This site will review the different registry scanning and fixing programs that are available on the internet. We’ll be looking at how effective the programs are at finding and fixing errors in the Windows Registry and therefore how good they are at helping to make your computer faster and less prone to crashes.

One of the best programs we’ve found is Error Sweeper. It runs daily and reports any errors found. You can then fix the errors at the click of a button.

Like most of the registry scanner programs reviewed here, Error Sweeper offers a download that will perform a free scan of your computer, so if you’re fortunate enough not to have any problems with your Windows Registry, you’ll be told immediately. You can download your free scanner here.

• Registry Scanners (7)

WindoFix scans your hard drive and the Windows registry for errors. It also checks through your startup programs and  plugins & toolbars for Internet Explorer.

The scan is fast as it is just checking your Windows registry entries. It took a few minutes on my system to scan through my registry keys and the values held within those keys and to find 1,561 errors.

Once WindoFix has found errors (and it’s a rare machine that won’t have any), you’re presented with the option to fix them. Nothing else, just fixing any errors found.

WindoFix has the option to run at scheduled times, either weekly or monthly.

It also lists the programs that run every time Windows starts up. There’s a good chance this will include programs that you weren’t aware of or that you’d prefer not to start without asking. You can select any programs you don’t want to run on start-up, which will speed up Windows every time it starts.

The same goes for Internet Explorer addons. As with the start up items, just be sure to check any ones you don’t recognize before removing them in case they are necessary for your system to run smoothly.

You also have the option to make a backup of your registry before running the software.

As with most other registry scanner programs there is a free download which will identify any problems on your system. You can then decide whether to buy the software in order to fix the errors it has found.