You might have come across Windows Registry or the regedit tool in some troubleshooting guides and videos to fix an issue or customize Windows as per your needs. It is a powerful feature that is tightly integrated with the core of Windows Operating System. Don’t like the new right-click menu on Windows 11? Use regedit to bring back the old right-click menu. Don’t want to see web results in the Windows Start menu? You guessed it right. There is a simple tweak in the Windows Registry that will disable web results while you search for something on the Start Menu. It is very useful and dangerous to mess with at the same time.
If you are new to this topic and have questions like “What is Windows Registry?” or “How to use the Registry Editor or the regedit tool?”, then this guide is just for you. Here, we will take a closer look at Windows Registry, its structure, step-by-step guide to editing Windows Registry, risks involved when using regedit, and many more.
WARNING: This is just an informatory guide on Windows Registry and the regedit tool. Messing with the values in the Registry Editor can brick your device (if done incorrectly). Always use regedit at your own risk.
What Is Windows Registry?
The Windows Registry is a foundational component of the Windows operating system. It is a hierarchical database that stores low-level configuration settings. Both the system and installed applications depend on it for key information (or rather it dictates how the system and applications function).
One of the registry’s primary functions is to act as a central repository for configuration data. It stores the important information that Windows needs to operate correctly. This data includes hardware profiles, settings for installed software, system preferences, and even user-specific configurations.
For instance, when Windows boots up, it pulls essential data from the Registry to operate smoothly. It references registry settings to determine which drivers to load and how to configure the system for the current user. Similarly, hardware devices like printers or external drives communicate with the operating system through settings in the registry. Applications also depend on it to retrieve settings, store user preferences, and licensing information.
When a user modifies their system preferences or changes hardware, these updates are logged and maintained within the registry.
You can access and modify the Registry using a built-in tool known as the Registry Editor, commonly referred to as regedit. This editor provides a direct way to interact with the underlying configuration settings of your system.
However, Windows Registry also comes with risks. Since it plays such a vital role in Windows’ operation, any incorrect modifications can lead to system instability. Improperly altered settings might cause programs to behave unexpectedly, or worse, prevent the system from booting entirely. Therefore, making changes without proper knowledge can create problems that can be difficult to resolve, leading to crashes, or even permanent data loss.
Structure Of The Windows Registry
The Windows Registry consists of a structured hierarchy of hives, keys, subkeys, and values. Each element has a specific role in controlling system operations.
Registry Hives
The highest level of organization in the hierarchy of Windows Registry are the Registry Hives. A hive represents a root key. It branches into keys, subkeys, and values. These hives store various types of system and user-specific data. Each hive plays a specific role in the system. Here’s a list of all the registry hives in a typical Windows system.
- HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT (HKCR): Manages data related to file associations and registered applications. It links file extensions with the programs used to open them. It also contains information about Component Object Model (COM) objects, a fundamental part of Windows that allows applications to interact.
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER (HKCU): Stores settings specific to the currently logged-in user. This hive manages user preferences, desktop settings, and software configurations. For example, when a user changes wallpaper or modifies mouse settings, the system records these adjustments in HKCU.
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE (HKLM): Contains settings related to the computer’s hardware and operating system configuration. It holds critical information like driver configurations, startup processes, and system-wide software settings. HKLM affects every user on the computer, regardless of individual profiles, as it focuses on the machine’s overall operation.
- HKEY_USERS (HKU): Handles information for all users on the computer, including the default user profile. It holds data for every profile, both active and inactive. Each user has their unique set of preferences, which the system saves in this hive. Whenever a new user logs in, HKU pulls the appropriate settings from the user profile.
- HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG (HKCC): Manages the current hardware configuration. It stores data about the display settings and printer configurations currently in use.
Keys And Subkeys
The registry organizes information within keys and subkeys, which function like folders within the registry’s hierarchical structure. A key contains several subkeys, which further divide the data. These nested structures make it easier for the operating system to retrieve necessary settings without combing through massive amounts of data.
Keys and subkeys categorize information based on their purpose. For instance, in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, a key might manage network settings, while a subkey under it focuses on specific network adapters.
Values
Each key or subkey holds values, which store the actual data needed by the system or applications. Values come in various data types to represent different kinds of information. Here are the different types of values in Windows Registry.
- String (REG_SZ): Represent simple text. These values often store readable information like paths to directories or commands for software to execute.
- Binary (REG_BINARY): Contain raw binary data, typically used for hardware-related settings. Hardware devices require specific configurations that need binary values to represent them accurately. This data helps drivers and other low-level components function correctly.
