Working with Windows Registry can be a serious job, especially if you do not know what you are doing. And yet, Windows users have to clean it of the obsolete files, unused files, file associations, left-overs from incomplete uninstalls etc. Why? Well, the alternative is not too appealing and in time system crashes, low system performance and a general state of "grogginess" may install in your computer.

For registry cleaning there is a myriad of solutions on the Internet, each of them bragging about being the most efficient and accurate detection engines. They are all the "ultimate" tool in cleaning that part of the computer so that everything is tip-top.

Advanced Registry Optimizer is a tool from the registry cleaning category that costs $29.50. The 30 days trial period allows full testing of the application and there will be no nag screen to disrupt your work.

The looks are plain and simple and I am sure that novices would be glad to see that among the options available in the software there is a Registry backup tool that can help you in case of mischiefs. Also, there is a registry cleaner and optimizing tool designed to tidy up that sensible part of your computer without compromising the useful programs that are installed on your computer. More than this, Advanced Registry Optimizer comprises a registry defragmenter to gather all the files into one place, compressing and re-indexing it.

All the tools are available from the second screen of the software (the first one is the trial reminder). The user is given the flexibility of choosing one of these tools independently, regardless of the situation of the registry.

Backup and Restore option allows you to save the current registry in a separate folder on your hard drive. This way, in case of system failure you can load it back and revert to the last known good configuration. This tool functions much like the System Restore option in Windows, but in manual mode.

The menus are simple and easy to understand. Backup your files by storing the registry in folder or restore it when your system is in trouble. After the first backup you will be informed about the date of the last backup, as well as time and hour.

Registry Cleaner and Optimizer is the core of the software as this is where the cleaning engine comes into play. Before hurrying to press the Start button, I suggest you take a look under Options. Here there are the areas enabled to be checked during the scanning process. Sections like ActiveX elements, User/System Software Settings, Fonts section, Invalid File Associations, Run, Uninstall section, help files or application paths can be checked for invalid entries, obsolete files or simply put, junk.

The scan does not take long (at least in my case it did not) and for a home user that does not install/uninstall softwares daily the duration should be OK. Be aware of the fact that, during the scan, your computer may experience some low performance and may not work at full capacity as a result of the running operation.

The Undo option allows you to turn back one step in case a false positive has been detected and eliminated. If there is one thing the results lack, that is a kind of a ranking of the errors (low, medium, critical) or a sort of color code depending on the severity of the error.

Defragmenting the registry is exactly the same as defragmenting the regular file on your hard disk. The registry "benefits" of the same fragmentation as any other file and this will eventually affect your system stability. Advanced Registry Optimizer provides the necessary tool to eliminate this problem and the process will not take long at all. However, the same low performance of your computer may appear, just like in the case of registry scanning.

The Good

Very easy to use, Advanced Registry Optimizer succeeds in doing a good job with nailing the detected registry errors. It moves pretty fast and the "safety nets" available (Backup and Restore and the Undo option) give the user the much needed sense of security.

The Bad

The interface needs a little work and maybe adding a Maximize and Restore Down buttons for the windows will be taken into consideration. The windows are resizable, but the operation is really uncomfortable.

Based on the fact that there are applications that do almost the same thing as Advanced Registry Optimizer, I would say that the price is a bit high.

The Truth

Advanced Registry Optimizer is a good application that lacks little things. It can defrag your registry, perform backups and restoring of the files, all these leading to an improved computer performance and less annoyances from the operating system.

Neophytes can use it with confidence as the "safety-nets" work just fine.

Here are some snapshots of the application in action: