Three ways to open the Windows Registry Editor. How to Open the Registry Startup with Task Manager

The Windows registry is a database of operating system settings that contains information and settings for all computer components: PC hardware, software, system settings. In many cases, when working on a computer, the user needs to open the Windows registry to configure the operating system, change OS settings or installed applications.

The system registry, or Windows registry, contains all the necessary data to manage system settings and settings. The normal functioning of the Windows operating system depends on the state of the registry.

After making modifications to the registry settings, the configuration and settings of the system or programs installed on the computer are changed. To make changes or correct some settings, you must enter the registry of the operating system. The question arises: how to open the registry editor on a computer? How to enter the Windows registry?

The Windows operating system has a special application Registry Editor (regedit.exe) for working with registry data. The built-in tool of the system, the Registry Editor program, is well suited for working with registry branches (the registry has a tree form). Individual registry files have different locations in the operating system. Therefore, to make changes to the system registry, you should run the Windows Registry Editor on your computer.

Incorrect or incorrect modification of registry settings can lead to malfunctions of the operating system. Because of this, the user will have to perform a system restore or reinstall Windows. Before editing the registry, follow the steps to return the system to working capacity in case of unsuccessful actions: make a backup, create, execute the system partition.

How to open the registry editor in different versions of the Windows operating system? There are several universal ways to enter the Windows Registry Editor in the same way in all versions of the operating system. In the article, we will additionally analyze how to enter the Windows 10 registry, how to enter the Windows 8.1 (Windows 8) registry, how to open the Windows 7 registry editor, for each system.

You can open the registry editor in Windows in the same way for different versions of the operating system using 5 ways:

• login using the Run dialog box
• launching the "regedit" file from the "Windows" folder in Explorer
• opening with command prompt or Windows PowerShell
• find the application using search on the taskbar or from the start menu
• launching the registry editor using a pre-created shortcut

First, let's look at the universal methods applicable to different versions of Windows, and then look separately at additional methods for Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7.

How to enter the system registry from the "Run" dialog box

Using the Run dialog to launch the Registry Editor works on all modern versions of the operating system: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP.

On the Windows operating system, do the following:

1. Press the "Win" + "R" keys on your keyboard at the same time.
2. In the "Run" window, in the "Open" field, enter the expression: "regedit" (without quotes), and then click on the "OK" button.

After that, the Registry Editor application window will open on the computer.

How to enter the registry on a computer from the Windows folder

Another way to enter the registry editor is to launch the application directly from the Windows system folder on the computer. This method can be used on Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP.

The only caveat: you need to be careful in your actions, as you will enter the folder with the operating system. Be careful what you do.

Follow these sequential steps:

1. Open File Explorer on your computer.
2. Go to the "C:" drive, open the "Windows" folder.
3. Find and then double-click the left mouse button on the "regedit" application.

The system Registry Editor will open on your computer.

How to open the registry using the command line

You can start the registry editor from the command line. In Windows 10, the command line can be found in ways.

Do the following:

1. Run command prompt as administrator.
2. In the command line interpreter window, type: "regedit" (without quotes), and then press the "Enter" key.

How to Enter the Registry Editor Using Windows PowerShell

The Registry Editor is launched from Windows PowerShell like this:

1. Run Windows PowerShell as an administrator.
2. In the PowerShell window, type: "regedit" (without quotes) and then press "Enter".

Create a shortcut to launch the Windows Registry Editor

If the user is not ready to take several steps each time to launch a system application, you can make this task easier. To do this, you need to create a shortcut with which the registry editor will be launched on the computer.

Take the following steps:

1. Launch the Windows Explorer file manager.
2. Open Local Disk "C:".
3. Enter the Windows folder.
4. Find the "regedit" application, right click on it.
5. From the context menu, first select "Send to" and then "Desktop (create shortcut)".
6. A shortcut will appear on the desktop of the computer to launch the Registry Editor system tool.

Now, you can easily open the registry editor by double-clicking the left mouse button on the application shortcut.

How to open the registry in Windows 10

Let's see how to enter the Windows 10 registry in a different way, using search. First we will find the application on the computer and then we will run the system tool.

To open the Registry Editor in Windows 10, do the following:

1. On the taskbar, click on the search icon, or left-click on the Start menu.
2. Enter on the keyboard the expression: "regedit" (without quotes), and then execute the command.

The Windows 10 Registry Editor is open and ready to make changes to the appropriate keys.

