Safely edit the Windows Registry

The Registry is something that the vast majority of computer users are either completely unaware of or actively avoid ­ and with good reason. When Windows is working well, the Registry shouldn’t need touching and, if things start to go awry, then it’s not a place where novices should tread. But what is the Registry, and when should you venture inside?

Well, it is essentially a large database used to store settings relating to Windows itself, along with any hardware and software that is installed and it is integral to the operation of Windows. When a change is made to settings using the Control Panel or a program’s options or preferences screen, these changes are recorded in the Registry.

As a result, there is often no reason to delve into the Registry ­ using Windows is a much easier way of adjusting settings. But by learning about how the Registry works, it is possible to take greater control of your computer and access otherwise hidden settings. In this Masterclass we’ll show you how to get started ­ and how to stay safe.

Back up, back up, back up
Before venturing any further with this Masterclass, it is important to point out that editing the Registry is potentially very dangerous. Accidentally change the wrong setting and Windows, and thus your PC, may become inoperable.

Be warned: we will not accept the blame for any problems you encounter as a result of following this Masterclass. Be sure to have a backup in place so things can be brought back to normal should the worst happen. Create a System Restore point and back up valuable data before proceeding with any editing. If you do not know how to back up your PC then this really isn’t the kind of feature you should be following. It is also worth mentioning that when editing the Registry, there is no ‘undo’ feature.

With all that said, we wish to reassure you that it is possible to work safely with the Registry. We will explain later how to back up the Registry itself ­ something that even novices might want to try, just in case the Registry ever gets corrupted.

Route to the Registry
To start working with the Registry, launch the Registry Editor in one of a few ways. In Vista, click Start, type regedit and select the entry from the list that is displayed. In XP, click Start, choose Run and type regedit into the dialogue box and click OK. Alternatively in either operating system hold down the Windows key and tap R simultaneously before typing regedit and pressing Enter.

In Vista it may be necessary to click Continue at the User Account Control box, if this is displayed. Once the Registry Editor has loaded, the similarity to Windows Explorer should be immediately apparent. The various components of the Registry are displayed in a tree-like structure in the left-hand panel, much like Explorer’s folder display, while additional content is displayed to the right.

Registry rhymes
The terminology surrounding the Registry can be confusing, so it is good idea to familiarise yourself with a number of key terms before proceeding.

There are five main entries in the left-hand panel. These are referred to as hives, and each is concerned with the storage of different types of settings. The HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT hive is mainly used to store information about file associations, and HKEY_CURRENT_USER holds the settings of the user currently logged into Windows. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE is used to store information about installed hardware and software and these settings are applied to all users, while HKEY_USERS comprises links to sections of HKEY_CURRENT_USER. Very little information is stored in HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG and that which it does contain relates to the current system configuration, with information drawn from sub-sections of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.