Logo

What is the Windows Registry Anyway?


You are not alone if you are confused about the function and purpose of the Windows Registry. The registry is a mysterious part of the personal computer that can baffle even seasoned computer users.


The windows registry is nothing more than a database that functions as a storage location for configuration settings and options for the Microsoft Windows operating system. More specifically, it stores settings for low level operating system components as well as settings for programs that are installed on your computer. The registry also tracks system and program performance characteristics.



The registry structure is quite simple. It consists of two basic elements: keys and values.You can think of registry keys as folders. Inside these keys there canbevariouslayersofsubkeys.ForexampleHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windowsrefersto  the key"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" with the subkeys being "Software", "Microsoft", and "Windows".



There are six categories of keys called Root Keys where information is stored. The type of data held in key is also listed:.



1. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT (local machine-specific configuration data).



2. HKEY_CURRENT_USER (user-specific configuration data).



3. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE (local machine-specific configuration data).



4. HKEY_USERS (contains subkeys corresponding to each user profile).



5. HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG (contains information gathered at runtime).



6. HKEY_DYN_DATA (This key is used only on Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Me.It contains information about hardware devices).

The values stored within these Root Keys is the information Windows and its associated programs use to function. If you've ever edited your registry, you probably noticed that there are various types of entries, or "values" associated with the subkeys. Don't make the mistake of thinking of values as numbers. Registry values come in many types such as strings (text), binary data, integers and Unicode.



So, the registry is not such a mysterious place after all. Just a storage place the Windows operating system uses to store information about its functions as well as a place all the software programs you use can store information they need to effectively run.



Download Now:-

Click Here!