Windows registry is one of the most significant components to the Windows operating system, and a single corrupt registry entry on Windows 8 or Windows 10 can destroy an entire Windows. A corrupted registry could make you have troubles using your Windows devices, like random system crashes and reboots, missing desktop icons, slow performance of your computer and more.
In some serious cases, when the registry gets corrupted, the Windows OS must be reinstalled. This means that you are losing all of your data. That’s why it is strongly recommended to back up your registry or backup whole system before changing anything.

To repair a corrupt registry in Windows 8, 8.1 or 10, check the following guidelines:

  • Run Automatic Repair
  • Clean your registry
  • Run SFC scan
  • Refresh Windows System
  • Reset. (Warning: A Reset option will remove all your data, settings and configuration you did on your Windows computer.)

Run Automatic Repair
To run Automatic Repair which will attempt to fix a corrupt registry on your Windows 8 or 8.1 system, follow these steps:
1. Open the Settings panel and go to General> Advanced Startup, and click Restart now.

2. At the Choose an option screen, click Troubleshoot. Click Automated Repair at the next screen.
   

3. Automatic Repair should now start and your computer may reboot in this part.


Clean your Registry
To fix Windows registry, you can seek help from a Windows registry repair tool. Registry cleaner or registry software is a tool that repairs corrupt registry as well as crashed MBR, virus-infected registry key value and partition table. Within few minutes and fewer mouse clicks, you can easily fix and optimize windows registry.

Run SFC Scan
If you do not want to install a registry software, you could try to run System File Checker and see if it works.
1. On your computer Desktop, right-click on your Start button and select “Run cmd as administrator”.
2. In the cmd window type sfc / scannow and press Enter on the keyword. The scanning process is fast and you do not have to wait for a long time.

Refresh your Computer
The Refresh option will leave your file safe, and in this case, Windows will reinstall any applications you installed and create a copy of these applications on your desktop. However, get a backup yourself is always the best policy.
To perform a Refresh on your Windows, follow these steps:
1. Go to the Settings panel > Change PC Settings > Update and recovery, and click Recovery at this screen.

2. Click Get started > Reset This PC > Keep my files.
3. Follow the instructions to finish this part.
 
Reset if necessary
To do a Reset of your Windows 8 or 10 system, follow these steps:
A Reset procedure will erase all the personal data from your computer. Be sure to back up your files before your next step.
1. Go to Settings > Change PC Settings.
2. Click Update and recovery, and click Recovery.
3. Click Get started > Reset This PC > Keep my files. Follow the instructions on the screen. The computer might reboot itself after the procedure is completed.