Though your Windows registry is the complex core of your computer, its structure may be easy to understand as it mimics your hard drive’s directories.
Similar to the tree of your hard drive’s directory, your Windows registry is structured in a hierarchy. Your registry contains folders - referred to as “hives” - have files - called “keys” - filed under them, and within these keys you may find subkeys and values. These values - like a file or document in your hard drive - are where the registry’s information is stored. And similar to your hard drive’s files, there are different types of values that are in the registry. The three types of registry values are DWORD, binary, and string.
Within your registry, there are six core hives, or branches. Each hive in your registry stores a particular part of information.
- HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT stores mappings for all of your system’s file associations, including everything from Windows shortcuts to the drag-and-drop feature, from key details of your Windows user interface to OLE information.
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER stores data about Windows system account names, “Start” menu’s settings, and desktop settings. Naturally, this branch connects to the HKEY_USERS registry branch.
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE stores information about your computer, including the type of software and hardware your PC uses and the preferences set on it.
- HKEY_USERS stores information about specific settings and options for each user of your PC. Within this branch, every user’s preferences are contained in an SID sub-key.
- HKEY_USERS stores information about specific settings and options for each user of your PC. Within this branch, every user’s preferences are contained in an SID sub-key.
- HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG notes how your hardware is configured and then connects to the proper part of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
- HKEY_DYN_DATA is a dynamic branch that will automatically configure with the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE to work Windows’ “Plug & Play” features.
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