Registry files Windows 10

[alwann]

Multiple questions:

Is it safe to delete old registry files? Some goes back years.

Is it better to merge them? (How?)


At a minimum, how to remove registry icons from home screen?

[Bill14564]

Multiple questions:

Is it safe to delete old registry files? Some goes back years.

Is it better to merge them? (How?)


At a minimum, how to remove registry icons from home screen?

I would be careful. I thought there was only one registry on the system and messing with it could cause real problems.

If you haven't already tried this, right click on the icon and select Properties. This should give you a better idea what the icon represents and what action it takes if you open it.

[retiredguy123]

Multiple questions:

Is it safe to delete old registry files? Some goes back years.

Is it better to merge them? (How?)


At a minimum, how to remove registry icons from home screen?
To be safe, I would just leave them alone.

An easy way to clean up your home screen, is to add a folder called "Unused Icons" and drag and drop the icons that you don't use often into the folder.

[spinner1001]

To be safe, I would just leave them alone.

Precisely. If you don’t know how to handle registry files, leave them alone. If you do something wrong with your registry file, you might brick your computer that would require reformatting your hard drive and reinstalling Windows OS.

[Babubhat]

Glary utilities free can clean up junk on the computer and remove invalid registry values. Also can make a registry backup. Been using it for many years with no issues

Glary Utilities | Glarysoft (https://www.glarysoft.com/)

[Arctic Fox]

I use ccleaner - a free utility that removes some (but probably not all) unused registry entries

otherwise, I leave the registry well alone

[CoachKandSportsguy]

well, registry backup files can be gotten rid of while saving the last several.

Are the files in question registry backup files?
however there are also image files, which you want to save on a separate device in case you have to
re-image your hard drive. . . image files you don't want to delete.

computer guy

[retiredguy123]

well, registry backup files can be gotten rid of while saving the last several.

Are the files in question registry backup files?
however there are also image files, which you want to save on a separate device in case you have to
re-image your hard drive. . . image files you don't want to delete.

computer guy
The OP has not identified any problem with their computer. Are you suggesting that he/she do something? Why? My advice would be to leave it alone.

If it's not broken, don't fix it.

[CosmicTrucker]

If you have to ask, then stop messing around with things.

[Babubhat]

Most utilities are putting a nice interface on standard windows commands. Lots of junk is left behind installs, uninstalls. Regular maintenance is needed. Glary utilities is simple and effective. Allows for backup of registry and other critical files which is important

[JoelJohnson]

You know, I never have to worry about those types of things with Linux!

[retiredguy123]

You know, I never have to worry about those types of things with Linux!
I have never worried about them with Windows either.

[Babubhat]

You know, I never have to worry about those types of things with Linux!

Irrelevant and not helpful.

It’s really hard to push one button on a utility to solve an issue

[Bikehike]

To be safe, I would just leave them alone.

An easy way to clean up your home screen, is to add a folder called "Unused Icons" and drag and drop the icons that you don't use often into the folder.


upvote! seriously, this is the easiest and best thing to do

[HomerSimpson]

Glory Utilities is great for cleaning up registries. Windows has a built-in cleanup tool that can delete old registry backups. You can get to it from File Explorer, C Drive Properties. It can free up lots of disk space if you need it.

[retiredguy123]

Most newer computers have a "C" drive for system and program files and a "D" drive for data files. If you are routinely storing data files on the C drive, move them to the D drive. If you run out of space on the D drive, you can buy an external hard drive for a very low cost, or you can use a cloud drive.

[alwann]

Thanks to all who responded. Most helpful. Actually, I was referring to registry back-ups created after cleaning. Now I know what I can do with them. It's great having smart people around who share knowledge.

[YeOldeCurmudgeon]

The OP has not identified any problem with their computer. Are you suggesting that he/she do something? Why? My advice would be to leave it alone.

If it's not broken, don't fix it.

Generally, I agree with this maxim. However, unnecessary files on a computer can slow it down and cause problems. As some posters suggested there are programs that can delete these unnecessary files. My antivirus (AV) comes with a tool to do this, and probably other AV software have such tools.

[Babubhat]

Today’s window 10 update left behind over 1 Gb of junk. One click and gone in 20 seconds with Glary

[HJBeck]

My understanding is that cleaning the registry files does nothing (doesn't save space or improve speed). The windows documentation says that deleted registry files just get bypassed in the programing. If you delete them after they have been bypassed it just creates a space in the registry and does no compacting. Thus programs you may buy to "clean" your registry have no impact on consolidation of the registry, thus: Useless process. Leave the registry files alone, windows takes care of it's own stuff.

[Babubhat]

It deletes invalid registry items . your choice to delete with a utility. I usually get if uninstalling a program.

[SFSkol]

You know, I never have to worry about those types of things with Linux!

I regularly use a Linux program called BleachBit that does the same things that Crap Cleaner (CCleaner) does. It removes temp files from specified applications. Runs also as Admin for deep cleaning/ fixing.

[SFSkol]

As far as Windows goes... I have used various utilities that clean the registry. I've customized the registry hundreds of times adding / deleting security entries, for large corporations. There always has been a controversy about the registry since XP. Microsoft doesn't want you fooling around with it. From personal experience on hundreds of PC's over the years that regular CCleaner of the registry does in fact do something. PC's run faster after cleaning. Leftover install / delete pointers must take up some space, registry files definitely get smaller. The drive properties does a pretty good job of getting rid of temp leftover files.

I once cloned a year old drive to an exact copy PC. Ran CCleaner registry fix. It loaded and ran faster. Go figure?

[Freehiker]

I use ccleaner - a free utility that removes some (but probably not all) unused registry entries

otherwise, I leave the registry well alone

This is the correct answer.

If you are unfamiliar with editing your registry entries, use CCleaner and move on.