For anyone who has a computer, understanding what the registry is and how an open source registry cleaner works is of the utmost importance.  Anyone who uses their computer on a regular basis needs to know that there are certain files that are going to get onto the computer and over time this will buildup and result in problems.  In particular the registry must be focused on and if not kept clean this can result in serious problems with your computer.  This is where all the most important folders and files are kept on a computer and so when there are problems in the registry this is going to translate into all other areas.

If your computer is ever being sluggish it is time to get an open source registry cleaner.  This is because your machine is not going to run properly unless you keep the registry clean and free of junk and an open source registry cleaner allows more freedom to the user than other registry cleaners.  The greatest benefit that an open source registry cleaner offers is it gives you the benefit of being able to modify the program.  Once you have done a scan of your computer with the program it will present to you all the different files that it is ready to get rid of.

For novice computer users or those who are not all that knowledgeable on the different files that are necessary for a computer to run they are probably going to want to avoid messing around here.  If you know what you are doing and feel comfortable picking and choosing and deleting files then this is a great option.  The last thing that you want to do is accidentally delete a major file off your computer that is going to cause even more problems.  Either way it is important to run a scan of your computer on a regular basis, at least monthly if you can.

Looking online will be your best bet and chances are that you can find one completely for free.  You can look online or go to a computer software store and find a great selection.  There are quite a few programs to choose from but a few that really stand out including the ErrorSmart Registry Cleaner.  Once you have downloaded it onto your computer you can run a scan and you will probably be pretty surprised at just how full of junk your registry is, especially if you have never cleaned it before.

Another suitable choice would be Registry Easy.  The great thing about this program is it will create a backup automatically of all files before they are deleted.  These are features that you want to look for when choosing a registry cleaning program.  Whether you work online or just like to go on and browse the Net, you want your computer to be running at peak performance so keeping the registry clean is a vital step.