Your Windows 7 registry contains all the “blueprints” in your Windows installation. If your registry is damaged, then the possible cause could be bad drivers, failed uninstallation, or a variety of other causes. You can fix this right away by performing a system restore to a time when your computer was running fine. You can also use a registry cleaning program such as CCleaner to check for and repair various registry errors.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Performing a System Restore
Step 1. Open the System Restore window
You can restore your computer's settings using a Restore Point if a recent change to your computer system resulted in an error in the registry. Many ways are available to open the System Restore window:
- Click the Start menu and type "restore". Select “System Restore” from the list of search results.
- Press the “Win+Pause” button and click the “Advanced system settings” link. Click the “System Protection” tab, then click the System Restore button.
Step 2. Select a restore point
Windows will select the latest restore point if you enable System Restore on your computer. Restore points are created when major changes to the system occur. Click here if you don't have any restore points to try another method.
- Click on the “Show more restore points” box to view previous restore points in case something went wrong.
- Each restore point will have a timeline with a brief description of why the restore point was created.
Step 3. Click on
Scan for affected programs.
You'll see all the programs and drivers that will be removed from your computer and programs that are less likely to run properly after recovery.
System restore will not affect your personal data
Step 4. Click on
Next , then Finish to start the recovery process.
This process may take several minutes. Your computer will restart when the recovery is complete.
Method 2 of 2: Using CCleaner
Step 1. Download and install CCleaner from the developer site
CCleaner is a free utility program created by Piriform. You can download this program from piriform.com/ccleaner/. The free version is enough to fix the registry.
In general, users can leave the settings as they are when installing CCleaner
Step 2. Run CCleaner
This program will check for errors in the registry, then try to fix them for you.
Step 3. Click the “Registry” option on the left menu
Step 4. Make sure all your boxes are checked
This step will make CCleaner check for as many errors as possible.
Step 5. Click the “Scan for Issues” button, then CCleaner will start checking your registry
Any errors will be displayed in the right frame.
Step 6. Click the “Fix selected issues” button
All problems found will be checked by default.
Step 7. Back up the registry when prompted
This step will help ensure that you can restore your settings if something happens with CCleaner.
Step 8. Click the “Fix selected issues” button
You can go back to every repair manually, but in general you can trust CCleaner to do the repairs properly.
Step 9. Click “Close” after everything is fixed
Step 10. Restart your computer
You may need to reinstall Windows 7 if the problem persists.