What is The Windows Registry?

The Windows registry is a database which storesconfiguration, as they can just work with the 'current
settings and options for the operating system foruser' key, whereas in the past they tended to just
Microsoft Windows 32-bit versions, 64-bit versionskeep system-wide per-program settings. There are
and Windows Mobile.always some system wide settings that are common
It contains information and settings for all thefor all users though.
hardware, software, users, and preferences of the* Group Policy allows administrators on a
PC. Whenever a user makes changes to "ControlWindows-based computer network to centrally
Panel" settings, or file associations, system policies, ormanage program and policy settings. This is not used
installed software, the changes are reflected andin a home environment, only in corporations with a
stored in the registry.dedicated logon server.
The registry is actually a big file where a lot of* Because the registry is accessed through a special
setting can be stored.API it is available to scripts and remote management
This file has been around quite a while and has hadusing WMI. Each script does not have to be
different names.customised for every application's unique
The first windows version that used the windowsconfiguration file layouts and restrictions.
registry to store settings was windows 3.11 and the* The registry can be accessed as one item over a
registry in that version of windows was callednetwork connection for remote management
Reg.dat.support, including from scripts, using the standard
In Windows 95 & 98 the registry files are namedAPI.
User.dat and System.dat and are stored in the* It can be backed up more easily, in that it is just a
\Windows\ directory.small number of files in specific locations.
Windows ME called the registry files, Classes.dat,Bad things with the Registry
User.dat, and System.dat and stored them in theNot all that shines is gold. The Registry introduces
\Windows\ directory.some problems as well:
Finally the newest versions of windows like, Windows* It is a single point of failure - damage to the
NT, 2000, 2003, & XP stores the registry files likeRegistry can render a Windows system unbootable,
this,in extreme cases to a point that can not be fixed,
The Registry files are stored inand requires a full reinstall of Windows. This is why it
%SystemRoot%\System32\Config\:is so important to use registry scan and repair utilities,
- Samwhile the registry still can be repaired.
- Security* Any program which wants to manipulate the
- Softwareregistry must use special Windows API functions
- Systemwhereas a configuration file can be manipulated using
- Defaultnormal text file-processing techniques.
- Userdiff* Configuration files can contain comments to help
- NTUSER.datthe user by explaining what values are for and how
- The NTUSER.dat file is stored in the profile folder.they can be changed, the registry cannot. And the
The Windows Registry was introduced to tidy up theregistry use something called guids in a large scale.
old way of storing text entries in INI files. TheseLong strange unique numbers that is completely
entries had previously been used to storemeaningless to humans. Making handling much harder.
configuration settings for Windows programs.* It is more difficult to backup - it cannot be done
The ini files where stored in a lot of different'live' because it is always in use, and thus requires
directories and many programs used their own ini filespecial software such as ntbackup.
for some or all of their settings. This way of using ini* Restoring parts of the registry is hard because you
files all over the system, made them difficult to keepcannot easily extract data from backed up registry
track of and handle in an easy and logical way.files
What's Good with the Registry* Any application that doesn't uninstall properly, or
Changing from having one or more INI Files perdoesn't have an uninstaller, can leave entries in the
program to one centralised registry has someregistry, which can lead over time to increased file
obvious and some not so obvious benefits:size and decreased performance. And once again,
* The registry keeps machine configuration separatehere's the major reason why you must use a registry
from user configuration. When a user logs into ascan/clean and repair software.
Windows NT/XP/2003 computer, their registryThe registry will be redone once more with the
settings are merged with the system wide settings.release of the new Vista Operating System from
This allows programs to more easily keep per-userMicrosoft.