What is the Registry?

Q. What is the Windows System Registry?

A. The Windows System Registry is a database that stores records, settings and options of everything that you do on a Windows based PC. Whenever you make changes in Control Panel, install new hardware or software to your computer or add new users and profiles, these changes are stored in the system registry. Below is an example of the basic structure of the system registry.

• 1.1 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
• 1.2 HKEY_CURRENT_USER
• 1.3 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
• 1.4 HKEY_USERS
• 1.5 HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG
• 1.6 HKEY_PERFORMANCE_DATA