Optimize the Windows Registry Regularly Using NTREGOPT With Task Scheduler

NTREGOPT is a registry optimization tool for Windows. This program compacts the registry to the minimum size possible by removing any slack space that may be left after installing or uninstalling applications in the system. Note that this program does not modify the registry contents in any way.

Registry optimization as a scheduled task

NTREGOPT can be run in silent mode using the /silent parameter, and can be run as a Scheduled Task. Here are the instructions.

Important: You should restart the system immediately because any changes made to the registry after NTREGOPT has been run are lost after the reboot. The user is supposed to close all running applications before continuing the registry optimization process. In this case, we’re going to launch NTREGOPT using a VBScript so that the user is cautioned about a system restart that’ll take place after optimization is complete.

Also, do not run NTREGOPT when updates (from Windows Update) are pending to be installed, or when a reboot is already pending.

Follow these preliminary steps first:

  • Download and install NTREGOPT if it’s not already installed.
  • Download ntregopt.zip and save to Desktop. Extract the file ntregopt.vbs (which is the launcher script) to a permanent folder. This is the file we’re going to run using Task Scheduler.

1. Open Task Scheduler from Control Panel or by running the command control schedtasks from Start, Search box.
2. In the Actions pane on the right, click Create Task…
3. Type a name for the task that you want to create (e.g. NTREGOPT), and optionally assign a description.
4. Enable the option Run with highest privileges. This is an important step.
5. Select the Triggers tab, and click New
6. In the New Trigger window, configure the settings as desired (say, Weekly), and click OK
7. Select the Action tab, and click New

8. In the Program/script: text box, mention the full path to NTREGOPT.VBS (e.g. “D:\Scripts\NTREGOPT.VBS”)

Note: If the path contains spaces, include it within double-quotes.

10. Click OK, OK.



You’ve now created a new task to run registry optimization once in a week. When the Task runs, you’ll see message windows as shown below.

11. At this point, save your work and close all running applications before clicking Yes.
12. Click OK to start the registry optimization task.

NTREGOPT switches

If you plan to run NTREGOPT using a shortcut, here are the command-line parameters that you would like to know. Simply running NTREGOPT.EXE without any switches, will work as well.

NTREGOPT silent [/noprogresswindow] [/reboot]

Description of the command line switches:


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Switch Description
silent Puts NTREGOPT into “silent” mode.
/noprogresswindow Hides the progress window during optimization.
/reboot Automatically reboots the computer when optimization
of the registry is complete.

Ramesh Srinivasan is passionate about Microsoft technologies and he has been a consecutive ten-time recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award in the Windows Shell/Desktop Experience category, from 2003 to 2012. He loves to troubleshoot and write about Windows. Ramesh founded Winhelponline.com in 2005.

2 thoughts on “Optimize the Windows Registry Regularly Using NTREGOPT With Task Scheduler”

  1. Somewhat confused, because this app came with the app ERUNT. I have already created a task for erunt. Do I need to also create a task for NTREGOPT ?

    Reply

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