What is responsible for the Windows registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE: parameters and the basics of editing

Almost all users know that there is a registry on any Windows system. But how to deal with it, not everyone guesses. Consider, for example, the "Windows 7" registry. The main emphasis will be placed on one of the main branches, abbreviated as HKLM.

What is the "Windows 7" or other system registry?

The Windows registry itself is an extensive database with a hierarchical structure that contains the main parameters and settings of the hardware and software complex.

It includes the keys responsible for the drivers of the "iron" devices, system settings and everything that applies to the installed standard or custom applications. One of the biggest and most important components is the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE section.

Standard access to the editor

You can call the editor in several ways. The uninitiated user can use the main menu "Start", in which in the standard system utilities section there is a link to this applet.

But this process is too long, so it's better to use the direct entry of the regedit command in the "Run" menu (Win + R), responsible for opening the executable file of the application. Run it to be able to edit keys and parameters only from the administrator's name.

After entering the main window on the left, the main sections will be displayed, in which the records are combined according to some criteria. There is also a branch HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. She is what interests us.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE: main partitions and keys

This folder contains information about the system, drivers and programs relating to all users of the system. In other words, the keys are global global settings.

There are only six main subfolders in this branch. And they already have their own subdirectories, in which certain parameters and settings are saved. For example, the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE section describes the software installed on the computer and used by all users without exception.

Here are the subdirectories whose names correspond to the developer or type of software. After looking more closely, you can find a subfolder located at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE / Microsoft. It is not difficult to guess that it contains information only about the software products and system modules of this corporation.

There is so much information here that it's simply impossible to list everything absolutely. But the most important are the settings of DirectX, the .NET Framework and ASP.NET, port and cryptographic system descriptions, keys related to multimedia and mobile technologies, network parameters, data about OEM and ODBC objects, and everything that is necessary for the proper functioning of Windows And related applications (standard installed in the system by default, and additional like office packages or something else).

Is it worth it to edit the registry?

Now a few words about changing the parameters in any subsection of the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE branch. In some cases, for security reasons, access to editing keys can be blocked by the system administrator. But if the need for manual correction of keys is still in place, you must obtain the appropriate access rights or run the editor on behalf of the administrator with all the ensuing privileges.

In addition, it is initially desirable to make a backup copy of the registry using the export function. What is it for? Yes, only in order that in the event of unsuccessful actions, you could restore the system. The main problem with the editor is that there are no requests for confirmation of the user's actions. This means that all the changes made are saved automatically, and messages with buttons like "OK", "Apply" or "Save" are not output at all.

Thus, by changing any key parameters in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE branch or creating new ones, you can easily bring Windows to the fact that the system refuses to work. When exiting the editor, this may not manifest itself in any way, but when you restart, serious problems can arise which can be solved by restoring the system, and if this function proves to be inoperative, you will have to use the previously created export file with the .reg extension. From its contents, the recovery takes only a few minutes.

Conclusion

Of course, it is not possible to describe all the keys and the tasks assigned to them in the above section. But if we sum up a certain result, we can say that the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE branch is responsible for common unified settings relating to the computer system as a whole and to users registered with it. But the main emphasis is made on the parameters of the system and installed software.

If we talk about the security of the system and editing the registry, it is better not to do this without special knowledge, since the functioning of not only programs, but also Windows, can be violated due to critical failures. There are even known cases when, in the absence of a backup copy of the registry, you had to reinstall the whole system, and this takes quite a long time. So it's better not to take risks and think a hundred times before changing some key or the corresponding parameter.