The registry is a large database that stores all the parameters necessary for normal operation operating system. You can view it through the registry editor, which is available in Windows. Any user can enter it if his account has administrator rights.

And if you made any changes, or the computer turned off by itself, for various reasons, or you accidentally pressed the wrong key and deleted a parameter or an entire registry branch, then this may not have the best effect on the computer.

And yet, if this happened, let's figure out what are the ways to restore the registry of Windows 7 and Windows 8, for the normal operation of the computer.

With a backup

As you probably guessed, this the way is fine not to everyone. If you have previously created backups registry via "File" - "Export" - read on, if not - go to the next method.

So, you have a backup. Press the combination Win + R, the window will open "Run". In the "Open" field, write regedit and click "OK".

The Registry Editor window should appear. In it, go to the "File" tab and select from the menu "Import".

Explorer will open, find the previously created backup in it and click "Open".

Wait while the files are copied.

Using System Restore

A system restore can be done using restore points. You could create them earlier, when the system worked stably and everything suited you. Or they could be created automatically by the system: when making changes to the computer configuration, before installing drivers, and so on.

Let's first consider, how to restore the registry if the operating system boots. In Windows 7, go to "Start" - "Control Panel".

Here we are interested in the point "Recovery".

In the next window, click "Starting System Restore".

Now you need to select a restore point. If there are several points, and you are in doubt, look at the date the point was created - did your computer work normally on these dates ?! - choose it. Clicking "Search for affected programs", you can see which programs will be removed as a result of recovery. Click "Next".

We confirm the rollback of the system to the selected state by clicking "Finish".

All data, including the registry, will correspond to the state that was at the time the selected restore point was created.

If you have Windows 8 installed on your computer, read the article: Windows 8 restore point and system rollback. There you will be interested in the second part. The actions will need to be performed the same as described above.

If the OS does not start

Restore the registry if the computer does not turn on is also possible. In the operating room Windows system 7, when booting up the computer, press, at intervals of 1 second, the F8 button. A window will appear "Additional download options". In it, use the arrows to select the item "Computer Troubleshooting".

In the next window, select a language and click "Next".

Choose your account, it is better that she has administrator rights, then enter the password, if you have one set when you log in, and click "OK".

The following window should appear, select the item in it "System Restore".

A recovery window will open, click "Next" in it and repeat the steps described in the paragraph above.

If you have Windows 8 installed on your computer, you can press F8 or Shift + F8 when loading, but the window additional options you won't get any downloads. It is best to use a system recovery disc or bootable flash drive. You can create them on any other computer with Windows 8 installed.

Follow the link and read the article how to restore Windows 8. Everything is described in detail there. You should have the following window. Then go along the path: "Diagnostics" - "System Restore", and select the desired restore point.

Through the command line

In Windows, the files that are responsible for the operation of the registry are stored in the following path: C: (your system drive letter)/Windows/System32/config . The RegBack folder is also located there, it stores backup copies of all registry branches. They are updated by the system automatically, depending on the settings, every 5-10 days.

We need to do the following: delete the DEFAULT, SAM, SECURITY, SYSTEM, SOFTWARE files that are in the config folder and replace them with similar files from the RegBack folder.

We will not be able to do this in the operating system, since it will be necessary to replace the files responsible for its operation. Therefore, you need to use additional options download, and open a command prompt.

In Windows 7, press F8 when booting the system. Then you need to do everything as described in the paragraph above. In the window "System Recovery Options", select an item "Command line". As a result, it will run command line on behalf of the administrator.

In Windows 8, you can open the command prompt using the combination . This is described in detail in the article: Windows 8 Safe Mode. Read the paragraph: go to safe mode using the Shift+Reload combination. When the next window appears, select "Command line".

If the computer does not turn on at all, due to changes in the registry, then read the paragraph: enter safe mode using the system recovery disk (you can create it on any computer with installed Windows 8).

So, we launched the command line. Now enter the following commands line by line. Press "Enter" at the end of each line. First, let's create a badreg folder on system drive, we will copy all the files of our non-working registry into it. Then we will safely delete the DEFAULT, SAM, SECURITY, SYSTEM, SOFTWARE files from the config folder, because we have copies of them. And lastly, we copy the backups from the regback folder to the config folder.

MD c:\badreg
copy c:\windows\system32\config\default c:\badreg
copy c:\windows\system32\config\sam c:\badreg
copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\badreg
copy c:\windows\system32\config\security c:\badreg
copy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\badreg

delete c:\windows\system32\config\default
delete c:\windows\system32\config\sam
delete c:\windows\system32\config\system
delete c:\windows\system32\config\security
delete c:\windows\system32\config\software

copy c:\windows\system32\config\regback\default c:\windows\system32\config\
copy c:\windows\system32\config\regback\sam c:\windows\system32\config\
copy c:\windows\system32\config\regback\system c:\windows\system32\config\
copy c:\windows\system32\config\regback\security c:\windows\system32\config\
copy c:\windows\system32\config\regback\software c:\windows\system32\config\
exit

After you enter the exit command, the command prompt window will close and the computer will restart.

I hope one of the ways will help you restore the registry in the Windows 7 or 8 operating system.

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    Discussion: 16 comments

    I enter commands in the line as shown, for some reason it says: “the system could not find this path”, what should I do?

    Reply

    1. Most likely, you have the DEFAULT, SAM, SECURITY, SYSTEM, SOFTWARE folders in a different path, but not c:\windows\system32\config.