How to enter the registry Windows 8.1 (Windows 8)

Windows 8.1 (original) and Windows 8 operating systems do not have a Start menu, so some users find it difficult to find the right application on their PC.

Windows 8.1 Update 1 has a built-in Start menu, so you can start searching for the registry editor on your computer in this way:

1. Right click on the start menu.
2. Select "Find".
3. In the Search box, type "regedit" (without quotes).
4. Launch the application.

Another universal way for Windows 8.1 and Windows 8:

1. Move your mouse cursor down from the top right of the screen.
2. In the sidebar that opens, click on the "Search" icon.
3. In the search field, enter the expression: "regedit".
4. Execute the command.

As a result, the Windows 8.1 (Windows 8) Registry Editor will launch on the computer.

How to open the registry in Windows 7

Now we will try to enter the Windows 7 registry. In the seven, in addition to the universal methods described above, there is another way to enter the registry editor.

In the Windows 7 operating system, to open the registry editor, do the following:

1. Enter the start menu.
2. In the "Search files and programs" box, type "regedit" (without the quotes).
3. Launch the Registry Editor application.

Article Conclusions

If necessary, the user can enter the Windows Registry Editor to make changes to the system registry settings. There are several ways to enter the Windows Registry: using the Run dialog box, launching a system tool from a previously created application shortcut, opening the registry editor in the command line or in Windows PowerShell, launching an application from the Windows system folder, searching for and launching the editor registry in different versions of the operating system.

To open / enter the windows 7, XP, vista or windows 8 registry, you need to remember just one word - REGEDIT.

This word in pronunciation is a bit similar to Russian - REGISTER, if you wish, you can remember it so that you don’t write in search engines for every need: how to open the windows 7, 8 registry and so on.

This is for those who have already entered it more than once, although this article is for those who are trying to open it for the first time.

What is the registry in windows windows 7 / 8 / vista / XP

If you want to enter the windows registry for the first time, be careful. It's easy to screw up there, which can even lead to reinstalling Windows.

This is a repository of records, information, settings, etc., which is responsible for the reliability, performance and stability of Windows 7, 8 vista, XP.

In it, you can turn off components, make settings and perform optimization. Now, in essence.

The easiest way to open the windows 7 registry editor

To enter the registry, simply click and at the very bottom (in the search bar) insert the word - regedit.

Immediately after that, an application will appear at the very top of the window - regedit.exe. That's what you need. Click. So you opened it. Now you can do the scheduled work.

How to quickly enter the registry windows 8

In Windows 8 there is no such button as start. What to do then. Use hotkeys: press the keys - + R at the same time.

Immediately after that, a small window will appear on the left side of the desktop. Enter there, as in the figure above, also the word - regedit and click "OK".

That's all. There is another way to enter. It just takes too much time. Therefore, it is not even worth describing.

If it is not periodically “cleaned”, then over time the computer can significantly slow down.

In manual mode, "cleaning" is not done. For this, it is best to use the program. It is free, in Russian, with a simple interface and, most importantly, reliable. Good luck.

11.03.2015

As a rule, an ordinary user of a personal computer does not have information on how to increase system performance or customize the system for themselves. Knowing the basics of the organization of the system registry will allow not only to solve these issues, but also many others.

The registry is the most important component of almost any operating system (OS) from Microsoft, and in many respects the stability, speed and reliability of the computer depends on it.

The registry is a hierarchical database containing certain system information. Any Windows OS (starting with Windows95) has its own registry. Its main purpose is to store information about hardware, installed programs, user preferences, and more. The stable and reliable operation of a personal computer directly depends on the registry. While working on a computer, various OS modules and programs installed on it access the registry with enviable frequency to perform their functionality. Each time, when modifying one or another parameter of the system, corresponding changes are made to it.

Description of the registry structure

The Registry Editor window consists of two horizontal parts. Its branches are displayed on the left, parameters are displayed on the right. The settings area consists of the following fields: name, type, and value.

The main registry keys are constant in different versions of the OS and are a hierarchical database. The principle of working with the registry is as follows: by selecting certain sections and subsections, you can set the required value of the required parameter. Let us describe the purpose of the main branches of the system registry.

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT

Considered a base registry key. It contains file association information. Also, this branch is used to store information about the installed Com-servers on the computer.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER

The section mainly contains the active user's personal settings and OS interface parameters.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

It contains information about drivers, software and its parameters, port names and other settings of the local computer. The settings in this section are used by all users who log in to the computer.

