The Windows registry is a database that stores configuration information such as which program should be used to open a file, DLL registration information, application-specific settings and much more.
The registry has a hierarchical structure, similar to the directories or folders on your hard disk. Each branch in the registry is indicated by a folder called a Key. Each key can contain other keys, as well as values. Each value contains the actual information stored in the Registry.
In the registry, data appears as a tree with five main branches:
§ HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT contains file association and object linking and embedding information.
§ HKEY_CURRENT_USER contains all preferences for the current computer user.
§ HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE contains settings for the operating system, hardware, and installed programs.
§ HKEY_USERS contains all of the current information for all computer users.
§ HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG contains settings for the computer display and printers.
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT defines file types and actions. HKEY_CURRENT_USER contains user settings that override the global defaults in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
The branches of the tree are known as keys and are identified by paths, such as the following
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Avanquest\
SystemSuite\CurrentVersion.
Any node in the tree can have zero or more values, which are name and data pairs. A value can be of type string, binary, dword (long integer), multi-string value, or expandable string value.
See Also