How to Access the Registry in Windows Vista

Windows Vista includes a registry editor that lets you view and change settings stored in the system registry. This special area of Windows stores configuration settings, system hardware and software configuration information, policies that define how Windows operates and settings for each user account on the computer. Access to the registry is required to make advanced tweaks to how Windows functions and may be necessary to remove viruses and malware.

Instructions

1. Open the "Start" menu and type "regedit" in the search bar. Press "Enter" to run the registry editor.

2. Expand the folder icons on the left side of the Registry Editor window to browse the registry's structure. Each "folder" is known as a key. Click a key to display all values stored within it on the right pane of the editor window.

3. Press "CTRL"+"F" to open a "Search" window. Enter your search text and press "Enter" to search for values within the registry.

References

• Computer Performance: Editing the Windows Vista Registry with Regedit
• Microsoft: What is the Registry?