HKEY_USERS

Personal environment settings for each OS user and a profile for newly created users. This information is required for the first login.

HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG

The section contains information about Plug&Play devices and the current configuration of the computer. It also contains information about the current hardware profile required to run the OS.

These are required registry keys. There may also be side branches in the system registry that are not present in most computers.

Windows registry differences

Compared to older versions, Windows XP has three key features: hierarchical, dynamic, and secure.

The hierarchy of the Windows XP registry lies in its tree structure, which makes it easy and quick to find the desired branch and keys. This property of the registry makes it easier to work with and reduces the error rate of the system administrator.

The dynamism of the registry is that the information in it can be transformed while working with the OS. Dynamism ensures that changes to the registry are made on the fly.

Windows XP has its own security system, according to which only the administrator is allowed to control the registry. With the development of high technology, this feature becomes the most useful.

Registry versions of subsequent operating systems of the Windows family are based on the same principles, but they also have certain differences.

This is due to the constant upgrading of the registry by Microsoft employees towards flexibility, which happened with Windows7. Only the most significant information is entered into its registry, and the information that appears as a result of installing various applications disappears from it. In general, such properties as security, hierarchy and dynamism are also characteristic of the registries of all operating systems, starting with Windows95.

In Windows 7, there is little to no relationship between registry size and system performance. But this does not mean at all that there is no need to clean the registry.

Overall, the Windows 7 registry is functional, stable, and independent.

The main distinguishing feature of the OS registry since Windows Vista is the appearance of the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\BCD00000000 key, which contains the configuration information used by the BOOTMGR boot manager.

How to open the registry editor?

There are at least three options for launching the Registry Editor.

Cleaning the Windows Registry

Despite the huge role of the registry in the functioning of the OS and the constant work of developers on its optimization, criticism of it is constantly heard. Usually he is not satisfied with his organization, and the claims are quite justified:

1. Over time, it is prone to fragmentation when installing and removing programs, changing settings, and so on.
2. Its size is constantly increasing.
3. Some applications cannot function normally in the system without modifying the registry data.
4. Despite the fact that it contains a huge amount of information, there are settings that are not written to it. This causes certain difficulties when transferring them from one computer to another.

The first two problems can be solved. To do this, there are programs for cleaning and defragmenting the registry.

The most popular and easy-to-use program is CCleaner, the functionality of which is very extensive. With it, you can also manage the startup list, create restore points, clean your computer from unnecessary files.

The number of such programs on the Internet is very large, both paid and free.

How useful is knowledge of how the registry works?

Having studied the principles of the registry and the features of making changes to it, the user opens up many wide opportunities, such as:

• Performing fine tuning of the system. In case of system registry failures, the ability to fix the error without much help. The ability to use the OS registry is the foundation for a long and reliable operation of the operating system.
• Installing software with control of compatibility characteristics.
• Acceleration and optimization of the functioning of the operating system.
• Independently distribute system resources for certain programs.

Outcome

The role of the registry in the operation of the OS is difficult to overestimate. Its parameters directly affect the efficiency of the functioning of a personal computer, both its hardware and software. It allows you to tune your computer for optimal performance and stable operation.

The Windows registry is a kind of database that contains information about the settings and parameters of any program. In fact, this database stores data about any change that has occurred on the computer. It contains a list of actions that the computer must perform when starting a particular program. Therefore, proper configuration and timely defragmentation or cleaning of the registry can help prevent errors in the system, and, as a result, improve its performance. You can enter it in several ways, and for optimization, use special programs or standard OS tools.

How to enter the registry in Windows 7

Before we proceed to the direct configuration and cleaning of the registry, it is worth figuring out how to launch its editor. Just follow the given steps. So, there are two ways to start the registry editor.

How to enter the regedit application

Enter "regedit"

Run through a command in the Run window

Run window

As you probably already guessed, "regedit" is the name of the registry editor program. That is, we simply launch it. Both of these methods allow you to do this in a minimum number of steps. Of course, you can try searching for "regedit" yourself. You can access it along the path:

C:\Windows\regedit

Location of the "regedit" file

Video: where is the registry in Windows 7

Proper cleaning / repair of the registry to increase performance

We got to the registry editor. But what can be done with it, what is in it, and most importantly - how to optimize the system as much as possible, correct errors. Let's take it in order.

