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Almost each and every systemtuning tweak that you find on this page requires changes in the Windows Registry. It is a vast database that Windows uses to save settings, configurations and other facts like software or hardware information. The registry is constructed hierarchically and pretty similar to the known Windows file system: Weve got keys (folders) and values (files) and even data types (file extensions). The Registry consists out of 5 main keys which all start with the letter H that stands for Hive thus referring to the hierarchic structure of the registry...

The Windows Registrys 5 main keys

Note: The five important keys from HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE can be found at %Windows%\system32\config. HKEY_USERS\UserProfil is located under C:\Documents and Settings\User name and C:\Documents and Settings\Sandro Villinger\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows.

Understanding the different data types
The actual information in the Windows Registry lies in the thousands of values which have different data types:

Additional information and how to use the Registry accordingly
The Registry can be viewed and edited by a special program like the Registry Editor (comes with Windows). To open up this editor, you need to click on Start/Run and enter regedit. Hit OK to start the application.

At first sight you will immediately recognize the structure of the Windows Explorer. Although, like we told you, folders are named Keys and files are Values. A click on the + or a double-click of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE (for example) expands this main key.

How do I change values?
You can edit values in order to change certain aspects or settings of your operating system. We give you a simple example: Open up the keys , , and . In the right-hand part you will find some values:

The symbols and the description (e.g. REG_SZ) show you the data type of the value. Each value has its own content which is shown in the Data column. Double-click on WaitToKillServiceTimeOut to change the data of this value. A window opens up. Change the data from 20000 to 3500.

In this example you change the time frame that services have to close themselfes down while shutting down the computer - if you decrease this value, stuck services will be thrown out of the memory earlier. This leads to a faster shutdown! Normally you have to restart your computer before the changes take effect.

How to backup the Windows Registry
If you feel uncertain about changing the Registry, which is a key component of Windows, you might want to play safe and create a backup. And its as simple as this:

1. Open up the Registry Editor and go to the specific key (e.g. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control as seen above). Right-click on the subkey Control and select Export.

2. A window appears that asks you to save this subkey as a .reg-file. Enter a name (like Control_Backup.reg and hit Save. In case of an emergency just double-click on the .reg-file and click OK/OK to integrate your old settings into the Registry!