In this issue, we’ll take a deep dive into your Windows Registry, which has been a vital component of Windows since the days of Windows 95. Basically, it’s a glorified database stored across several files (known as ‘hives’) containing various configuration settings that cover all aspects of your PC: its hardware, the apps you’ve installed, and – of course – Windows itself.
To simplify matters, most Registry changes can be made via other Windows tools such as Settings or Device Manager, or within an application’s own dialog boxes. However, other settings are hidden more deeply. Many Windows tweaking tools such as Ultimate Windows Tweaker (www. thewindowsclub.com) offer an easy way to make meaningful Registry changes without risk but doing so means you never understand what’s going on beneath the hood.
At some point, you’ll need to access the Registry directly, whether it’s to change an annoying feature or fix a problem, and that’s where this tutorial comes in. We’ll take you on a crash course of the Registry – how it works and how to edit it, plus reveal some useful tweaks that can make your Windows experience that bit better.
Start with a backup
Before you start making wholesale changes to the Registry, make sure you have a fallback. It’s technically possible to bring down your entire Windows installation
