What Is AOL Computer
Checkup?

AOL Computer Checkup is designed to monitor a computer in
order to identify potential problems. The application's primary purpose is to
enhance a computer system's performance through the identification of software
or hardware problems that exist. AOL Computer Checkup runs regular scans in
order to identify any problematic issues.

Cancellation of AOL
Computer Checkup

In order to stop the recurring $4.99 monthly subscription
fee for AOL's Computer Checkup, you must contact AOL and submit your
cancellation request. The easiest way to do so is to cancel this application
online using the following set of instructions. You can also make the
cancellation by phone.

How to Cancel AOL
Computer Checkup

1)      Sign
onto your AOL account using your username and password.

2)      Enter
your security question's answer in the proper box.

3)      Select
continue.

4)      Look
for the tab labeled "Service Options."

5)      Select
"Manage my subscriptions" under "Service Options."

6)      Select
the option to "Cancel" next to "AOL Computer Checkup." At this point, you
should see a list of all the benefits that you will miss out on if you cancel.
Look it over if you have the slightest doubt that you want to cancel the
subscription.

7)      Choose
a reason for your cancellation from the choices in the drop-down menu.

8)      Select
the button for "Cancel."

9)      Wait
until the notification that you have successfully cancelled your AOL Computer
Checkup subscription appears.

You should also see a cancellation email show up in your
inbox within the next hour or so. However, the full cancellation process may
take a bit longer to become finalized.

Cancellation of AOL
Computer Checkup by Phone

If you want to cancel your AOL Computer Checkup subscription
by phone, simply call 1-866-485-9217 during the hours of 8:00 am and 1:00 am
(Eastern time) during weekdays. You can also call between the hours of 8:00 am
and 10:00 pm (Eastern Time) on Saturdays.

What is Piriform CCleaner?

A form of freeware, Piriform CCleaner is designed to clean your computer system, enabling it to run more smoothly by removing unused files, cleaning up registry entries, and erasing Internet history. It is designed to optimize your operating system, allowing it to run faster and with fewer problems. This application is a privacy-and-cleaning tool as well as a registry cleaner. As such, it is designed to free up space on your hard drive.

How Often Should You Run Piriform CCleaner?

How often you run Piriform CCleaner depends on a lot of variables. In general, you should run this application a minimum of once a week in order to keep your system running smoothly.

However, the general rule of thumb is the more you use your computer, the more frequently you should run a privacy-and-cleaning utility. If any of the following situations exist, you should run Piriform CCleaner more frequently:

• The computer is shared by other individuals.
• You browse numerous websites.
• You've downloaded software.
• You've uninstalled software.
• You've noticed suspicious activity on the computer (running slowly, pop up windows, etc).

If the computer is shared by other individuals, running Piriform CCleaner prevents them from seeing which websites you have visited, helping to keep your personal data private. If you browse numerous websites each day, the likelihood that your computer will become infected with spyware or a virus increases. Therefore, you should run this application to remove traces of your personal passwords and log ins.

What You Need to Know about Running Piriform CCleaner?

While you can run this application even if you are signed on as a restricted user, it is best to sign on as the administrator for the best results. When Piriform CCleaner runs, it removes all of the following data, depending on the web browser that you use:

• Temporary files
• Download history
• Browsing history
• Cookies
• Auto-complete form history
• Form history
• Temporary log files
• Recent documents

Keep your computer system in prime condition

It is a regular occurrence for personal computers to slow down over time. As I'm sure you know, frequent program use can result in file corruption, left over bits of data and other system slow-downs. Running a registry booster is a great way to clean up your system and optimize your computer's performance.

Using Microsoft system optimization tools

I think that one of the easiest - and most convenient ways to optimize your system and make sure that your DLL files are in prime operating condition is to run the scans that are built into your operating system. Microsoft includes a number of scans and checks in its systems that are developed to keep your computer in the best working condition. According to a Microsoft Help webpage, the File Checker application "scans the integrity of all protected Windows 7 system files and replaces incorrect, corrupted, changed or damaged versions with the correct versions if possible". If you are running a version of earlier than Windows 7, there are similar steps to follow for the same feature.

Run the Windows SCANNOW tool

To run the SCANNOW file checker, follow these directions:

• 1. First, open an elevated command prompt by clicking the Start button and selecting All Programs and Accessories
• 2. Right click on Command Prompt, then choose Run as Administrator
• 3. In the elevated command prompt, type in sfc /scannow and then click Enter
• 4. This procedure will take a while to run. Be patient and let the application scan all the files on your system
• 5. If all is well, you will see an OK message letting you know that the system is stable and any found issues have been resolved

Try a PC health tool

Other than the internal Windows scans for your registry and system32 files, there are some commercial products on the market that offer advanced system optimization support and are often available for free trials, like the PC Health Advisor by Paretologic. This kind of program includes a range of different scans to keep your computer clean, healthy and secure. You can download a trial version of this the PC Health Advisor program, as well as read a much more in-depth description of its features at ParetoLogic.com.

