| The Windows registry in your computer is a support | | | | manual editing, malware (viruses, Trojans, Adware, |
| system for the operating system and many | | | | etc.), and frequent, normal computer use over time. |
| applications. It exists at a level even more fundamental | | | | Certain Windows utilities allow people to manually edit |
| than that of the operating system, storing important | | | | the registry. However, errors can occur easily during |
| settings for low-level operating system components, | | | | the editing process and can cause serious problems |
| as well as those of the kernel, device drivers, and third | | | | with computer operation. |
| party applications. | | | | If you frequently download and install applications from |
| If you were to look at your computer in very general | | | | the Internet, any one of them could contain malware |
| terms as being composed of different layers arranged | | | | which can hurt the system registry by changing |
| in a hierarchy of dependence, one viable (and | | | | settings. |
| admittedly grossly over-simplified) model of your | | | | Finally, mere frequent use of your computer over time |
| computer would be the following. Items are list from | | | | can result in registry errors. Reason: every time you |
| most basic to most complex level of organization: | | | | save or delete a file or make changes to user settings, |
| 1. Physical Hardware | | | | you are causing information to be written to, read and |
| 2. Electrical Power System | | | | deleted from your registry. Even computers make |
| 3. Windows Registry | | | | mistakes, and over time there can develop big holes in |
| 4. Hardware Drivers | | | | your registry which lead to errors. |
| 5. Operating System | | | | Symptoms of Registry Errors: |
| 6. Individual Applications/Software Programs | | | | Symptoms of registry errors can include any number |
| This arrangement can be seen a hierarchy because | | | | of computer performance issues, including the inability |
| each item is dependent the level below it for its proper | | | | to open certain applications, erratic behavior, and very |
| operation. As you can see, your operating system, | | | | slow startup and shutdown times. |
| hardware drivers and software applications all require | | | | The Need to Repair Missing Registry Keys: |
| that the Windows registry to operate properly. | | | | Of course, for anyone with some level of computer |
| How it is Structured: | | | | literacy and competence, it is tempting to want to |
| The registry actually consists of two main | | | | correct registry errors oneself. As mentioned above, |
| components: keys and values. The keys are vessels | | | | the editing of registry keys for the purposes of repair |
| while the values are the vessels' contents. Another | | | | is entirely possible. However, manual editing can |
| analogy: the keys are like folders and the values are | | | | actually cause more problems than it solves. Moreover, |
| like files stored in those folders. Keys are named using | | | | to even begin editing a registry, you first would need to |
| a naming convention very similar to that of Windows | | | | know where the errors are and how to spot them. |
| folders you would see in the Windows Explorer | | | | This can take even an expert some time to learn. |
| application, with sub-keys under each key. This is how | | | | The best way to repair missing registry keys is to use |
| the registry is arranged hierarchically. | | | | a registry cleaner-type software. These programs are |
| Common Problems with the Registry: | | | | run quickly and easily and are designed for the sole |
| Over time, some or many of the individual registry | | | | purposes of finding and fixing computer registries. This |
| keys can become damaged. Common causes include | | | | is by far the safest way to repair missing keys. |