1.  The Registry contains configuration information for Windows.  Newly installed hardware components are updated and reflected in the Registry.

2.  Consists of two major components: Keys and Values  The Registry Editor gives all the registry information to view and make changes to your system.  Changes in the Registry happen instantly, there is no undo.  Tampering with the Registry can change valuable system settings, always backup before messing with it.

3.  Backing up the registry regularly can help fix many problems if information in the Registry becomes corrupt.  Backing up the registry also allows for a restoration if you screw something up.  On Windows 98 and ME, Windows automatically backed up the registry each time the computer restarted.

4.  Select Start > Run.  Type scanreg and press enter.  The Registry Checker will scan the Registry for problems and will attempt to correct basic problems if it finds any.  After scanning the Registry, it will report results and ask if you want to back it up or back it up again if it has been backed up previously.  Click Yes.  A message will appear when the backup is complete.

5.  Select Start > Run.  Type regedit  Click OK  File > Export Registry File

6.  Select Start > Run  Type scanreg /restore  Click OK to run the Registry checker in Restore mode.  Click OK when Windows tells you it needs to restart.  The Registry checker will display a list of backup points you can restore from.  Select the most recent backup from when your computer was working properly.

7.  Enter Regedit. (Start > Run > Regedit)  Find HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\RUN  This key is the startup folder, from here you can unload DDL (Dynamic Link Library) files.  These startup files are loaded when Windows boots, after loading, Windows keeps them running in the background, still using system resources.  Having less programs startup when Windows boots speeds up both the computer startup and running in general.

8.  You can set Windows to unload DLL files when you close a program by doing this:  Find HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENT-VERSION=EXPLORER  Right click Explorer and select New, click Key.  Name this new key AlwaysUnloadll.  Double click default, enter a value of 1.  This forces Windows to unload DLL files from memory when closed.

9.  If you want to change the system registration information (Info displayed after right clicking My Computer and going to Properties), you must use the registry.  Open Regedit (Start > Run > Regedit).  Find this key:  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION  Double click the value labeled RegisteredOrganization.  Enter the name of your company and click OK.  The same goes for the value RegisteredOwner.