Working with the Windows Registry

This guide is included as part of the Windows Guides security and administration series. In this guide, you will learn what the Windows Registry is, how to access and configure it, and how to backup and restore it.

This guide covers the following:

• What is the Windows Registry?
• Accessing the Windows Registry Editor
• Backing up the Windows Registry
  • Backing up the entire registry
    • Windows Vista
    • Windows XP
  • Backing up a Single Key
• Restoring the Windows Registry
  • Restoring the Entire Registry
    • Windows Vista
    • Windows XP
  • Restoring a Single Key
• Adding Keys or Values
  • Adding a New Key
  • Adding a New Value

What is the Windows Registry?

Think of the Windows registry as a control center for your computer. Windows settings, individual program settings, and other important configuration information are stored here.

Accessing the Windows Registry Editor

In Windows XP, press Start > Run (WINKEY + R) and type regedit and press Enter.
In Windows Vista, press the start button, type regedit, and press Enter.

When the registry loads you will be presented with a screen that looks like Figure 1. The registry is made up of the following components:

• Keys
• Subkeys
• Values

Figure 1: Screenshot of the Windows Registry Editor

Backing up the Windows Registry

You may back up the entire registry, or a single key you are working on. Following are instructions on performing both of these tasks in Windows Vista and XP.

Backing up the entire registry

Windows Vista

1. Click Start type systempropertiesprotection in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow
2. Wait for Windows to search for available disks and most recent restore points. In the System Properties dialog box, on the System Protection tab, click Create
3. Type a name for the restore point and then click Create
4. After the restore point has been created successfully, click OK two times
Note: If System Restore is turned off, click to select the local disk, click Apply and then click Create.

Windows XP

1. Click Start, click Run, type %SystemRoot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe, and then click OK
2. On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Create a restore point, and then click Next
3. On the Create a Restore Point page, type a name for the restore point and then click Create
4. After the restore point has been created, click Close
Note: If System Restore is turned off, you receive a message that asks whether you want to turn on System Restore now. Click Yes. Then, in the System Properties dialog box, click to clear the Turn off System Restore check box, click OK, and then repeat this step.

Backing up a Single Key

• Find the key you want to back up and right click on it
• Click Export (see Figure 2)
• Save the file somewhere safe with a distinctive name

Figure 2: Exporting a Single Key in Windows Registry Editor

Restoring the Windows Registry

You may restore the entire registry, or a single key you are working on. Following are instructions on performing both of these tasks in Windows Vista and XP.

Restoring the Entire Registry

Windows Vista

1. Click Start, type systempropertiesprotection in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER
If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow
2. In the System Properties dialog box, on the System Protection tab, click System Restore
3. In the System Restore dialog box select Choose a different restore point, and then click Next
4. Select the restore point that you want to use, and then click Next
5. Confirm your restore point, and then click Finish System restore - this restores the selected Windows Vista configuration and then restarts the computer
6. Log on to the computer. When the System Restore confirmation page appears, click OK..

Windows XP

1. Click Start, click Run, type %SystemRoot%\System32\Restore\Rstrui.exe, and then click OK
2. On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Restore my computer to an earlier time (if it is not already selected), and then click Next
3. On the Select a Restore Point page, click the system checkpoint. In the On this list select the restore point area, click an entry that is named “Guided Help (Registry Backup),” and then click Next. If a System Restore message appears that lists configuration changes that System Restore will make, click OK.
4. On the Confirm Restore Point Selection page, click Next. System Restore restores the previous Windows XP configuration and then restarts the computer.
5. Log on to the computer. When the System Restore confirmation page appears, click OK..

Restoring a Single Key

• Find the key that you previously saved
• Double click on the file and select Yes

Adding Keys or Values

In some of the tutorials on this website you will need to create a new key or value.

Adding a New Key

To add a new key, do the following:

• Right click on the parent key
• Select New > Key (see Figure 3)
• Follow the guide’s instructions for what key name to assign

Figure 3: Adding a New Key in the Windows Registry Editor

Adding a New Value

To add a new value do the following:

• Navigate to the key that you want to add a value to
• Right click in the blank space of the right pane (see Figure 4)
• Select New > xx (Where xx is the value specified in the guide)
• Follow the guide’s instructions for what value to assign

Figure 4: Adding a New Value to a Key in the Windows Registry Editor

What Next?

• Disable System Properties Access in Windows Vista/XP
• Disable Shutdown in Windows Vista/XP
• Disable Run Dialogue in Windows Vista/XP
• Disable Registry Editor Access in Windows Vista/XP
• Disable Control Panel Access in Windows Vista/XP
• Make your Computer Boot Faster with Startup Delayer
• Links
• Free Up A Lot More Space On Your Computer with CCleaner