The system registry is a data store that is constantly used by operating system components and application programs. Physically, the registry is not stored in any one file. Rather, it is a kind of virtual entity created by the operating system at each startup based on information from various sources. Therefore, you will not be able to edit the registry like a regular file - you need special software for this.
Instructions
Step 1
Select a program to edit the registry. There is a group of programs called "tweakers" - they change the settings in the registry related to the graphical interface of the OS, to the boot process, and some others. Another group of programs is used to clean the registry from unnecessary or corrupted entries - these are registry cleaners. In many cases, it is better to use such programs, since they do not require you to know what and where is located in the system registry and eliminate errors in the procedure for changing entries. If you prefer to correct it yourself, then use, for example, the registry editor from the standard Windows distribution.
Step 2
Open the Registry Editor by right-clicking the My Computer shortcut on the desktop and selecting Registry Editor from the context menu. You can do it in another way - press the key combination WIN + R, enter the regedit command and press the Enter key.
Step 3
Save information about the current registry settings. Any edits you make in this editor will be saved immediately, and there is no undo function. Therefore, a backup will be required to restore the registry in case of any error. Open the "File" section in the editor menu and click the "Export" line. Select a storage location, enter a file name for your copy of the registry, and click the Save button.
Step 4
Use the folder tree in the left pane of the editor to navigate to the keys of the registry branch you are interested in. The value of the required key can be edited by right-clicking it and choosing the "Edit" item from the menu. If you need to change the name of the parameter, select it, press the F2 key and edit the text. If you right-click a blank space in the right margin of the editor, you can select the commands for creating a new section or a new parameter from the context menu.
Step 5
Close the editor after you finish making changes to the registry. There is no need to save the file, as is customary in ordinary editors. The changes made will take effect when the program to which they refer once again turns to the system registry - this may be after a reboot or earlier, or perhaps you will not have time to close the editor, and the program will already read the new settings.
