Computer Tutorials: What is Windows Registry?

Computer Registry or popularly known as Windows Registry is a central storage area of different kinds of data from all parts of a computer system. Specifically, it consists of information coming from the hardware settings, applications stored, Operating system used and the users of that particular computer unit. Modern version of Windows Registry such as the ones found in Windows 9x, have already combined the REG.DAT and INI files. Its obvious advantage from its older version is the easy access of varied files. It is also ideal for massive structured data due to its simple hierarchy.

When inspecting a Windows Registry, one may think that all of the data came from a single source. Actually, the displayed data is stored on different physical files. User-specific information are stored in USER.DAT while computer-specific information is stored in SYSTEM.DAT.

Its architecture is well organized therefore it is easy to understand. On the left part of the display is the registry tree while on the right pane is a list of data. The tree is divided into 6 parts which are called root keys or top-level keys. They can be easily identified because their names would usually start with HKEY_. Each top level key holds sub keys. These sub keys could also contain a set of sub keys. The lowest levels of keys are called values.

Applications use the registry by adding or deleting a key. Consequently it can also create and delete the value from a key. Frequent installation and removal of programs in a computer could cause invalid and missing keys, which in turn causes the system to crash and the computer to slow down. Constantly removing of hardware and spywares on a computer also adds up problems to your Windows system registry.

It is possible to view and edit the registry using the Registry Editor provided by your operating system. Or you could also opt using the third party editors. However, it is strongly suggested to stick with the Microsoft product. Great care must be considered in editing the registry. Errors in registry could seriously immobilize your computer. But if you are equipped with the right knowledge and technical know-hows editing the registry would be an easy task.