As mentioned above, the registry is a database. Whatever program you install, its initial settings are entered there. In the process of working with this program and changing its settings, the registry directory corresponding to it and the files in it also change. Thus, any application in the registry has a certain folder with parameters, and more than one. Some directories store basic data that the operating system itself changes. In others - data about the user's work with the program (in other words, your personal settings).

It is easy to guess that since almost any changes and settings are saved in the registry, it means that they can be viewed and even edited. And since this data can be edited, it means that cleaning up some unnecessary directories or files can help optimize the system. This is true, but for a user who first encounters the regedit program, its interface will certainly seem complicated and unusual. Therefore, before performing any actions manually, you should turn to special programs whose task is to clean the registry. Let's leave the registry editor for now and move on to the most common applications with which you can clean the registry without any hassle.

How to clean up your computer with CCleaner

CCleaner is one of the most popular system cleaners. Its capabilities are not limited to cleaning the registry. There are several other equally interesting and useful features, including, for example, setting up startup programs and clearing the cache. But now we are interested in cleaning the registry.

To clean the registry with CCleaner, run the program and go to the "Registry" section.

Go to the "Registry" section

List of problems in the registry

Now click on the "Fix" button. The program will ask you: "Would you like to back up your changes?" This is necessary in case something goes wrong and something that cannot be deleted is deleted. This usually doesn't happen, but you can play it safe if you want.

CCleaner will ask you one by one whether to fix this or that registry file. Thus, you can familiarize yourself with each problem in particular. If you don't want to do this, just click "Fix Marked".

Fixing registry errors

Your registry has now been cleared of junk.

Reg Organizer Utility

Reg Organizer has almost the same features as CCleaner. As for cleaning the registry, there is more functionality here. The user has access not only to "Automatic Registry Cleaning", but also to "Manual ..." In the first case, everything is quite simple. You just need to click on the corresponding button in the program interface. But manual cleaning structures the found potential errors into sections. Thus, if you understand this, you can review each of the registry keys for faults. Users who have not previously encountered work in the registry are recommended to use automatic cleaning.

Manual cleaning window

It is worth noting that in the new versions of Reg Organizer, it is enough to simply launch the program. An automatic "Express Check" will be carried out, as a result of which all faults will be found. You will only need to click "Clear".

Express Registry Check

How to clean the registry in Windows Cleaner

Working with this program is practically no different from working with CCleaner. Its interface is even simpler. To clean the registry, go to the "Registry" tab and check the boxes next to all the parameters. Then click "Analyze".

Registry analysis in Windows Cleaner

The program will display the results of the analysis. Now you just need to click "Clean".

Video: WindowsCleaner - cleaning and optimizing the system

How to clean manually through the registry editor

If you do not want to use additional software, you can also clean the registry manually. In this case, you will perform all the optimized functions of the programs indicated above on your own.

ATTENTION! Manual cleaning of the registry is only recommended for users with sufficient knowledge of how the registry itself works. Any actions you do at your own peril and risk. We cannot guarantee that the tips below will not lead to system crashes.

Manual work with the registry can be divided into two types:

Consider each of the methods as a separate topic.

The system registry is an extensive database that contains all kinds of OS settings, installed programs and connected equipment. Often, as a result of system failures, improper removal of applications or virus attacks, users need to edit or erase corrupted entries. For these purposes, a standard interface is used - the registry editor. This article provides a detailed guide on how to enter the Windows 7 system registry in various ways.

What it is

First of all, the registry is a database. It contains information about the details of the computer, the BIOS firmware version, Windows user settings, and installed programs.

In fact, the process of installing any software involves making many entries in the registry: where the files are stored, how they are interconnected, what configurations are selected. Similarly, with deletion - it is not enough just to transfer all components to the basket, you also need to change the corresponding entries in the database.

The need to run the editor for work arises in the case of installing complex software systems, eliminating the consequences of virus attacks and. Sometimes you can quickly find out a lot of useful information with it (provided you know where to look).

Run Dialog

This is the easiest way to enter the Registry Editor. However, this method has one small drawback - it requires a keyboard. Without it, you won't be able to enter the command. However, you can always use the On-Screen Keyboard utility if the physical keyboard is not currently available for any reason.

Start Menu

This path is especially convenient because it can be used to run the program as an administrator. This function is necessary if you need to edit entries that directly affect the functioning of the operating system.

Windows Explorer

This method may be useful for users with faulty keyboards.