The REGEDIT command will allow you to view and edit the registry, but if you don't know what you're doing under the hood, just put down that wrench and back away slowly. In general, slimming down your registry will make Windows run faster. Sometimes an "orphaned" registry entry can confuse Windows during startup and cause a delay.
DO I NEED CCLEANER ON MY COMPUTER INSTALL
You can end up with lots of unnecessary registry entries that are created when you install or remove software and hardware on your computer. It's not uncommon for the registry to grow very large over time, which tends to slow down the computer's startup and can make it unstable. That's why you need to use a registry cleaner every once in a while. Since it is a single point of failure, problems with the Registry can make a Windows system slower, less reliable, unbootable, and in extreme cases can only be fixed by reinstalling the operating system. It was supposed to be an improvement on the collection of simple text-based INI files that stored Windows configuration settings, but too many pocket protectors got involved in the design and the result was an over-engineered, over-complicated mess that makes Windows much more fragile and harder for users to maintain. In slightly more technical terms, the registry is a database in which Windows keeps track of relationships between hardware, software and the operating system. In layman's terms, the Windows Registry is a hideously complex ball of string, rubber bands, duct tape and bailing wire that's supposed to keep track of Windows system settings, your hardware configuration, user preferences, file associations, system policies, and installed software.
But first, let's define exactly what the registry is.
The short answer is: Yes, your computer will run better if you occasionally clean your Windows system registry.