How to Use Registry Edit

It's a good idea to research and verify the changes you want to make to your computer's registry.

Microsoft Windows stores configurations and settings in a registry database. Users who want to make changes within the registry can use the Regedit program to do so. Microsoft doesn't suggest that users edit the registry because making incorrect changes can damage your system. If you choose to do so, you're doing it at your own risk. Before making changes to your Windows registry, it's a good idea to have a complete backup of your system in case anything goes wrong.

Instructions

1. Open Regedit by using the "Run" box in Windows XP, Vista or 7. Enter regedit into the "Run" box and click OK. In Windows Vista or 7, select "Yes" in "User Account Control." (Regedit does not appear in the "Start" menu, so you'll have to use the "Run" box or the keyboard shortcut of the Windows key plus "R" to open it.)

2. Become familiar with the interface before making any changes. Regedit uses a two-panel display that features keys on the left and values with data on the right. If a key is highlighted, the bottom of the Regedit window will show the key's path. The "Edit" menu in Regedit contains the commands used for making changes within the registry. Values and keys can be added, deleted and renamed. To go deeper into the registry, use the main "hive" keys (they start with "HKEY") by clicking the plus sign next to them. When you highlight a key, right click on it to bring up a menu that will show you the actions you can take. These include: "New," which creates a new key under the old; "Delete" which removes the key; "Copy Key Name," which places the full key path onto the clipboard; and "Export," which enables you to save information under a key (this information can be restored later).

3. Edit the registry. You can make changes to any part of the registry, but be careful only to make changes verified by respectable and knowledgeable sources. In general, editing the registry will mean changing a value. To do that, highlight the value, then choose "Modify" in the "Edit" menu.

Tips & Warnings

• Always back up the registry before making any changes. If something goes wrong in your editing, you'll need this to restore your system.

• Make only one edit to the registry at a time. Before making another change, check that the system is operating the way you'd like. Registry edits may require that you log off or reboot before they work.

References

• Microsoft: Windows Registry Information for Advanced Users
• Windows Maven: How to Use the Windows Registry Editor
• Rob van der Woude's Scripting Pages: Batch files - Use Regedit to Add, Read or Delete Registry Values