A Windows Registry editor is a valuable Windows tool that stores all the information about the installed applications in your system. It constitutes an extensive database containing the installed applications’ settings, options, and other system settings.
Windows registry was released in 1992, Windows 3.1. In the latter stages of Windows 10, .ini files store program settings and configurations.
In this article, I have thoroughly discussed the basics of Windows registry configurations and settings to manage the computer system efficiently.
Registry Editor
Windows registry is a helpful editor for making changes in the Windows registry. It was released in Windows 3.1 version. It enables one to browse all the keys and values stored in the registry. You can change these values for system configuration settings and driver updates. It was popular as Registration Info Editor or Registration Editor.
The Windows registry is an extensive database that stores all the application’s configurations and settings.
If you accidentally change these settings, there is a chance your system will crash, and data could be lost. So, change these settings with proper guidelines to avoid any future damage.
The registry editor is a collection of numerous databases that handle a particular application configuration and settings. Performance issues
How to open Windows Registry?
Windows users can easily find the Windows registry. To open the Windows registry, type Regedit, registry editor in the search box of the start menu. Double-click the registry editor application to open the registry program.
Another method to open Registry Editor is by browsing through File Explorer. Find the Registry editor executable file and open the program.
Registry Editor Structure
Registry Editor is a valuable database stored on the computer system’s hard disk. The application configuration and settings stored in the registry are organized using a folder file system.
The Registry’s top hierarchy is called hives. Each file in Registry Editor starts with the word HKEY.
Here are the lists of hives used in Registry Editor:
- HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT: It is mainly used to share information and file association in the system. It is abbreviated as HKCR.
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER: Used to set current user configuration and settings. HKCU abbreviates it.
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE: Used to set all user’s configurations and settings.
- HKEY_USERS: Used to set the settings and configurations for all the users. When a user logs in, all the information is extracted from HKCU.
- HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG: Used for managing computer system resources and configuration
In Registry Editor, the hives are similar to the folder. Every hive has a subfolder called keys. Keys contain values. In keys, Registry Editor values are stored by following a pathname to store the location of a specific value. For Example, a key value is used to provide the pathname of Acrobat Reader installed on the computer.
Windows Registry Usage
Windows Registry editor is used for multiple reasons. It is used to register the application program’s specific configuration and settings. You can change the registry editor to unlock various hidden features of the application program. It is also used to improve performance issues in the system.
Ensure that essential settings are kept the same; it can lead to a Windows system crash. So back up your important files to prevent these issues.
Clean Windows Registry
Windows users can clean the registry using different methods. Before starting the registry cleaning process, all the essential data must be backed up because Registry Editor is a valuable tool. A small mistake could result in a system crash, especially for manually removing the keys.
Popular PC cleaning software like CCleaner can delete any critical key. You can also back up the registry, which is an effective method before the operation and a crucial step.