What causes registry errors?

Registry errors can arise from several different factors. The most common cause of corruption occurs when the user does a complete uninstall of the operating system, hardware and associated drivers. Often, the uninstallation process deletes all programs, files and folders, along with the core file structure and registry. The remaining orphaned files are usually the ones that cause conflicts with existing software and any new software that comes with the new installation. Viruses and spyware can also be causes of registry corruption.

How can you repair a broken Windows registry?

The easiest way to fix a corrupt registry is usually to run a registry cleaner.

This software program is specially designed to scan through your Windows registry, find obsolete and damaged files that have been left behind, and repair them. The program will allow you to remove these files with a single click. The program will make this process relatively simple, normally taking around 15-30 minutes from start to finish.

It's important to note that registry files should not be tampered with manually if at all possible. If you don't know exactly what you're doing, you can permanently damage the software of your computer. This is due to the core functionality that the registry plays in the operation of your computer system.

What are some symptoms and steps that can be followed for a clean registry?

Slow performance, error messages, a frozen screen, frequent crashes, a static blue screen and slow bootups are all symptoms of a damaged registry.

Fortunately it doesn't take a certified computer technician to repair these problems. The following few steps should get you on your way to a hassle-free computer that works like it was brand-new:
First, before you make any repairs in Windows, you will need to create a fresh restore point in Windows. This way, if you damage anything in the process of the registry repair, you can return back to where you started. You do this by going to
Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Restore.
Create a new restore point, name it, and then click create.

Next, go to Start>Run and then type REGEDIT. This will open the registry editor (don't touch anything here!).

Open File>Export, and select a location to save it. Name your file and click save.

This will create a file of all the necessary information we need to restore the system if we damage files in the repair process.

Now that we've created a backup point we can continue with the registry repair itself. Here is where we can use the registry repair software mentioned earlier -  either for free or at an affordable price online.

The right Windows registry repair software will scan your operating system, find the broken and empty files within your hard drive and delete them for good.

"The best registry cleaner isnt a registry cleaner at all."

Most Registry Cleaners are gotcha applications, You download it, scan with it and then gotcha cause you gotta buy it if you want to fix everything.

"Most Registry Cleaners are like a broom in a Kalahari dust storm"

Most of these scan and gotcha registry cleaners only clean the Registry and not the drive as a defrag tool would do. The Windows registry is kinda like your closet, cleaning it feels warm and fuzzy and you become satisfied that you didnt waste your whole day on the couch again, thing is though cleaning your closet and aka your Registry does little for improving your life or the life of your computer. In rare cases you may get a microsec boost in say the Windows bootup process. But thats it folks.

PCHealth Advisor is not a Registry Cleaner..

But it does clean your registry. Ponder that for a while... if you need to.

Download Paretologic PC Health Advisor instead - it does a lot, fixes drivers, fixes files, defrags the hard-disk, cleans the Registry sure, optimizes Windows processes, cleans out malicious running processes and all associated spyware/adware/malware files and programs. Also you can optimize and manage all the apps that run on startup. In particular these last 2 features will really make a difference in your computers speed.

PC Health Advisor is definetely the Best Registry Cleaner in my opinion. Why? (havent you read this from the top?) because dodo it doesnt 'just' clean the Registry.

Do you have a blog and an article or post on registry cleaners? Link to this page please and lets help inform the world what a Registy Cleaner can and cannot (mostly cannot) do...

Rogue Registry Cleaners and Programs

It sounds like your computer may have been infected with a rogue program. Fake computer alerts are common ploys used by malware developers and unscrupulous software developers. For example, pop-up windows that look surprisingly like traditional Windows security alerts are often used to tell a computer user that a problem has been detected and needs to be fixed. Once clicked, an executable program is launched that installs a fake computer security program onto the user's computer. This fake program then lists all kinds of discovered problems such as viruses and spyware and then prompts the user to purchase the program in order to remove the malware. Many of these programs block access to computer security websites, making it difficult to remove the unwanted program.

Rogue Registry Cleaners background

Just as fake antivirus programs are proliferating, so are rogue registry cleaners. They use similar tactics. Oftentimes, the rogue registry cleaner arrives with the help of Trojans. A fake scan appears, displaying fake results. Other tactics include the use of fake computer security alerts and prompts to purchase a program designed to remove the errors.

