Compact Registry

Analyze your registry - this stage can take several minutes to complete and suspends your system. During this time, it is recommended that you do not conduct other tasks on your computer. Although Windows does not shut down and reboot during this stage, it is recommended that you save all your data and close any open applications before commencing it.
Preview Results - after stage (i) is complete, the Preview Results screen displays.

Compact Preview Results screen

The following information is presented on this screen:

The amount of space wasted (in MB) due to registry gaps and corrupt keys, and the amount of space gained (as a percentage of the entire registry) when stage (iii) of the compacting process commences.
Details of the registry hives that are optimized when the compacting process is run. This can be viewed by clicking "More Info >>". The main Preview Results screen summary is retrieved by clicking "<< Back".

Backup, compact and optimize your registry - after viewing the results, click Compact Now to implement the compacting changes. You are prompted to shut down and restart your computer. Registry compacting changes are implemented when your computer restarts.

Analyze your registry - the Windows Registry Checker application runs and a message prompts you to restart your computer. Upon clicking this message's Yes button, Windows Registry Checker analyzes the registry, then shuts down and restarts your computer.
Preview Results - due to the implementation of the registry compacting processes in Windows Me, this stage is skipped.
Backup, compact and optimize your registry - when your computer restarts, registry compacting changes are implemented.

Analyze your registry - a Registry Mechanic message prompts you to restart your computer and upon clicking Yes, Windows shuts down immediately. When your computer restarts, the Windows Registry Checker application runs and begins analyzing the registry.
Preview Results - due to the implementation of the registry compacting processes in Windows 98, this stage is skipped.
Backup, compact and optimize your registry - after the Windows Registry Checker application analyzes your registry, the compacting changes are implemented and Windows starts up.

Compact Registry

Registry compacting removes gaps, wasted space and corrupt keys from the registry, and performs physical defragmentation of the Windows registry files. When the compacting process is complete, the registry acquires a linear structure, which reduces application response and registry access times, and improves system performance.

If the "Create System Restore Point" check box is selected, Registry Mechanic creates a System Restore Point prior to commencing stage (i) of the registry compacting process. This option is available on Windows XP operating systems only.

Click Yes to commence stage (i) of the Compacting Registry process, or No to return to the Main Status screen.

From this point, the registry compacting process differs depending on the version of Windows being used. Click the appropriate link for further details on how these three stages operate: