14 DAY TRIAL // When it comes to making Windows launch programs faster, there is little you can do. Releasing RAM on XP (Vista is equipped with Superfetch, so the results are momentary) can do the trick for a while, but to benefit from greater speed you will have to better the registry.
More and more computer maintenance utilities have come to integrate registry defragmentation features since registry items, just like the files on your hard disk, do fragment in time and need to be pulled together to allow the CPU an improved read/write operation. Do not expect fantastic results, but this will definitely contribute to the overall performance of your system.
QuickSys RegDefrag is designed for exactly the aforementioned chore. It will analyze the registry and supply you information about the current state of the registry, as well as evaluate the reduction of its size. The great news is that it does not have any price tags attached and that it is also portable as no settings need to be written in Windows Registry.
Despite the pompous name of its object of activity, the procedure is quite simple because everything is automatic. Even more, your registry will be in a safe pair of hands that can also create a restore point for your system before proceeding to any modifications. This way, you can revert to the previous state at any time and keep your computer safe and sound. If restore points are not to your taste and you'd rather handle the registry yourself, there is always the possibility to back it up.
To tell you the truth, the interface seemed summery-looking to me, and very straightforward and easy to use, having almost all the options in plain view. Actually, there are only two actions you can perform with QuickSys RegDefrag: defragmentation of the registry, which includes analysis and then defragging, and getting more info on it (operating system, user logged, registry size, and number of fragmented files).
If you take a look in the upper right hand corner of the screen, you will bump into Options menu that allows you to enable automatic checking for updates, add "Defrag Registry" and "Get Registry Information" to My Computer context menu, as well as choose the working language, define the backup folder and enable automatic backing up and restore point creation.
Main screen of the software provides an overview of the activity informing the user on the date and time of the last defragmentation performed, the percentage it has been decreased by, and the amount in KB it has shrunk by. This is precious intel that allows you to keep track of the jobs executed and their impact on the system.
At the outset of the defragmentation "chore," an analysis of the registry state and a review of the evaluation take place. The entire procedure generally takes little time, but it all depends on the size of the registry and the defragmentation level. Putting QuickSys RegDefrag to a comparative test, it came out in pole position, with a difference of almost a minute from its counterpart. However, although during the analysis everything has to be still on the computer and the program has to ensure a "static" environment, QuickSys RegDefrag failed miserably as only the desktop proved be inaccessible to the user. The use of keyboard shortcuts like Alt + Tab created no problem with shifting the focus to a different app.
In some cases, the desktop only seems inaccessible due to the shadow effect cast over it by QuickSys RegDefrag, but in reality you may still have full access to the software installed on the machine. However, for best results, I recommend defragmenting the registry with as little applications running as possible and not putting the system to any additional strain during the operation.
After analysis is complete, QuickSys RegDefrag will display the results, namely the total size of the registry and the estimation for the new size, as well as the difference between the two. Even more, the user will also benefit from a graphic representation of the registry's fragmented files and allocated space.
This window will also provide access to backup options and tell you if registry backup function and restore point creation are enabled or disabled. The application will also draw its own conclusion after evaluation, letting you know if it considers defragmentation opportune or not.
After this, QuickSys RegDefrag will act towards defragmenting your registry. Note that all changes will take effect only after the machine has been restarted. You can postpone this action for a later time, but no improvement will be noticeable.
Unfortunately, the defragmentation process is not as efficient as one would think, as not all fragments are gotten rid of from the first operation, and multiple runs of QuickSys RegDefrag are needed in order to obtain the best results. Nevertheless, fragmentation level will decrease with each run of the application.
Running QuickSys RegDefrag is a simple operation involving a few mouse clicks and a computer restart. Results are notable after the restart, and registry will be accessed faster by the CPU due to the lack of gaps and wasted space.
The Good
The application poses no problems, even for a beginner computer user because everything is explained and easy to assimilate and understand. It moves fast when it comes to analyzing the state of your registry, and it will display the improvement rate after defragmentation and system restart.
The Bad
You have to insist on the defragmentation more than once in order to make the best of the software, and the computer may sometimes be accessed during analysis. It would be great if it constrained the user from using the computer during the registry assessment and defragmentation.
The Truth
It is easy to use, works fast, it is free and, on top of everything, you can carry it on an USB stick. However, not all is milk and honey, as your registry is going to take more than one defragmentation session to shake into a better shape.
Here are some snapshots of the application in action:
