How to Manually Repair your Windows Registry 

There is another way of repairing your Windows registry without the easy use of a registry repairer, a cleaner like RegCure. It is though a far more complicated process, involving the use of regedit.exe and regedt32.exe commands, involving a lot of time and an expert eye. 

THE MANUAL WAY TO REPAIR THE REGISTRY

Undertaking a manual repair to your Windows registry is not an easy thing to do, in fact many computer professionals would not dream of attempting it. It is though possible to go through the registry manually to fix files and folders that are impacting upon a computer’s performance. Before commencing it though an individual must know all about the workings and organization of the registry. 

THE HISTORY OF THE WINDOWS REGISTRY

Suprisingly enough the Windows registry is a new addition to Microsoft’s operating systems. If you go back to the earliest Windows systems, such as Windows 3x, you will find that they did not have a registry. Windows 3x, and its predecessors, had .ini and .dat files located in each system folder and subfolder, rather than a registry. Within these two sets of files were included all the information required to make the computer operate. 

The use of .ini and .dat files is a complex thing though and it was found that they were easy to delete by accident. Once deleted it would be impossible to get Windows working again as it should. 

This issue though was resolved when Microsoft came up with the Windows NT operating system. Instead of .ini and .dat files located in each folder, the configuration data was centralized into what became known as the Windows registry. This registry could be viewed using regedit.exe, but could not be amended, and so was like a huge database of information. 

As Microsoft continued to develop its operating system, with the inception of Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows 2000, so the company changed the registry as well. To view the registry now required the use of the regedt32.exe command. This new command saw a user able to make changes to the registry through the command functionality. This new function though did mean that less of the registry could be looked at when compared with the old regedit.exe command.

It wasn’t until Windows XP that the best features of the regedit.exe and regedt32.exe commands were brought together. The registry then became both easier to view and easier to make changes to if required. This functionality has also been included in subsequent operating system, Windows Server and Windows Vista. 

THE INTERNAL WORKINGS OF THE REGISTRY

The Windows registry is made up of two forms of internal workings, and is made up of the key and the value. In basic terms the key is the equivalent of the folder as used by Windows Explorer, as such a key can have subkeys, just as a folder can have subfolders. The value is the information held by the key or subkey. The value is a data pair that stores all of the configuration date required to ensure that the computer runs as it should. 

Within the registry the keys are stored and ordered with their own hives. There are five hives that are used by a Windows registry – 

• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT (HKCR) – The HKCR is the hive that stores the keys, subkeys and values relevant to all of the applications that are installed in the computer.
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER (HKCU) – The HKCU is a storage unit for all the data about the individual settings and configuration data for the user currently using the computer.
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE (HKLM) –The HKLM is the hive that stores the information about all computer users, and as such contains the general setting information.  
• HKEY_USERS (HKU) – This hive is the equivalent of the HKCU, keeping configuration and setting information about all users of the computer rather than just current user. 
• HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG (HKCC) - This final hive stores the entire boot up information that is temporarily stored. 

WORKING IN THE REGISTRY

If you know all about the internal workings of the Windows registry it is then possible to start editing the contents, and repair keys and values if required. There are some common methods used to change the stored information. 

• Manually Editing – manual edits are undertaken by the use of the regedit.exe command. With the registry open this command allows registry keys and values to be sorted and checked, items can be deleted if the editor considers them to be no longer required, or dangerous to the running of the computer.
  
• Console registry Tool for Windows – This editing of the Windows registry involves the use of reg.exe, codes and scripts, all using the Command option in Windows OS.
  
• Microsoft Management Console (MMC) – the MMC is most commonly used by system administrators, where it may be known as Group Policy. This tool enables the management of networks and computer systems; this means that registries can be edited on any computer hooked up to a network.
  
• Registration Entries (.reg) – This is a less common method of making changes to the Windows registry and involves the use of a script. All changes required of the registry are stored in a separate registration entries files which the script then makes changes to.
  
• Registry Editor – Microsoft released their own support tool, the Windows Registry Editor, to enable the location of all keys and values stored within the Windows Registry. The Editor allows keys and values to be renamed, edited, added or deleted as the user feels appropriate.
  
• Windows Management Instrumentation – This is an administrators tool within Windows that automates the process using editing and Windows registry repair.
  
• Windows Script Host – Using Visual Basic or JSCript it is possible to make alterations to the Windows registry. There are some basic commands that can be undertaken inclusing; RegDelete, where values are removed; RegRead, a restoration command for values; RegWrite, the creation or editing of values. 

It is therefore possible to make alterations to the registry through a number of methods. As it is possible to therefore repair any keys or values that need repairing or delete and files that need to be removed. Whilst it is possible it is not recommended, most computer technicians will never even attempt it. 

Any professional recognizes the damage that can be done when trying a manual repair of the Windows registry. A simple mistake can easily lead to the whole Windows operating system being destroyed, and thus necessitate a complete reinstall of the Windows operating system. 

THE COMPLEX OR EASY WAY

So if the manual process of repairing the Windows registry is so complex and dangerous is there any other way of doing it? There is a far easier, safer and quicker way of fixing a damaged registry. 

All that is needed is a registry repair program from a third-party software developer. There are many registry cleaners on the market although we would have to say that RegCure stands out as the best available. 

RegCure is the fastest – scanning and fixing issues in less than a minute in some cases. 

RegCure is the most thorough – identifying damaged and infected keys and values, even in the deepest recesses of the registry.

RegCure is the safest – it includes a full back up and restore function. Just in case of any accidental deletions.

Overall RegCure is the only Windows registry repair tool that does everything you want to from a cleaner. What’s more RegCure is available as a free trial.