The Automatic (Startup) Repair tool will scan your computer and fix any broken registry file it finds. To access this tool, type disk cleanup in the Windows Search box and click Disk Cleanup in the results. The Disk Cleanup tool that lets you remove unnecessary files from your computer, this includes broken registry items.

This guide on backing up and restoring the Windows Registry has everything you need to know. Creating a backup serves as your insurance should anything go wrong. Damaging any registry file may corrupt the Windows OS and cause your computer to malfunction. Therefore, it’s important to make a backup of the registry before you attempt to make changes to the registry or fix broken registry items. Note: The Windows Registry is a database of sensitive files and settings. Proceed to the next section to learn how to use these tools to fix broken registry items on a Windows PC. Windows has a number of built-in tools that can help diagnose issues with registry files.

The point is: You stand to benefit more from removing or fixing broken registry files than leaving them to bloat the registry.

Doing so will positively impact your PC’s performance, particularly if your computer is running slowly or if some system apps are not working correctly. You should occasionally confirm that your Windows computer is devoid of broken items in the registry.

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