If you are a PC user who has relatively good experience and technical know-how about Windows operating systems, then you are probably well aware of what is called the registry.  If you have ever encountered problems on your computer such as your system slow downs, malware, or the dreaded blue-screen-of-death (BSOD), then you've probably come across troubleshooting guides that talk a lot about the registry.  However, even for well-experienced individuals who are familiar with Windows operating systems and how they work, the registry can be quite a confusing and mysterious thing. In this article, we are going to cover the basics of what the registry is, what it's purpose is, and how you can maintain your registry in good shape.

What is the registry and what does it do?

The registry is a part of the Windows operating system that acts as a database for storing settings such as Windows settings, application settings, passwords, device driver information, and other settings and options on your computer.  The main advantage of this type of system is that the Windows operating system can recall and manipulate the data stored in the registry much faster than if it used separate files for storing such data.  Typically, the registry makes use of files called .reg files, which are simply tiny files that contain information to be added to the registry.  To access the registry on your machine, all you have to do is click on the start menu and use the "Run..." feature to run the program called "regedit.exe."  You can also access the "Run..." feature by using the shortcut Win+R.  In the registry, you will find a hierarchy folder structure with many of the folders containing registry entries that you can edit from the regedit interface.  It's extremely important that you be careful about editing data in your registry or your system or certain application may cease to work properly.

Backing up your registry

A good practice to keep your registry well-maintained is to back up your registry periodically to ensure that you can always revert your registry to a previous state if things go wrong on your system.  Your registry is composed of numerous files, which means it would be hard to track down all of these files to backup the registry.  Microsoft has implemented the System Restore feature in the latest versions of Windows, making it easy to back up your registry and other system information.  All you have to do is create a restore point and you are set to go.  You can also use a system maintenance suite that has features for backing up, restoring, and cleaning your registry.  Just remember that it can be quite dangerous to make use of so-called "registry cleaners," because they may delete, move, or duplicate registry entries and cause performance problems on your system.  The best way to clean your registry is typically to perform a fresh install of your operating system for a fresh start on your computer.