windows programs consist of a large number of individual components. Information on these components is saved in the ActiveX and COM areas of the registry, where it is accessed by the installed programs. WinZip Registry Optimizer will identify invalid entries for COM/ActiveX objects that refer to non-existing files and remove them.
What is the potential impact? COM/ActiveX repair is used for registry maintenance and ensures better management of system and third-party components and their respective versions. The identification and removal of such paths requires technical knowledge and incorrect modification may cause problems. The potential impact is usually medium to high.
Deep Scan
What is it? Deep Scan goes a level deeper on all the scans listed above by scanning all registry hives for invalid or orphaned references, bad uninstallations and general registry misconfigurations. This is a much more comprehensive scan that will take longer than the default scans. WinZip Registry Optimizer will safely repair any problems identified.
What is the potential impact? Given the more comprehensive nature of the deep scan, the problem count will almost always be higher. The impact is relative to the problems found in the respective scan area. The identification and removal of such problems is laborious, and incorrect modification may cause problems. The potential impact is usually medium to high.