Removing Rogue Registry Cleaners

Whether you're dealing with a rogue antivirus program, rogue registry cleaner, or other software in this category, removing it could be difficult, especially if the program blocks access to legitimate computer security websites.

If you currently have a legitimate computer security product installed on your system, update it and run a full system scan. If you can't update the software because the malware is blocking it, use a different computer to download the latest antivirus and antispyware definitions to a disc and update the software manually from disc. Hopefully, your computer security product will recognize the rogue software and remove it for you.

Another option is to search sites such as Symantec or Trend Micro for information about the exact rogue product installed on your system as they will often list manual removal instructions.

The Bin Registry Key

The bin registry key is a key located within the Windows registry related to the Recycle Bin. Changes made to this key can affect how the Recycle Bin works. The Windows registry is a vast repository of information and settings covering just about every item on your computer. In this case, the bin registry key is located at this registry address:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}

Dangers of Editing the Bin Registry Key

While it is possible to troubleshoot Recycle Bin problems by editing the bin registry key, this job shouldn't be attempted by the average computer user. The Windows registry is extremely susceptible to mistakes, many of which can adversely affect your computer. Most changes take place immediately - including accidental entries. A simple mistake can cause more trouble than the initial problem, so extreme care is required.

In addition, registry editing is not intuitive. It's not like you're given a choice of options and helpful hints along the way. For example, Symantec gives specific bin registry editing instructions for users of its Norton Protected Recycle Bin to manually repair the bin registry key. One of the values in this example should read "ThreadingModel"="Apartment" - how would an average user know to enter this? And that's just one line of many for one specific product! Other programs may also have specific entries in this key, some legitimate, some not necessarily so. It's impossible for average computer users, and even above average ones, to know.

Solving Common Registry-related Errors

That you're asking what a bin registry key is leads to another question: Why do you need to know? Is your computer generating an error message pointing to problems with the bin registry key? If so, what is the specific error message? Are you noticing any other computer problems? Is your Recycle Bin functioning as it should?

If you suspect problems with the registry, consider investing in a registry cleaning product such as RegCure. Your computer may even have a registry cleaner pre-installed. For example, some VAIO computers come with Sony's VAIO care utility which has a registry cleaning function. These utilities provide you with a safe way to clean up registry errors and have an added benefit: improved computer performance.

RegCure File Corruption

It's odd that the actual program will not open all of a sudden, but not unheard of with any software program. Programs are made up of dozens of system files and building blocks called DLLs. If a single file or DLL becomes damaged, program errors result ranging from minor flukes to complete failures. In this case, part of the program is unaffected (the automated scan) but the program itself cannot load.

So, what to do? You can a couple of do-it-yourself options that you can try before contacting RegCure technical support. Since this just happened, the easiest first step is to run System Restore if you have Windows XP or a later version.

System Restore

System Restore will only work if you have a current restore point. Check to see by going to Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore. A Window will open showing you the "recommended" restore point which is usually the most recent one. Consider whether the recommended restore point is before or after the problem occurred. You need a reasonably current restore point that took place before RegCure started acting up. If the recommended restore point is from after the error, it won't do any good. In this case, click on "Choose a different restore point" and then choose one from just before the error.

This will rollback your system to its older state; it doesn't not affect data so you will not lose your documents, email messages, and photos. However, if you installed software or hardware since that date, you will need to reinstall it. The same is true of any updates.

Reinstall RegCure

If you do not have a valid restore point, the next option is to uninstall and then reinstall RegCure. Since you can't open the program to look up your registration keys, you will need to check your email or other documentation from your original purchase so that when you reinstall the software it knows that you are licensed to use the full version. If you don't have the information handy, ParetoLogic, the developer of RegCure, has a License Key Lookup tool on its Web site. You will need either your original order ID or the email address you used when you purchased the product.

ParetoLogic offers a free download of RegCure on its Web site. Go ahead and download the free version (it is a scanner only until the license key is entered which unlocks the other features). Once loaded on your computer, go to the About section and enter your license key. Since this is a new installation, you may need to recreate your original scan schedule.

Note: According to ParetoLogic Support, when uninstalling and reinstalling RegCure, your license keys will remain intact. Still, it doesn't hurt to be prepared with the information just in case.

RegCure Support

Finally, if neither System Restore nor reinstalling RegCure worked, contact RegCure support for additional help.

Do you know what happens behind the scenes each and every time you install or remove software or hardware from your Windows based PC? 

