What is Windows Registry?

The registry is a very powerful database that contains the information/configurations necessary for both hardware and software components to function properly on your Windows based computer.  It also dictates how a user gets to interact with both hardware and software components to a certain extent.

The registry can be seen as the brain behind the brain in your computer.

If the registry becomes corrupted or (worst yet) is deleted it can render the entire computer system unusable.

Accessing the Registry:

The registry can be easily accessed in Windows Vista & 7 by typing regedit in the search area of the start menu

OR

In Windows XP by typing regedit in the Run option on the left side of the start menu.







NB:  YOU SHOULD NOT PLAY AROUND IN THE REGISTRY unless you know exactly what you're doing.

It's just as important to note that your computer's registry will (over time) end up with several invalid entries left behind by programs you uninstalled; programs which, due to their design may not have removed all the files and entries they had created when first installed and this can lead to a decrease in your computer's performance and pop-up error messages of invalid file paths among other things.

I AM NOT RECOMMENDING ANY REGISTRY CLEANERS since even the self-acclaimed best ones tend to want to remove registry entries that SHOULD NOT BE REMOVED.  It is much safer to have a knowledgeable technician perform the registry cleaning for you OR you can just simply LEAVE IT ALONE!