What is Registry?

When you buy a new PC it is hard not to notice how time efficient it is. Windows system loads quickly on start-up, application run smoothly without any problems, all is well. This is the way all computers should run. This top efficiency also means that registry is completely optimized/ But what is registry and why does our computer rely on it so much?

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Simply put, Windows registry is a database-like structure that provides your PC information about the programs, software and peripherals installed on your computer. All Windows versions (including Windows 7) have registry – it is an essential component of the system. Without registry PC Windows would not be able to function.

 
Think of all the programs and applications you have installed on your PC. Each program has its own location and settings. Some of these apps would load at start-up. Same goes for hardware and peripherals: printer, mouse, keyboard, monitor, speakers, … Each of these devices has their own specific settings pertaining to your computer. All this data is contained in your registry. Very often even a small application will have several different entries in your registry.

 
A good thing about registry is that it helps coordinate the work of all these devices and programs. It is working behind the scene so that the average PC user does not get bogged down into the technical aspects of installed software and hardware components. We can compare it to an automobile. You use it, drive it, but you are not that concerned what is happening under the hood. That is until it breaks down or until it starts to make funny noises?

 
Similarly, the registry can also suffer in the decreased efficiency: your computer slows down, errors start appearing, devices not responding… This is when users start learning about registry and how they can fix it.