At least I think that is what it is called. My old laptop died and a friend has given me a free laptop that is an older model Dell. It just has 518 mb of RAM and it is running extremely slow. I was thinking if I did some sort of registry cleaner that might help. Unfortunately I need something that I can download free at this time. Thank you in advance. Of course downloading Avast was the very first thing I did.
http://www.eusing.com/free_registry_cleaner/registry_cleaner.htm
http://www.atribune.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=25
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/files/file/187-tfc-temp-file-cleaner-by-oldtimer/
Thank you!!! I will probably try this on the desk top also since it is running slow. I can always depend on everyone here on the Avast Forum.
Well… Do a backup or your registry before with ERUNT.
You will regret a lot if something is “cleaned” when it shouldn’t.
CCleaner ask if you want to save a backup…and Eusing does a auto backup
Several weeks ago I used CCcleaner and since I didn’t really know how it worked I just let it do it’s thing. When it finished scanning I selected fix and it messed my computer up bigtime. None of my programs would load, lost my pictures, couldn’t access Facebook plus a lot more. I thought my computer was done but I ended up doing a system restore and after that everything was the same as it was before I used CCcleaner. Will never use a registry cleaner again.
If you do use one do a backup as Tech suggested.
Two very good programs and FREE.
Hi -midnight,
That is proof of the fact that the “uninformed” should stay out of the registry by all means, because they can ruin their OS big time. Even their operational system may stop functioning alltogether. That was why everybody in the past, when something in the registry had to be changed, had to make a full copy to back-up the existing registry. If anything would go wrong, the existing registry could be restored from what was saved beforehand.
-midnight, believe polonus, in the hands of the “unsavvy” the registry settings can mean major disaster ahead,
polonus
Hi Polonus
Yep…I was definitely “unsavvy.” I didn’t even think about making a back up of the existing registry.
In my opinion you should never, ever use a registry cleaner unless you know the registry inside out. What may appear to be an orphan registry key (especially on 64bit system) may be the one that keeps your computer running
Totally agree. Even if you don’t run into a problem, there really isn’t any notable time saving by cleaning up your registry.
Even backing up the registry doesn’t guarantee that you’ll have access to that back up if the system no longer boots.
If the system no longer boots that why you should keep a system image. Windows 7 also has a repair function. Registry cleaners are perfectly safe if you take the necessary precautions. Also never delete everything they find. I usually use CCleaner registry cleaner and Wise registry only after uninstalling a product I no longer want or need. I only delete what is related to that program and not once have I ever had an issue.
It’s your computer and your free to do with it what ever you want. I’m simply offering my opinion. 
as is everyone else who replied in this thread.
What is a system image?
Hi -midnight,
That is why we and you also have google.
The definition is “A system image in computing is a copy of the entire state of a computer system stored in some non-volatile form such as a file.”
But you could have found that yourself searching for that term in wikipedia. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_image
Remember that for your next question(s).
How long have you been working a computer? Are you relatively new working a keyboard?
polonus
I’ve been using a computer for years and years. Didn’t think about doing a search to see what a system image meant. Will try to remember to do that the next time I need to find out what something means. :-[
Couldn’t have said it better myself. People…You have the world at your finger tips. Use it. Whatever you don’t know…Google it.
Invalid registry entries created due to regular installation and un - installation of programs and applications. RecoveryFix for Registry Cleaner Software is reliable tool for cleaning all invalid registry which will completely scans the system registry and making the Windows registry error free.
Thanks
I use Free Registry Cleaner. 
http://www.eusing.com/free_registry_cleaner/registry_cleaner.htm
Hi folks,
But just as bob3160 and essexboy mentioned, you must really know a bout the registry’s " hat and brim" before you venture out into tweaking it. For instance read this thread about Registry Backup Precautions and how they still can go hopelessly wrong, if you start overwriting existing settings. (link from PCReview - posting from admiral_victoryATiol.ie etc. and response from Alex Nichol MS MVP (Windows Technologies) Bournemouth, U.K.))
So without knowing your registry like the lining of your trouser pockets I would leave it untouched,
polonus