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Situation:
You want to know about the Windows Registry Editor.

Solution:
What is the Registry?
The Windows Registry is a central hierarchical database that is used in Microsoft Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP and in Microsoft Windows CE to store information necessary to configure the system for one or more users, applications, and hardware devices.

For more information on the Windows Registry please see the Microsoft documents, Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry in the Microsoft Knowledge Base.

What is Regedit?
The Registry Editor is an advanced tool that enables you to change settings in your system registry, which contains information about how your computer runs. You should not edit your registry unless it is absolutely necessary. Generally, it is best to use Windows controls to change your system settings. If an error is made in the registry, your computer may become nonfunctional. If this happens, you can restore the registry to its previous state when you last successfully started your computer.

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Note: On Windows NT/2000/XP systems, you must have Administrator access to do this.

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Caution before editing the Registry
We strongly recommend that you back up the system registry before making any changes. Incorrect changes to the registry could result in permanent data loss or corrupted files. Please make sure you modify only the keys specified. Please see the document How to back up the Windows registry before proceeding.

To start Registry Editor

1. Exit all open programs.
2. Click Start > Run.
3. Type regedit and then click OK. The Registry Editor window appears.

To start the 32 bit Registry Editor
The 32 bit Registry Editor, RegEdt32.exe, is available only in Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows XP.

1. Exit all open programs.
2. Click Start > Run.
3. Type regedt32 and then click OK.

To add a value

1. Open the registry list to the folder where you want to add the new value.
2. Right-click where you want to add the new value.
3. Point to New, and then click the type of value you want to add: String Value, Binary Value, or DWORD Value.
   The new value appears with a temporary name.
4. Type a name for the new value, and then press ENTER.

To change a value

1. Double-click the value you want to change.
2. In the Edit dialog box, change the Value Data by entering a new value.
3. Click OK to save the changes.

To exit the Registry Editor

1. Click Registry and click Exit to save the changes and close the Registry Editor.
2. Restart the computer.

For more information on the Registry Editor, view the online help topics within.the Registry Editor. To access these help topics, click the Help menu, and then click Help Topics.

 

Document ID: 2000060422485506
Last Modified: 11/08/2006
Date Created: 06/04/2000
Operating System(s): Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP
Product(s): TS_GEN

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