It’s been a while since I wrote in the “For Beginners” section, so I think that’s enough rambling. After thinking a little about the topic of the article, I decided to write about ways to enter the Windows Registry Editor. Although I write in each of the articles how to enter the registry. I’d rather describe all the possible methods available in Windows operating systems by default. So what is a registry?
The Windows registry is a database containing all the settings and parameters necessary for the operation of the operating system. It contains settings for both hardware and software. Most changes in Control Panel, Group Policy Editor, and Advanced System Settings are written to the registry.
So, how do you enter the Windows Registry Editor?
This is the method I use in my articles, since, in my opinion, it is the fastest and most convenient. We perform three simple steps.
First, let's look at Windows 7 as an example, since it has an old version of the Start menu and this option is suitable for older operating systems.
A very simple way: you just need to find the required file in the system folder. To do this, we follow the path:C:\Windows. We look for the file and run it.
The registry with all its sections, directories and parameters is one of the most mysterious and at the same time one of the most accessible internal components of the Windows operating system.
While you often have to use special programs to edit other components, the registry can be edited directly from Windows using its own Regedit editor.
The capabilities of this utility for editing the registry are more than abundant. With its help, you can make changes to almost any registry branch, with the exception of those that are hidden.
The capabilities of the full-time editor also include search, connecting network resources, setting access rights, loading and unloading hives.
However, this does not in any way detract from the merits of alternative editors, although it must be admitted that if they are superior to Regedit, it is not at all by much. Third-party utilities for working with the registry are divided into two groups.
The first group includes general-purpose programs equipped with some additional functions, the second group consists of highly specialized tools designed to perform one single task, for example, to go to the desired registry section with one click. Today we will take a look at three such utilities, namely Regshot, Reg and Registrar Registry Manager.
The main purpose of this utility is to create snapshots of the registry for subsequent comparison. With its help, you can easily find out what changes a particular program has made to the registry; you just need to create “before” and “after” snapshots and then compare them.
For greater clarity, reports are generated in HTML format. The utility also supports the generation of INI files that store data about all registry changes. Regshot can also be used to restore the state of the registry. For these purposes, the program also creates two files in REG format REDO.reg (before) and UNDO.reg (after).
This program with a laconic name (not to be confused with the Reg console utility) is an alternative registry editor with additional functions. Thus, Reg supports the creation of bookmarks, quick search and replacement of entries, as well as instant transition to the desired section with one click - perhaps the most useful additional function.
Agree, insert the path into the field, press the button and instantly find yourself in the right place - this is much more convenient and faster than sequentially expanding one nested subdirectory after another.
Unlike other editors, Registrar Registry Manager has an impressive arsenal of editing tools, as well as full support for registry backup and restoration. In addition, as the developers themselves assure, Registrar Registry Manager is more secure than standard Regedit.
The program's capabilities include searching and replacing keys, including hidden keys and those containing null characters, flexible management of access rights, comparing selected branches, defragmenting the registry, creating bookmarks, searching for links to files, maintaining a history of actions and canceling them, adding comments, searching for COM objects and many other useful features. Separately, we can mention the ability to monitor registry activity and application launches. Unfortunately, like Reg, Registrar Registry Manager has an English interface.
Next time we will continue to get acquainted with alternative tools for working with the Windows system registry, and also find out what capabilities a regular CMD can provide us in this regard.
In many articles on the site, I told you how to perform this or that action using the Windows Registry Editor - disable autorun of disks, remove a banner or programs in startup.
By editing the registry, you can change many parameters, optimize system performance, disable any unnecessary system functions, and much more. In this article we will talk about using the registry editor, not limited to standard instructions like “find such and such a key, change the value.” The article is equally suitable for users of Windows 7, 8 and 8.1.
Registry files are stored on the system drive in the Windows/System32/Config folder - the SAM, SECURITY, SYTEM and SOFTWARE files contain information from the corresponding sections in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
The data from HKEY_CURRENT_USER is stored in a hidden file NTUSER.DAT in the “Users/Username” folder on the computer.
Any actions to create and change registry sections and values can be performed by accessing the context menu that appears by right-clicking on the section name or in the right area with values (or on the key itself, if you need to change it.
Registry keys can have values of different types, but most often when editing you have to deal with two of them - the REG_SZ string parameter (to set the path to a program, for example) and the DWORD parameter (for example, to enable or disable a system function) .
Even among those who regularly use the Registry Editor, there are almost no people who use the editor's "Favorites" menu item. But in vain - here you can add the most frequently viewed sections. And next time, to go to them, don’t dig through dozens of section names.
