Windows Registry
The Windows Registry is a centralized hierarchical database to store the computers system settings, hardware configurations, and individual user preferences. Whenever a user changes information on their computer or new hardware or software is installed onto the computer the information is stored in the registry. The registry is very important it is so important in fact that windows wouldn't know how or where to start and wouldn't start at all.
The Windows Registry can be accessed on Windows XP by going to start, than RUN , then typing regedit in the box. You should see a very complicated system of files and data that i would advise you to look at but not modify at all.
Now to explain more about the registry and its importance to the Windows user and how it is built. The registry consists of Hives, Keys, Subkeys, and finally individual Values all of these are explained in more detail below.
Hives - these are the top most portion of the data contained in the registry, each hive contains a certain category of information depending on the version of windows installed there are 5 or 6 possible hives which are outlined below
1.) HKEY_CURRENT_USER (HKCU) - this hive contains preferences and configurations for the particular user who is currently logged onto the computer, if a new user logged on this hive would change to that users settings and preferences.
2.) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE (HKLM) - this hive contains the configuration for the actual computer the information in this hive stays the same regardless of the currently logged on user.
3.) HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT (HKCR) - this hive contains information that pertains to the core user interface such as file associations and shortcuts.
4.) HKEY_USERS (HKU) - this hive contains the user information for all the users that have ever logged onto a give computer.
5.) HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG (HKCC) - this hive contains the information about current hardware configuration and is linked to the HKLM hive.
6.) HKEY_DYN_DATA (HKDD) - this hive is only on Windows 95/98/ME it contains information about hardware Plug and Play this hive is linked to the HKLM hive .
Registry Keys - keys are an organizational unit in the Registry keys are containers that can either hold values or further subkeys, keys are like folders in that they have subkeys or values inside of them.
Registry Values - values are where the actual data is being stored in a key or subkey there are quiet a few values in the registry but some of the more common values include: binary, string, and DWORD values.
The Windows Registry can be accessed on Windows XP by going to start, than RUN , then typing regedit in the box. You should see a very complicated system of files and data that i would advise you to look at but not modify at all.
Now to explain more about the registry and its importance to the Windows user and how it is built. The registry consists of Hives, Keys, Subkeys, and finally individual Values all of these are explained in more detail below.
Hives - these are the top most portion of the data contained in the registry, each hive contains a certain category of information depending on the version of windows installed there are 5 or 6 possible hives which are outlined below
1.) HKEY_CURRENT_USER (HKCU) - this hive contains preferences and configurations for the particular user who is currently logged onto the computer, if a new user logged on this hive would change to that users settings and preferences.
2.) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE (HKLM) - this hive contains the configuration for the actual computer the information in this hive stays the same regardless of the currently logged on user.
3.) HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT (HKCR) - this hive contains information that pertains to the core user interface such as file associations and shortcuts.
4.) HKEY_USERS (HKU) - this hive contains the user information for all the users that have ever logged onto a give computer.
5.) HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG (HKCC) - this hive contains the information about current hardware configuration and is linked to the HKLM hive.
6.) HKEY_DYN_DATA (HKDD) - this hive is only on Windows 95/98/ME it contains information about hardware Plug and Play this hive is linked to the HKLM hive .
Registry Keys - keys are an organizational unit in the Registry keys are containers that can either hold values or further subkeys, keys are like folders in that they have subkeys or values inside of them.
Registry Values - values are where the actual data is being stored in a key or subkey there are quiet a few values in the registry but some of the more common values include: binary, string, and DWORD values.