So you’ve determined your computer windows registry is corrupt, and you want to fix your registry. You do an online search, and you find some free registry cleaners.

Sounds like a great deal, but there’s an old saying “you get what you pay for.” And that definitely applies here.

All registry repair software programs are not made equally. One registry cleaner does not necessarily fix your registry in the same way that another one will. A good registry cleaner will quarantine all corrupt registry files, and delete the ones that are deemed to be the most harmful. But most free registry cleaners will only isolate some problems. Corrupt files often remain on your computer as a result.

There’s an opposite problem as well. Good registry cleaners will only quarantine a registry file if they suspect it’s corrupt, instead of destroying it. But a number of free registry cleaners will automatically delete the registry files, and important information can be lost.

If you think your registry needs to be fixed, but you are not sure, you do not have to go out and buy a registry repair program right away. The best products offer an initial free online scan of the registry, which will give you an idea of the problems your computer is facing. You then have the option of buying the full version, and when you do this, the registry repair software will do a comprehensive cleaning of your PC in about half an hour. Most offer money back guarantees, so there’s really not a lot of risk.

This is a much better option than leaving your machine in the hands of a questionable registry cleaner you got for free.