Registry Mechanic 10.0.132

Registry Mechanic checks your Registry for errors that can slow down and crash your computer, and provides you with a full toolbox for finding and repairing your Registry. The utility can find a wide range of defects, including references to uninstalled programs, missing help files and virtual devices, broken shortcuts, and removed fonts and configuration files. It also can automatically repair invalid entries at Windows start-up.

Under Optimize, the Quick Scan has been abandoned in this version in favor of an exceedingly fast and comprehensive Deep Scan. The program also makes backups, so it's easy to restore a fix gone wrong. There's a Registry defragger, and a Tuneup Services option that optimizes Windows boot services. Click on either Recommended or Minimal to see which services will be toggled, and to customize them. The Monitor tab tracks your system's Registry, services, and performance behaviors, while the Windows Tools section contains a series of links to Windows' default tools. This could be better explained, but choose an option and you'll find out soon enough that these tools are the default ones that come with Windows, but collected in one place. The interface isn't bad, but it feels a bit jumbled, and presents a lot of open white space without clear directions for what the user should do.

The stringent restrictions on the trial version make it difficult to analyze the effectiveness of the program. The trialware allows for only five sections of the registry to be repaired, and the compacter, defrag, and system optimization buttons were also hamstrung. During the trial, we recommend deselecting all of the errors discovered, and then carefully choosing which errors you think you can verify as being repaired to see if you want to purchase it. Registry Mechanic is a good program, but you won't get something for nothing here.



Reviewed by: Seth Rosenblatt. This article and video from cnet.com