- DWORD (REG_DWORD): These are 32-bit integers. These values often handle settings that use numerical representations, such as enabling or disabling features. For instance, a DWORD value might control whether a particular service runs at startup, with ‘0’ representing “off” and ‘1’ representing “on.”
- QWORD (REG_QWORD): Extend the data size to 64 bits (useful for settings that require larger numeric values). These settings might relate to high-capacity storage devices or more complex hardware configurations, where 32-bit integers are insufficient.
- Multi-String (REG_MULTI_SZ): Consist of multiple strings within a single value. Using this data type, the registry can store lists, such as a set of network drives or servers.
- Expandable String (REG_EXPAND_SZ): Contains variables such as environment paths. These values dynamically adjust based on system conditions. For example, “%SystemRoot%” represents the directory where Windows is installed.
What Is Registry Editor (regedit)?
The Registry Editor, also known as regedit, is an integrated utility in the Windows operating system with the key purpose of interacting directly with the Windows Registry. Using regedit, you can view and edit entries in the Windows Registry. This is a powerful tool that gives experienced users the ability to make significant changes to their system (system tweaks), based on their specific needs.
Many settings that affect the behavior of the Windows environment do not have a graphical user interface (GUI). In these cases, users must go directly into the registry to make changes.
How To Open The Registry Editor (regedit)?
To access the Windows Registry Editor, you first need to launch it. Begin by pressing the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box, type “regedit”, and hit Enter (or click the OK button). Alternatively, click on the Start button (or press the Windows key), type “Registry Editor”, and click on open. If the UAC prompt appears, click Yes to proceed. Now, the Registry Editor will open.
Once inside the Registry Editor, you’ll notice a simple and intuitive interface divided into two panes.
On the left pane, you’ll see a tree-like structure representing the main hives of the Windows Registry. You can expand these hives, such as HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE or HKEY_CURRENT_USER, by clicking the small arrow next to it.
When you select a key from the left pane, the contents of that key will appear in the right pane. The right pane displays the associated values and their data for the selected key. Each entry in this pane includes a name, type, and data. You can double-click a value to modify its data directly from this pane.
If you’re looking for a particular registry key or value, use the search function by pressing Ctrl + F. A search box appears, where you can enter the name of the key, value, or data you’re trying to locate.
How To Use The Registry Editor (regedit)? Step-By-Step Guide
Back Up The Registry
Before making any changes to the Windows Registry, you must approach the process with caution. The registry holds sensitive data that directly impacts how Windows and its installed applications operate. Any incorrect modification may lead to system instability, software malfunction, or even an inability to boot the system.
To prevent these issues, you should always back up the registry before making edits. To back up the registry, launch the Registry Editor tool and identify the key or section you intend to modify. Navigate to the desired key by expanding the hierarchical structure on the left side of the window. Once the target key is selected, click on “File” from the top menu and select “Export”.
A window will appear, where you can choose a location for the backup file. Save the file with a descriptive name that reflects its purpose or the key it represents. This backup will be saved as a “.reg” file.
Make Changes To The Registry
To modify the registry, you need to navigate to the key or subkey that you want to alter. We will explain the process with an example.
If you are using Windows 11, then you might have noticed that one of the significant changes they made from Windows 10 is the right-click menu or the context menu. You can still get the old right-click menu by Shift + Right-click instead of just right-clicking. Alternatively, you can permanently disable the new context menu in Windows 11 and replace it with the old context menu. For this, you need to make use of the Windows Registry. Here are the steps for the same.
- In Registry Editor, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID
- Right click CLSID > New > Key
- Provide the name of the key as: “{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}” and press Enter.
- Next, we have to create a subkey in this newly created key. Right click {86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2} > New > Key. The name of this key must be InprocServer32.
- Select InprocServer32 and double click (Default) from the right pane.
- Don’t type anything in the “Value data”, then click OK. The “Data” field will change from “(value not set)” to blank.
- Close the Registry Editor and restart the computer to make the changes.
Restore The Registry
If the changes you made to the registry caused unintended results, you can restore it to its previous state with the help of the backup registry files that we created.
To restore, simply double-click the .reg file or right-click it and select Merge. This will initiate the restoration process, which re-applies the backed-up settings to the registry. You may need to restart the computer to fully apply the changes.
Conclusion
The Windows Registry is a powerful way to customize and optimize a Windows system. It acts as a central database where configuration settings for both the operating system and installed software are stored. The Registry Editor or regedit provides direct access to these configurations (to view or modify).
However, you should always be extra careful when working with Windows Registry or the Registry Editor. Always back up the data before making any changes to the Registry. By following these guidelines, you can safely navigate the registry and personalize the Windows experience without any risk of damaging the system.
