ColdJam: This link will take you to downlaod site where you can get a
Microsoft utility called ERU (Error Recovery Utility) which will backup
the registry and other important startup files. After running ERU you will
be able to clean the registry to your hearts content knowing you can recover
if any errors should occur.
Scroll down the page until you see MS ERU, download, unzip, then run.
ERU wants to backup to a floppy disk, but in my experience the files are far to
large, so backup to hard disk using the default folder C:\ERD.

MS ERU

After you have run ERU go to this page, (A Faster Better Behaved Windows 98)
for some good reading and some registry cleaner downloads.

A Faster Better Behaved Windows 98

I buy older computers at a nearby thrift store for $10-$20, clean them up and
make them run better. On Win98 systems I run these utilities with good results:

ERU - to backup the registry
Easy Cleaner - Clean the registry
Reg Seeker - Clean the registry (catches what EasyCleaner misses)
Ole Clean - Clean the registry (catches more missed crud)

Then Boot to the DOS prompt (not DOS under Windows).

At the command prompt type: Scanreg /fix

Then ReBoot to Windows. It should run faster and better.