Your Windows Registry is like the DNA of Your Computer

If the processor or CPU is the brain of your computer, then the Windows registry file (actually a set of files) is the DNA of the PC.

The registry is like a big inventory listing of all the software, hardware, and user settings on your computer.

Clean and fix any Windows Registry problems with Registry Mechanic. This is highly recommended. (The link opens a new window with more information)

The Windows registry is a file (or set of files) in which the Windows operating system does its record keeping. It is a centralized database that has information about things that are, and were, on your machine.

WARNING: Editing the registry is a tricky business AND should only be attempted if you are experienced and KNOW exactly what you are doing.

You will find the following warning message concerning the windows registry on the Win2K section of the Microsoft site:

"Editing the registry directly can have serious, unexpected consequences that can prevent the system from starting and require that you reinstall Windows 2000."

The same is true for any version of the Windows operating system that you use.

Why you should Backup the Registry

You should backup your registry every time you make any successful change to your computer. [By 'successful', I mean that you installed any hardware or software and your computer continues to run satisfactorily.

The difference between the registry and the "DNA comparison" that I make is that every cell in your body contains copy of your DNA, but Windows only keeps one copy of the registry.

You can get additional copies of the registry by doing a backup. The Windows registry editor for Windows 95/98/ME if called Regedit.exe. The one for Windows 2000/XP is Regedt32.exe.

Before you run off... PLEASE READ THE WARNING ABOVE. Why is this important?

You could actually prevent your computer from starting if you do not know what you are doing.

The registry editors that come with Windows DO NOT have an undo command. Once you make a change you have the change!

Windows registry editor in 95/98/ME has NO undo command. Changes are final.

There is no backup function defined on the editor menus. However, the File menu has an Export and a Restore item. These may be used to export/import portions of or the whole registry.

Start regedit.exe by typing it into the Run text line on the start menu and then press the Enter key. This works in Windows 2000/XP as well.

Note the "Import Registry File.." and "Export Registry File..." items on the Registry Editor's File menu in the image at right.

When you click on the Export option you can give the file a name and save it.

The resulting Export Registry File box has an Export Range selector. You can select a single key to export or the whole registry.

The size of your Windows registry varies and it can be a relatively large file, too. At my last backup file size was a whopping 34.5 MB.

The Registry Serves the Windows Operating System

The Windows operating system accesses the registry

when you startup your computer, and
during computer operation.

It does this to reference system settings, user information, program settings, and so on.

When you launch (or start) a program, Windows finds the information about the program in the registry so it can know how to display it on the screen, among other things.

It's sort of like how your cell DNA holds the coded information that defines who you are and what you look like. Do you see the analogy with the Windows registry? It holds the settings that defines visual and operational behavior of the programs you run in Windows.

The Registry is Used by Your Programs

The programs you run also access the registry. If you click click on Start--Documents you will see a listing of the files "most recently used" - an MRU list.

You may also have used MS Word or Excel and notice that the File menus of these programs keep an MRU list as well. All this information is stored in the registry. And it gets updated all the time by these programs and by Windows itself.

Some programs write information to the registry to personalize your preferences.

When you play a game, for example, information about your preferences may be stored in the registry.

In conclusion...

The Windows registry is very important to the running of the Windows PC since the 95 version. It is an efficient database that holds your system (hardware and software) settings.

Both the Windows OS and the programs you run rely on the registry for runtime access to these settings.

You should keep an updated backup copy of your system registry handy so you can use it to restore your system in case the running copy gets damaged.