Maintaining a clean registry is something that is within everybody’s ability to do as part of their scheduled computer repairs. This article looks at how to clean registry files without impacting the rest of your computer’s software.
The key to cleaning registry files is to:
- Make a copy of the file prior to any changes then
- Manually remove the keys of unused applications using the add/remove program tool before
- Resorting to registry cleaners.
Running a backup of the registry file is essential prior to making any major modifications to your computer. Due to the nature of registry keys being shared across applications, it is possible that a registry clean up could adversely affect several applications. The Microsoft Knowledge base is the best source for instructions/free tools for creating registry back up files.
With your back up file made, it is then safe to use the add/remove applications tool (in the Control Panel). Windows users should not attempt to alter the registry keys manually. By removing old/unused software you are indirectly cleaning the registry and also increasing some free disk space.
The final step is to clean registry keys out using one of the specialized registry cleaners on the market. The free option is to use a product like CCleaner. It is hugely popular, generally well-received and does a fine job of cleaning registry settings for long-gone applications.
Commercial products tend to do a slightly better job of both cleaning and optimizing registry settings. There are popular tools like Registry Easy which can be downloaded to your PC and repeatedly run on your registry. Along with the price-tag comes the software’s ability to repair registry faults (due to virus damage, etc.) as well as tune the registry settings.
For a purely online registry cleaner, the Reimage review and repair service can scan for missing/erroneous registry keys and compare these with an online database of literally thousands of healthy system configurations.
DLGuard has managed to build up a good customer base of webmasters using their product to securely sell files for download. This review covers the products key features along with some of the drawbacks based on three years using the application.
Architecturally, DLGuard is simply PHP scripting that provides web page forms and back-end processing code for shopping carts and checkout systems. It is able to automate process payments with a number of vendors (PayPal, 2Checkout, WorldPay, AlertPay, Ebay, PayDotCom, 1ShoppingCart, E-Bullion, LinkPoint and PagSeguro). All the webmaster needs to do is install it on their own server, specify the digital products for sale and add links on their site to the cart.
Setting up the product takes minutes to install, but a little longer to configure your products for sale. I started out writing ebooks to sell using DLGuard so configuring it to handle a PDF files required configuration of download folders and creating a confirmation email template (that users receive after a purchase).
Within a day it was possible to be selling individual/multiple products using the existing web forms. If you have PHP coding experience then you could modify the forms to blend in with your site design. The cart can also handle membership sales (collating member information that is used to protect portions of your website).
The products specialty is protecting download links that are emailed out to customers. Normally, these links can easily be shared, thus letting other users download the file(s). DLGuard attempts to get around this by setting the maximum download attempt & time limits on how long the link will remain valid, which should stop the majority of misuse.
One stumbling block for some users is that the license limits its use to two domain names which forces webmasters to purchase more licenses if selling on three or more sites. As a workaround, you could install DLGuard on one domain/server and redirect all sales to this shopping cart. Note however that the web page design would not match up with the source websites.
As sales tools go, DLGuard is an economical and user friendly application for the home or small office user. Its ability to capture customer information helps build up a mailing list for your future loyalty promotions. The key selling points for it has got to be the download link security that it provides.