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A Beginners Guide to the Windows Registry

By: Jeffrey K Gross

The windows registry plays a major role in the every day operation of
your computer. The registry is responsible for carrying out both
simple and complex tasks alike. The registry can do something simple
such as controlling which wallpaper you use for your computer or more
complex functions such as keeping track of each an every users
personalized settings and preferences.

Your Microsoft Windows computer would simply cease to function if the
registry was either missing or corrupt. Each and every setting on your
machine can be traced in some way shape or form to the registry.
You are probably asking: Why would I want to change the registry at all?
The answer is simple: A minor change in the registry can resolve many
strange computer errors. Keep reading to learn more about how to edit
the registry and the to find out what structure the registry uses.

The
windows registry viewer allows you to delve deeper into the inner
workings of your machine. To open this explorer simply click on run
and type in "regedit" (no quotes). This will open up the Windows
Registry editor.

This may look familiar to you, it looks very similar to the standard
Windows Explorer layout of folders. It is broken down into the
following sections:

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE (HKLM): This root key (or subtree) contains
configuration data specific to the local computer, including its
hardware devices and operating system components. The information
contained within HKLM is independent of the current user and
applications or processes in use.

• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT (HKCR): This root key contains the file-class,
OLE, and COM object data. The keys, subkeys, and data within this
subtree are linked to (and identical to) those contained in the
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\ subtree.

• HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG (HKCC): This root key is added to make current
versions of Windows compatible with older Windows 95 applications. It
is derived from HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\HardwareProfiles\Current
and contains configuration settings for all currently active hardware.

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER (HKCU): This root key contains profile information
for the user currently logged in. Each time a user logs on, HKCU is
rebuilt with that user's profile data from HKEY_USERS.

• HKEY_USERS (HKU): This root key contains the default profile and the
profiles of all users who have logged onto the computer.

• HKEY_DYN_DATA (HKDD): This root key is found only on Windows
95/98/ME. It is linked to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and contains information
about Plug and Play hardware components. HKDD , for use with the
Plug-&-Play features of Windows, this section will change as devices
are added and removed from the system.

These sections each have their own specific functions. This layout
should help you to choose the right section to edit. Editing the
registry requires a fair amount of computer knowledge. We recommend
Automatic Scanning software for these tasks.

Making changes to the registry can often be quite tedious and often
dangerous. Manual editing should be done only with a specific goal in
mind and with specific instructions in hand as well. DO NOT just edit
items in the registry for the heck of it as this will often lead to
problems. Registry problems can often show up through various windows
computer errors. If your computer has become slow or has many strange
error messages popping up, a registry cleanup may be right for you.

Good luck in your Windows Registry editing!

Article Source: http://00articles.com

To learn more about the Windows Registry click here: Registry Repair Software Reviews . We offer many high quality articles and tutorials about the Windows Registry.


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