For most users of personal computers, their functioning remains a mystery. Constantly working with documents and programs, many do not even ask questions about how the operating system, this or that program and hardware are arranged. Users often find it very difficult to figure this out, although in practice this may not be the case. For example, not every PC user knows how to open the Windows registry and why it is needed. This article will help you find answers to these questions.
To begin, let's figure out what this registry is. The Windows registry is a structured and systematized database that stores all the information about the settings, parameters and specific features of your operating system. Many PC users know how to open the Windows XP registry, but not all of them clearly understand which parameters in this database can be changed or deleted, and which ones are best left untouched. This database is very similar to any directory of the Microsoft operating system - in it you can easily find trees, subfolders and other familiar elements. But how to turn this registry from an obscure list into the main tool for setting up the operating system? First things first.
First, let's discuss the options for how to open the registry in popular versions of Windows. The user can do this in several ways. The easiest option is to enter “RegEdit” into the command line using the Start menu. After entering this command, the user immediately enters the window of the system registry. But how to open the registry without resorting to entering commands in the Start menu bar? This can be done quite simply - just go to the folder in which the operating system is installed and find the “System32” folder in it. After that, we find the “Config” file in this folder and run it, thereby invoking the registry interface.
However, the most popular option for starting the registry is to install special programs that serve to increase computer performance and through which you can fine-tune the operating system. Such programs include PowerTools, Oberon, Registry Drill, and a huge number of other utilities. It is important not to forget that not all of them will be able to work with all versions of Windows.
Information about whether this program is suitable for a particular version of the OS can usually be found in its description. How to open the registry of XP, Vista or Windows 7 using one of these programs, the user will be able to figure it out on an intuitive level. In addition, the above-mentioned utilities have a huge advantage over other ways of working with the registry. They not only allow the user to find out how to open the registry in a matter of seconds, but they will also tell you with the help of special tips why certain registry functions are needed. These programs will become a real textbook on working with the registry, both for beginners and advanced users of personal computers.
Finally, it should be recalled that when working with the operating system registry, the PC user should be very careful, because deleting or changing one of the system parameters can cause the most unexpected consequences and even lead to the failure of the entire operating system. Therefore, professionals are always advised to always keep a copy of the original registry before making any changes. This option will allow you to restore the original (and most importantly - working) version of the operating system in the event that something goes wrong as you planned. It should also be remembered that it is much more important to know not how to open the registry, but how to work with it correctly. Indeed, the stable and fast operation of your operating system often depends on the data in the registry.