You may not be aware of it, but every time such a change is made the operating system keeps track of it.  In order to do that Windows uses a special file called the registry.  This registry file stores a wealth of information about your PC, including the type of software installed on it, any special settings, changes you have made, file locations and much more. 

A problem with the registry can manifest itself in all sorts of ways, from minor annoyances like programs that are slow to open to major issues like a PC that refuses to boot or just keeps restarting. 

Given the importance of the Windows registry it is vital for computer owners to tread cautiously before making any changes.  Making the wrong change can have serious repercussions, up to and including a PC that is totally useless.

Yet keeping the registry clean is certainly important, and many PCs do in fact contain registry keys (sometimes thousands) that are no longer needed. 

Many times when a program is uninstalled or updated it leaves behind little traces of itself in the Windows registry, and those traces can cause everything from slow performance to programs that refuse to load. 

Fortunately there are special tools designed to help computer owners keep their registries in top shape without risking damage to their systems.  These registry cleaning tools make the registry scanning and cleaning process much simpler - and much safer.  If you doubt the value having a registry cleaning tool on board, just consider these salient points:

• Making even a minor change in the Windows registry can have serious ramifications. Changing the wrong key, or entering the wrong value, could cause your computer to become instantly inoperable.
• It can be difficult or even impossible to undo a registry change once it has been made. While there are ways to restore a damaged registry, if the PC won't boot you may be out of luck.
• Reversing the damage may require the help of a computer expert - with all the associated costs. Even if the computer can be restored, doing so can be expensive.
• Computer experts agree that altering the registry is a job only the most experienced computer owners should tackle. Changing a registry key is deceptively simple, but unless you know exactly what you are doing you could be in for a big hassle.
• You could end up losing many years worth of personal, professional and financial data if your computer is damaged by an incorrect registry change. We keep so much of our lives on our computers these days, and that means a crash can have very serious effects. It is best to err on the side of caution and never make a registry change without using a registry cleaning tool.

All of these are very good reasons to use a registry cleaning tool.  Making changes to the Windows registry on your own can be likened to riding the trapeze without a net.  Both are extremely dangerous, and the results of one bad move can be disastrous.  The good news is that a quality registry cleaning tool can be your PC safety net.

The Registry tool we recommend is Regcure by Paretologic

Running Registry Cleaners

Sounds like you've used a free registry scanner to detect the 913 registry problems. That's a good first step, but at this point it is informational only. Most free registry scanners are evaluation tools that give you an idea of the health of your registry so that you can decide whether or not to upgrade to the full, commercial version of the product. With nearly a thousand known registry errors, your computer is a candidate for a good registry cleaning.

Filetonic recommends RegCure from ParetoLogic Software. I use this registry cleaner on my daughter's computer and can vouch for its effectiveness at cleaning out the junk and speeding the computer up.

Slow PC or other Computer problems? Run a free registry scan Now

How Registry Cleaning Works

The Windows registry is a big index of information about your computer and everything on it. The operating system refers to this index regularly to carry out its functions. When the registry is "clean," Windows can easily find the information required and move on. When it becomes excessively large, it takes longer for Windows to find what it needs therefore operations become sluggish.

To make matters worse, invalid information and corruption within the registry leads to odd behavior and computer errors. For example, if a registry entry tells Windows to load a particular program but the program no longer exists, Windows will do its best to load the non-existent program, often delaying other processes while it searches for it. When the missing program can't be found, you may see an error message.

The registry is an ever-evolving entity. As you add and remove programs and hardware, the registry is changed. When you change user preferences on your computer, these changes are reflected in the registry. Other programs, like spyware and computer viruses, also make changes to the registry.

Registry Editing

Windows comes with a built-in registry editing utility called regedit. However, making manual changes to the registry tool is extremely risky and shouldn't be attempted for large scale cleaning (especially if are working with as many errors as your computer has). Registry cleaning software is programmed to make the necessary changes safely and quickly.

Other Concerns

Investing in a registry cleaner such as RegCure is an inexpensive way to speed up a sluggish computer and keep it running smoothly through regular cleanings. Cleaning the registry is a good first step. If after the cleaning, your computer still experiences weird happenings, I would be concerned with malware. Viruses and spyware can also corrupt your registry and slow your computer.In addition, you mentioned an overabundance of spam which increases your exposure to scammers, phishers, and malware. If you don't have a good antivirus product on your computer, this is another investment that you won't regret.

We reviewed some of the top antivirus products for 2009 earlier this year, several of which are free. Look for a complete solution that takes care of viruses, spyware, and spam. Using a reputable computer security product and cleaning out the malware and viruses will also improve slow computers.