Leave the registry alone and don't use any registry cleaner.
I have run Windows operating systems since Windows came out, on multiple systems. I have managed divisions of engineers running Windows. I don't need to reinstall my operating systems - ever.
And I have never, ever run a registry cleaner.
My current main Windows 7 workstation is as quick and nimble as ever, logs 0 errors or warnings, stays up 24/7 between scheduled reboots (e.g., for Windows updates), and does the TONS of multitasking work I ask it to without fault or complaint.
What I do to keep my systems in good working order is:
- Avoid installing things from the internet that I don't know and seek out on purpose.
- Avoid allowing Internet Explorer to run ActiveX and active scripting except from sites I trust.
- Avoid running email attachments.
- Use a good antivirus / antimalware package in addition to Windows Defender.
- Review the programs that are running or will run on boot-up / login occasionally and make sure I know what every one is and why it's there.
- Read up on what works and what doesn't.
- Most importantly, installed Microsoft Security Essentials.
Being a career software/hardware engineer, you might say I am not in the norm, but even for a layperson managing a Windows system in a conscientious way does not take a lot of effort, does not require much sacrifice, and absolutely NEVER requires a "registry cleaning". It just requires you to exercise the brain a little and do what makes good sense.
