Registry Cleaner
With Windows, you will likely need certain other utilities to keep your computer running well (or to repair the registry, as much as possible) such as a good Registry Cleaner. One of the best in my opinion is “jv16.” You may download it here. After a 60 day trial (in which you get to use it free of charge) it may cost about $30 per year. After you buy it, they will send you a link in your e-mail for downloading your license. Then just copy the license file to your desktop. Copy the install file for "jv16" to your desktop. Then reinstall "jv16", and in this case, there is no need to uninstall your previously installed "jv16" before you reinstall it. When you do this, it will recognize your license file. After it is installed in this way, you may move the license file on your desktop to wherever you wish to save it.
I suggest running jv16 for cleaning the registry about once per month or more often (or whenever your computer seems slow or otherwise seems to not run correctly) in the super safe mode (the bar raised to the top—not in the ¾ way to the top position, which is the default position—except as a last resort), then click on "Fix" to fix the registry errors. (DO NOT delete anything—even if there are some remaining items that cannot be fixed or are meaningless. Always reboot your computer before running anything else. This caution concerning deleting registry entries does not apply to those that are automatically deleted by jv16 when you click on the “fix” button.
Follow these steps when running jv16:
1. Before running jv16, be sure to power down your computer. Windows updates sometimes install themselves during the process of powering down the computer. DO NOT run jv16 if there is a possibility that Windows updates have downloaded in the background and are waiting to be installed.
2. Wait for 20 seconds or more after the computer completely shuts OFF. Then turn your computer back on (which boots it). Let it fully and completely boot up. If no messages come on the screen stating that further action is necessary for Windows updates, then run jv16. If further action is necessary for Windows updates, take the required action, power down, and reboot the computer again before running jv16.
3. Whenever you install a program or install major updates (or uninstall any program), be sure to reboot your computer afterwards. If you installed a program, run the program just installed or updated (after the re-boot), quit the program just installed or updated, and then run jv16 ONLY after you have done these things. Then always reboot your computer again after running jv16 before running anything else. Please note that jv16 is a powerful multipurpose utility, and be careful how you use any of the other functions other than cleaning the registry.
Note: With Ubuntu Linux, as mentioned later in this article, you normally don't need to concern yourself with any of this.
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