What is Windows Registry

The Windows Registry, usually referred to as "the registry," is a collection of databases of configuration settings in Microsoft Windows operating systems.

The Windows Registry is sometimes incorrectly spelled as the "registery" or the "regestry."

What is the Windows Registry Used For?:

The Windows Registry is used to store much of the information and settings for software programs,hardware devices, user preferences, operating system configurations, and much more.

In many ways, the registry can be thought of as a kind of DNA for the Windows operating system.

How To Access the Windows Registry:

The Windows Registry is accessed and configured using the Registry Editor program, a free registry editing utility included with every version of Microsoft Windows.

Registry Editor can be accessed by executing regeditfrom the Command Prompt or from the search or run box from the Start menu. See How To Open Registry Editor if you need help.

Registry Editor is the face of the registry, and is the way to view and make changes to the registry, but it's not the registry itself. Technically, the registry is the collective name for various database files located within the Windows installation directory.

How To Use the Windows Registry:

The registry contains registry values, located within registry keys, all within one of severalregistry hives. Making changes to these values and keys using Registry Editor will change the configuration that a particular value controls.

Here a few examples where making changes to registry values alters a program in some way:

The registry is constantly being referenced by Windows and other programs. When you make changes to nearly any setting, changes are also made to the appropriate areas in the registry.