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What is the
Windows Registry?
To
many, the Windows Registry is dark and mysterious - terra incognita
- where virtual dragons lurk waiting to pounce on its next unwitting
victim. Well, in reality, it's not that bad! This article uncovers
the nature of Windows Registry and tells you all about its function
and its contents. The article also concludes on when and why
Registry problems occur.
What is the
Windows Registry
The Windows registry is a central database of information needed
to configure your computer system for general settings and preferences,
software applications, and hardware drivers and devices. Keeping
your registry in a good state of repair and conducting regular
maintenance is imperative because the registry contains important
data that is used all the time during system operation.
As you continue changing preferences, installing
and uninstalling software and hardware, the registry grows and
becomes more complex. In addition, the chances of errors and
missing, obsolete or corrupt entries increases exponentially.
The registry is a centralised hierarchical database
used by various versions of Windows (MS Windows 9x, CE, NT,
2000 and XP) to store computer configuration information. This
information is necessary for Windows to run your computer system
including all your installed applications and hardware devices.
Not only does the registry save the path and location of these
items, it also retains other details which help the processor
to locate applications and hardware devices quickly and efficiently
thereby reduce decreasing processing time. Records are kept
of each and every item present
Registry entries include details on:
- User profiles, settings, options and preferences
- Applications installed on the computer
- Property settings for folders and applications
- Hardware devices installed on the system
- Ports being used
- System Policies
- File Associations
Whenever you make any changes in your preferences
or settings, installed software or hardware, these changes are
stored in the Windows registry. Changes in your registry settings
may be made by using the Registry Editor (regedit.exe) provided
with Windows. However, beware any changes you may effect may
cause errors in the Registry that could disable your computer.
So be extremely careful if you make changes or delete files
from your registry – many times you will not be able to
identify redundant files and may inadvertently delete a file
needed to run your favourite program or your system software.
When and Why do Registry
Problems occur?
The latest statistics show that about 94% of computers have
corrupt and possibly harmful files. On average, almost each
PC will have about 150+ errors on them due to corrupt or missing
registry entries.
If your system is new, you usually will not
notice the need to effect any changes to your registry. However,
over time, your registry will grow as you add and remove software
and hardware on your computer. These additions and deletions
will cause your Windows registry to become fragmented, corrupted
or full of errors.
Common errors include:
- Missing, orphaned, broken or bad application/Windows
paths, shortcuts and links,
- Unwanted browser objects,
- Unused, obsolete Start Menu items,
- Missing or corrupt application IDs,
- Corrupt Active X/COM Objects,
- Residual and unused file and drivers,
- Unnecessary recent files list…
- …the list is endless.
When you remove software from your system, for
example, it is highly probable that residuals are still littering
your hard drive and your regsitry.
The result? Frequent error messages, slow start-ups,
sluggishness, declining performance, system stalls, severe degradation
in operating speed, unstable and frequent application errors
and crashes, and, at times, even an inability to start Windows.
More often than not, these problems happen because:
- You install or uninstall applications including
trial downloads.
- Some programmes are never really completely
uninstalled leaving hard-to-find traces in your Windows registry.
- You have embedded spyware, adware or other
components (such as DLLs or programmes that revive themselves
on every start up.
- You have unused but undeleted drivers within
your system.
Keeping track of all this information is gruelling
and bewildering – it’s not an easy job.
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