Using the menu item "File" - "Load hive" in the registry editor, you can load partitions and keys from another computer or hard drive. The most common use case is booting from a LiveCD on a computer that won't boot and fixing registry errors on it.
Note: the “Load hive” item is active only when selecting registry keysHKLM andHKEY_USERS.
If necessary, you can export any registry section, including subkeys, to do this, right-click on it and select “Export” from the context menu. The values will be saved in a file with the extension .reg, which is essentially a text file and can be edited using any text editor.
To import values from such a file, you can simply double-click on it or select “File” - “Import” from the registry editor menu. Importing values may be needed in various cases, for example, in order to correct Windows file associations.
Let me note that we are not talking about deleting malicious program entries in the registry, but rather about “preventative” cleaning, which in fact does not lead to increased performance, but can lead to system malfunctions.
Some articles on the site that are related to editing the Windows registry:
Windows users may have heard about such a system component as the registry, but do not fully know its purpose and application. The Registry Editor for Windows 10 and other versions is the main tool for working with basic system parameters and settings. In this article we will try to answer questions that interest users:
The Registry is a tree-like database of all Windows settings. Stores system settings, information about equipment, system users, installed applications and other settings and configurations. It, in turn, is very convenient in that the system stores all the necessary information in one place, without the need to create separate configuration files for each element of the system settings. Each parameter is strictly in its place, and even on another computer or system it will not be difficult to find the desired branch - the order is strictly ordered.
The downside is the “fragility” of the entire system. Removing or changing a single setting or branch can lead to errors, failures, and crashes. Sometimes it can lead to BSODs and a complete refusal to boot the system.
There are 5 main sections:
Having a tree-like appearance, subsections are most often called “branches”. “Branches,” in turn, contain parameters that are divided into several types:
There is also an expandable data string (REG_EXPAND_SZ), a multi-line parameter (REG_MULTI_SZ) and others, but we will not focus on them.
The editor (Regedit) runs the same on almost all Windows systems. To open the Registry Editor, open the Run window (Win+R) and enter the regedit command. Running this application requires Administrator rights. 
Deleting and creating sections and parameters, importing and exporting branches and sections, changing permissions, searching - the main functionality when editing the registry.
The editor has 2 active fields – Sections and Parameters.
The “Sections” field is aimed at full display and convenient work with branches and subsections. Using the context menu, you can search for, add, delete, or rename a section, as well as export or open the Security settings of the desired branch.
The “Parameters” field displays all parameters of the current section with the ability to edit them.
It should be remembered that before carrying out any manipulations, you should create a backup copy in order to avoid errors and failures. To do this, use the Export and Import section in the file tab.
The interface and functionality of regedit leaves much to be desired. Slow transitions between sections, lack of quick backups and transitions make work very difficult. But all this was finalized in third-party applications: Registar Registry Manager and Registry Workshop.
The functionality that Windows users have been waiting for is fully implemented in the Registry Workshop application. Comparison of branches and sections, multi-window viewing mode, bookmarks, color display and much more are done in this program.
Download Registry Workshop registry editor for Windows 10
Another worthy replacement for the standard application. Change monitor, history and extensive rollback capabilities, defragmentation and much more. Some functionality is available in the paid Pro version. Fully supports Windows 10.
Download Registrar registry manager
Have a great day!
Alternative registry editors are not common, so I couldn't pass them up Reg. This program can replace the standard Windows Registry Editor, as it has some features not found in other programs.
Interface Reg ascetic, migrated from the last century, however, the standard registry editor does not have a fashionable design. Despite this, the program contains everything for working with the registry: you can import registry settings and export them as REG files, copy the full path to the registry entry to the clipboard, quickly search for parameters, search and replace them, open with one click and expand post threads. This can be done not only using the manipulator, but also using hot keys.
One of the useful functions of the program Reg is a quick transition to a specific entry in the registry - by entering the path, you will be taken to the section, and the tree of entries will be open up to it. This is much faster than sequentially moving through sections to the desired entry, especially if you use the setup instructions: copy the full path to the entry from it, paste it in a special program window, and instantly move to the desired section.
Well, the most convenient function Reg is the ability to add bookmarks. If you want to remember where certain settings are stored so that you can quickly go to them in the future, then simply bookmark the current location and give it a custom name. This way you can create a list of your favorite registry locations that you can quickly access with two clicks.
Reg The design is not very different from the standard registry editor, but quick navigation to the desired entry and bookmarks make it more convenient for frequent editing. The program is distributed free of charge, is open source, and works in 32/64-bit versions of Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8. Of course, to run the program you need to have administrator rights.
