Explain the purpose and features of registry management
Answers
Answer:
Explanation:
Whenever a user installs a software program/application, a hardware or a device driver for a newly connected hardware in a Windows based computer system, the initial configuration settings of these are stored as keys and values in a system defined, central hierarchical database repository called Windows Registry. During the usage of the software or the hardware, the changes made to these configurations are updated in the registry. Also, the changes made to Control Panel settings, file associations, Windows components and so on, during the use of the computer, are updated in the registry.
The software and the system components retrieve their latest configuration from the registry during their run-time to continue their operation as per the settings made by the current user. The registry also serves as an index to the operation of the kernel, revealing run-time information of the system.
Registry is a critical factor for stability, reliability and performance of a computer. Most of the computer problems are caused by system registry errors. Invalid registry keys left as traces by applications that are no more used or uninstalled from the computer, and so on, may cause troubles including degradation in system performance in terms of operating speed, reliability etc., crashes, stalls and so on.
Purpose
The Windows Registry serves as an archive for collecting and storing the configuration settings of Windows components, installed hardware/software/application and more. A Windows component, hardware or a software, retrieves the registry entries or keys relating to it, every time it is started. It also modifies the registry entries or keys corresponding to it, in its course of execution. When keys are added to the registry, the data are sorted as computer-specific data or user-specific data in order to support multiple users.
Location
In Windows NT based operating systems like Windows XP, 2000, and 2003, the Registry files are stored in the WindowsSystem32Config folder. These files are named:
Software;
System;
SAM;
Security;
Default; and
UserDiff.
These files do not have a file extension. The information contained in these files are explained later.
Apart from this, in the Documents and Settings folder corresponding to each user of the system, one more Registry file named NTuser.dat is stored. The NTuser.dat file stores all the preferences/settings specific to the user. These settings will override settings default settings of the system when the user logs-in.
Answer:
The Windows Registry serves as an archive for collecting and storing the configuration settings of Windows components, installed hardware/software/application and more. A Windows component, hardware or a software, retrieves the registry entries or keys relating to it, every time it is started
Explanation: