You can use the built-in Windows Registry Editor to alter Registry key values manually to increase performance or make Windows run the way you want it to, but you must know what you’re doing, or you could gravely harm your OS. In this article, we’ll show you how to fix broken registry on Windows 10 in the safest and most recommended way possible.
The registry file could be corrupt due to virus infection or disk difficulties. If you use the Registry Editor to make changes, the Registry will almost always get corrupted. That is why, before making any changes, you should make a backup of your Registry, as it contains all of your Windows 10 system’s internal settings.
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Contents
What Is Registry In Windows 10?
In simple terms, the Registry contains settings for the hardware and system software and all applications on the PC.
You can change Registry key values manually using the built-in Windows Registry Editor (regedit) to improve performance or make Windows work the way you want. Still, you need to know what you’re doing, or you can seriously damage your OS.
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How Can The Registry Be Corrupted In Windows 10?
The Registry is like to get corrupted because of uncertain errors like:
Orphaned Entries: Whenever you uninstall any software from your computer, small fragments of registry entries are left behind. These entries do not harm your system apart from taking up a few kilobytes of memory.
Registry Cleaner Softwares will likely identify these entries as errors and claim them to be an immediate issue.
Malware Attacks: Usually, malware and viruses are designed in such a way that they change the values of startup keys and get activated each time you restart your PC.
System Shutdown Errors: Every time you shut down your PC, your computer saves a copy of the Registry in the system memory. However, this does not extensively harm your system but may cause future problems. In case of a power failure, system crash, or any other unforeseeable shut down, your computer cannot go through the proper shutdown protocol.
Fragmented Registry: Whenever any software is uninstalled, updated, or upgraded, the Registry of that software may undergo fragmentation.
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Ways To Fix Broken Registry On Windows 10?
[NOTE: Before performing any of these solutions, don’t forget to save your work.]Perform SFC(System File Checker) Scan
Sometimes, system files’ corruption may cause the registry files to break down. So, it’s better to check and repair system files first.
To perform SFC Scan, follow the following steps:
- Open CMD(command prompt) as administrator.
- Type sfc/scannow and press enter.
- A message saying “Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.” will appear, stating that there are no corrupt Windows files.
Windows Error Checking Tool
This tool checks the drive for file system errors.
To use this tool,
- Open File Explorer and click on This PC.
- Right-click and select Properties.
- Open the Tools tab and click on the check button under Error-checking. Click on Scan drive.
Third-party Registry Cleaner Program
Registry cleaners are software programs that remove unnecessary entries from the Windows Registry. Free registry cleaner programs are available that can fix registry errors that the built-in tools of Windows can not. A few Registry Cleaners are:
- CCleaner
- Wise Registry Cleaner
- JetClean
- Registry Repair
Restore Registry
If you previously backed up your Windows registry, you can easily restore your Registry. The backed-up Registry should be a file with a .reg extension. Simple double click, and the restoration process should begin.
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Update Windows BIOS
The Basic Input Output System or BIOS is essential for properly booting Windows. It usually updates on its own, but you might need to update it manually if there are any corrupt files. You can download updated BIOS by checking Product Support for your device on its official website. This is an easy way to fix broken registry on windows 10.
Automatic Startup Repair
Running a startup repair can repair registry issues, configuration settings, windows system files, etc.
To run Startup Repair,
- Open Settings
- Click on Update & Security
- Click on Recovery and press on Restart now
- Select Troubleshoot>Advanced options>Automatic Repair
Reset Your PC
If none of the above steps fails, the last resort is to reset your PC. This feature will reinstall your operating system on your device. However, this will delete all files like images, documents, videos, etc. Hence, backing up your files before performing any tasks. Also, you can refresh your PC, which retains your files instead of deleting them.
To reset your PC,
- Go to settings and open Update & Security.
- Go to Recovery and click on Restart Now. Then click on Troubleshoot
- Choose Reset this PC
- Select whether you want to keep your files or remove everything. Wait till the Reset this PC process begins
- Choose an administrator to Sign In with
- Again, you will be asked if you want to remove everything and continue (Fully clean my drive) or continue as planned (Just remove my files).
- Then, choose reset to proceed with the process. Wait for the process to be over until your Windows is ready
Along with a corrupted registry, at times you also find the error System 32 in Windows. It’s very annoying when the system keeps throwing the System 32 error. Let us investigate why this error occurs. System 32 is a critical file on your computer that can be found in the C:\Windows\System32 directory. It is a vital part of the Windows operating system that stores important system files.
Conclusion
Windows 10 is the application that is looked upon by everyone, But at times, errors do persist in great software. Hence it is very vital to know fixes to at least few of the issues. But in this article, we are hoping that you have at least found how to fix broken registry on windows 10.
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Alex Wawro is a lifelong tech and games enthusiast with more than a decade of experience covering both for outlets like Game Developer, Black Hat, and PC World magazine. He currently serves as a senior editor covering all things computing, from laptops and desktops to keyboards and mice.