To understand how Registry Patrol works, you first need to understand exactly what a computer registry is. The Windows registry is a database which stores settings and options for the operating system for Windows 32 bit versions, which is present in all Windows versions starting with Windows 95. Previous to this, Windows had to rely on the DOS operating system for its file structure.
The registry contains all the information for the software, hardware, users and preferences of your computer. Whenever any changes are made to your computer either through the installation or removal of a program, through changes to your control panel, or any type of file associations, the registry is changed to reflect those new settings.
Over time, the registry moves farther and farther from it's default settings and eventually starts to malfunction - causing crashes, system instability and misplaced files for all programs. In particular, Trojan viruses can wreak havoc on your registry even when they have been removed as they are designed to delete, alter and essentially corrupt your registry - which is the entire nervous system of your computer.
How Registry Patrol Fixes Your Computer
Registry Patrol scans your complex Windows registry for any type of errors or crossed paths. What it does is compare your registry to a default factory registry, while taking into account your changed settings.
It then looks for irregularities, measured against a set library of definitions, and reports back to you any and all errors it finds that need to be corrected to restore your computer's efficient operation.
Registry Patrol scans the five primary areas of your registry for problems including your HKCR, HKCU, HKLM as well as the CONFIG and SYSTEM_USER files. Registry Patrol then deep scans each individual key looking for errors and problems.
Any changes to your registry can have serious effects on your computer and it is essential that you use a top quality registry repair program. Registry Patrol automatically sets a system restore point, so in the case that a change to your registry should not be correct, you can instantly revert back to the previous settings.
You should never attempt to manually change the registry settings unless you are experienced with how your registry operates.
