Re: Windows tools for regedit and ad ware

Webroot Spysweeper or Sunbelt Software CounterSpy for Anti-Spyware.
Sunbelt also has the Kerio Personal Firewall.  Not free but cheap and 2+
PC licenses get discounts.

Zone Alarm still has a free firewall.

AVG for free Anti-Virus (free.grisoft.com and hunt a little). 

That said I'm getting a little tired of the ever-growing RAM footprint
of using point-solutions and will likely migrate to an integrated
package at some point.  For instance, at work we use McAfee AV with the
anti-spyware module.  Nice as there's only 1 DAT file and one scanning
engine so it's more efficient on RAM & CPU than running separate
products.

For regedit I use regedit.  If I'm going to go nuts & delete a lot of
stuff I'll back it up or set a restore point ahead of time.