Windows Registry Editor: A Brief Overview of Features and Alternatives

In Windows, unlike other systems (for example, Linux), system settings and many applications are not protected decentralized, each in its configuration file, and in a single, centralized, ordered form. Accordingly, sometimes there is a need to correct them. Of course, the last statement concerns only advanced users, service engineers and system administrators. For ordinary PC users who do not have knowledge of how to build a system line based on Microsoft's best-developed Windows OS (and do not want to get this knowledge), it's better not to edit the registry - this can lead to fatal consequences (data loss and even hardware damage).

So, the regedit program, the default registry editor, "lies" in the WINDOWS directory and is launched via a shortcut or from the command line (you just need to type regedit). After launching, we see the information that the Windows registry editor xp takes from a pair of small system files ntuser.dat, as well as ntuser.dat.log in the directory C: \ Documents and Settings \ Username (responsible for the creation of the HKEY_CURRENT_USER partition when the user logs on to the system first). In addition, the registry hives are stored in the C: \ Windows \ SYSTEM32CONFIG directory in the SECURTY files (HKLMSecurity section), SAM (HKLMSAM), Software (HKLMSoftware), System (HKLMSystem and HCC), Defaullt (HKEY_USERS.Default). This path also contains files with the extension log for the registry hives of any types, where a log of significant changes is maintained. There are also copies of the registry hives with the extension sav, representing the snapshots at the time of the completion of the text phase of the installation of the system.

All current versions of the above files in a structured hierarchical view are presented when the registry editor is started. Let's list some of its functions besides the obvious ones (changing various types of registry keys). You can export the selected partition or branch to different file types. This is the reg format, which automatically adds a registry hive to another copy of the Windows operating system or a registry hive file that allows you to make backup copies of the entire system manually. Also, there are possibilities for converting to the format of 9x systems (MS Windows 95, 95OSR2, and 98, 98SE, Me), including OS based on NT cores. In addition, you can write the system registry branch to an ordinary text file. Convenient for restoring of other Windows systems function - possibility to load branches of the register from other installation and to correct them on a working system. But remember that calling such a branch does not require SYSTEM or SOFTWARE, but arbitrarily. After making the changes, you must unload this branch in the regular way (through the file> unload the registry hive). Another function worthy of attention is the loading of the registry hive from another system (menu file> connect network registry). In this case, both the PC (the one from which the download is made and the requestor) must be part of the network, that is, have a network name and working group, as well as working protocols of netbios. It should also be noted that there must be an appropriate level of rights.

We have examined some of the functions of regedit, which is a Windows registry editor, which suffices for the overwhelming majority of users. But the Windows system has been around for almost two decades - quite a significant time. And progress does not stand still. Third-party developers have written several programs - alternative registry editors, with increased comfort and additional functions for those who often need to use the registry editor. Such programs can be found from a dozen. But in this article we will consider only the most remarkable of them.

Registry Workshop - has a user-friendly interface, can backup and restore on a schedule.

Witap Registry Explorer - can work with removable media

Registrar Registry Manager - perhaps, at the moment the best program - an alternative registry editor. Includes a convenient search for keys. Displays search results in one window. With the help of the system of bookmarks to any, without exception, the registry branch can very quickly return. Naturally, there is a system of introduced cancellation changes (multi-level), a backup function . You can also edit damaged registry hives to restore their working capacity. You should also note the built-in monitoring of the registry.