The Windows registry is a special database designed to store information about the settings of the operating system and application software. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that the data is not stored in any one or several files, but is recreated at each boot of the OS based on data from different sources. To edit this kind of database, special software is required.
Instructions
Step 1
Use the standard registry editor that Microsoft includes with all versions of the operating system. To launch it, right-click on the "My Computer" shortcut on the desktop. In the drop-down context menu, select the "Registry Editor" line.
Step 2
If the display of the "My Computer" component on the desktop is disabled in the settings of your OS, then open the main menu on the "Start" button (by pressing the WIN key) and right-click on the "Computer" item. The context menu in this case will be exactly the same, and you need to select the same item "Registry Editor".
Step 3
You can also open the editor through the standard program launch dialog. To do this, select Run from the menu on the Start button or press the WIN + R key combination, then type regedit in the input field and click OK or press Enter.
Step 4
Use the left editor pane to navigate the registry structure. The interface of this program is very similar to the standard Windows Explorer - in the left pane there are folders that represent the corresponding "branches" of the registry. The right panel contains variables ("keys") and the values assigned to them.
Step 5
Remember to back up the current state of the registry before each editing it. Accidental changes to the structure of the registry or variable values can lead to incorrect operation of applications and the operating system. In the worst case, the system may stop loading altogether and have to be reinstalled. The backup function is placed in the "File" section of the editor menu - you need to select the "Export" item in it, and then enter the name of the backup file and select the location for saving it.
Step 6
Highlight the folder or variable you want to change and right-click it to access the editing functions. When making changes, keep in mind that all changes to the registry are immediately saved - the editor does not ask questions whether it is necessary to save the changes, as is the case in most programs. There is also no function of undoing the changes made.
Step 7
Close the editor window when you are finished working with the registry. No special actions are required here to save the changes made before exiting the program.
