Inexperienced users usually associate the registry with something complex and completely incomprehensible. Panic is greatly enhanced if you read a section on this in a textbook. This is due to the fact that everywhere it is clearly indicated that at the slightest malfunction in the registry something may be broken in the system. That is why every user is simply obliged to know where the registry is and what it is, at least in general terms. Let's deal with this important element of the system.
Where is the registry?
Let's start by determining what it is. The registry is an incredibly large database where all the settings and parameters of the operating system are grouped. Information is collected and systematized according to some specific principles. After the user sends a request, a specific component is activated. The registry has a hierarchical structure, which is observed very strictly. This means that there are main elements, and those that obey them. The database can be seen through a built-in program called the registry editor. It is necessarily present in all versions of the operating system. If you want to know where the registry is located, then you should know how to call it. To do this, select “Run” in the main menu, and then in the window that opens, enter the name of the element that you need to open. In this field, enter the word regedit, and then click “OK”. After that, you will see the registry in front of you. It consists of five main categories. At the beginning of the name of each of them is the word HKEY, followed by the sign "_", and then the name of the section is written. In the left field of the window that opens, more complete information about each element is displayed.
Now that you have found out where the Windows registry is located, you can move on to the main points:
- HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT - designed to store information about the extensions of each type of file that is registered in the system, as well as information about which embedded COM-servers are available.
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER - designed to store information related to the work of each user currently working with a computer.
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE - designed to store a huge amount of information. Here are the data on the software, drivers and settings for all of this.
- HKEY_USERS - designed to store information relevant to all users who have the ability to access the operating system.
- HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG - is intended for storing data on equipment operating at the moment when the computer starts up. There is information about all the drivers, so you can choose the one that is needed at a particular time.
Now you not only know where the registry is, but also what items it contains. These five categories are root directories, which have a whole set of subordinate folders, which contain a lot of important data. To view the content, click on the “+” icon located near the category name. After this, a branch should open, which may also contain several categories.
The registry keys store the information necessary for the computer to remain stable. Here you can find information about user profiles, installed software and hardware, properties of folders and files. All of them are necessary when starting the system and its operation. The registry is constantly updated with new and new volumes of information, since the system is constantly enriched with new programs and equipment. At the same time, few users can boast that they correctly remove unused programs, which is why a lot of unnecessary information remains in the registry.
Now you know where the registry file is and how to use it.