Week Five

Windows Registry

The Windows Registry contains information, settings, options, and other values for programs and hardware installed on the Microsoft Windows operating system. Every version of Windows stores the Registry files, known as hives, in the System32\config folder and each user account folder. When a new program is installed a new subkey is created in the Registry. This includes the program's location, it's version, and how to start the program.

Accessing the Registry
The Registry can be accessed directly using a Registry editor. To access the Registry editor you can enter either regedit or regedt32 at a command prompt, or by using the Start, Run dialog box. Either command will bring up the same program.

Before Editing the Registry
The Windows Registry should rarely be edited, unless there is no other option. By making changes in the registry you risk breaking things in Windows. For example:

• Programs may not start
• Utilities may not work
• The computer may not boot

To prevent these problems a backup of the Registry may need to be taken before anything is modified. 

Sources:

Fisher, T. (2015, November 05). What is the Windows Registry? Retrieved April 14, 2016, from http://pcsupport.about.com/od/termsr/p/registrywindows.htm

Meyers, M. (2012). All-in-one CompTIA A certification exam guide: (exams 220-801 & 220-802). New York: McGraw-Hill.