      Reply

      1. And what to do?

        Reply

        1. You need to find out the path to the specified files. Do you have the 32 bit version installed or the 64 bit version?

Change in habit working environment in Windows 8 and 8.1 has led to the fact that some actions that were never difficult in Windows 7 and XP began to cause problems for users. So, due to the lack of the usual Start menu, not everyone understands how to open system registry. However, there are no fewer ways to launch the registry editor in the G8 - there are even more of them than there were in the G7. Here are five of the easiest ones.

Five Ways to Open the Registry Editor in Windows 8

Using the Run app

There are two ways to launch the Run program:

  • through the context menu of the Start button in Windows 8.1;

  • by pressing the key combination Windows + R.

In the "Open" line of the window that appears, enter the command regedit and click OK.

The result of its execution will be the launch of the registry editor:

Using the command line

In Windows 8.1, Command Prompt also opens from context menu start button.

In the console window, enter the already familiar command regedit and press Enter.

The Registry Editor will open.

Via Windows Explorer

You can open the registry editor in the same way as any other program - just by running its file.

From your desktop, open any folder, navigate to the C:Windows directory and double-click on the file regedit.exe.


Through search

You can access Search in Windows 8 and 8.1 from the following locations:

  • context menu of the “Start” button (“Find” item);

  • sidebar Charms, which appears on the screen if you move the cursor to the lower right or top corner and move a little.

  • start screen (magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner).

Enter in the search bar regedit, press Enter and run the found application.


With a shortcut

If you make frequent changes to the registry, you will find it convenient to launch regedit.exe using a shortcut. To create a shortcut on the desktop, enter the directory where the program is located (C:Windows), open the context menu of this file and select the "Create Shortcut" item.

Confirm your consent to place it on your desktop.

Now the registry editor will be launched by double clicking on the shortcut.


Using tiles on the home screen

From the same context menu that we called to create a shortcut, select the “Pin to Start Screen” command.

After that, a regedit.exe tile will be created on the start screen, clicking on which will open the program we need.


Third party programs for working with the registry

There are a lot of applications for editing the system registry. They differ from the built-in regedit utility in Windows 8 with registry optimization functions that are necessary to maintain high system performance. And this is the main purpose of such programs. Let's consider some of them.

Reg Organizer

Reg Organizer is a multifunctional operating system maintenance utility. Allows you to clean and defragment the system registry, manage startup programs, remove applications along with their remnants in the registry and on disks, apply various fine tuning etc.

One of the sections Reg Organizer resembles the regedit system utility - through it you can edit the registry manually.

This application can be used as a replacement for the built-in Registry Editor, but some of its features, if used incorrectly, can break the functionality of the system and programs. Therefore, Reg Organizer should only be recommended advanced users.

Registry Booster

Registry Booster is another application that allows you to optimize your system registry for faster startup and Windows work. The program has only three main functions - checking, cleaning and defragmenting the registry, but everything, except for checking, works only after purchasing a license.

Registry Booster is designed for any user, including beginners. Fixes found problems automatically and does not allow you to manage this process manually.

RegScanner

Nir Soft's RegScanner utility is a handy replacement for the built-in registry editor, aimed exclusively at advanced users. Designed to search for data in the registry by a variety of parameters, including length and date last change. Found entries can be deleted immediately, after making a backup copy of them.

RegScanner is useful for cleaning the system after viral infection and search for leftovers remote programs. Exists in 32- and 64-bit versions. Free.

Registrar Registry Manager

Registrar Registry Manager is an application similar to the built-in Windows Registry Editor, but far beyond its capabilities. It allows you to keep the registry in order on local and remote machines throughout the network. Has functions Reserve copy and restoring data (both individual branches and the entire registry), cleaning, defragmenting, comparing registry keys with each other and monitoring all changes.

Designed for advanced users and system administrators.

To start editing the registry, press the Win + R keys and type the command regedit

Locking the Right Charms Bar

When you move the mouse cursor to the lower right or upper corner of the monitor, a panel pops up Charm Bar. This is not always convenient, especially if this moment this panel is not needed. To block the panel, open the registry editor and find the section

in this section DisableCharmsHint and assign it a value 1

Blocking left panel switcher

To lock the left pane in the same section

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ImmersiveShell\EdgeUI

create a DWORD value named DisableTLcorner and assign a value 1 .

To bring the panels back on hover, change the value of the options to 0

Turn off the screen windows lock 8

The lock screen in Windows 8 is a Metro interface that appears when the computer starts up or wakes up from sleep. To disable the lock screen, open the registry editor and in the section

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\

create a section personalization. In chapter Personalization create a DWORD value named NoLockScreen and assign a value 1

We speed up the launch of applications from Windows 8 startup

In Windows 8, starting applications from startup does not happen immediately, but after the Metro interface and its components are loaded. You cannot completely remove this pause, but you can reduce the loading time. Open the registry editor and in the section

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

create a section Serialize In this section, we create a DWORD parameter with the name StartupDelayInMSec and value equal to 0

Changes will take effect after reboot

Today the topic is dedicated to the eight. As you already know, this OS has changed a lot GUI, and familiar elements were difficult to find even for experienced users. For example, due to the redesign of the start menu, not everyone could, and there were many such situations. To make things easier for users, let's take a closer look at how to enter Windows registry 8 in several ways.

Remember, any changes made through the registry editor may adversely affect stable work your computer. Before editing, make a system restore point through which, in case of an error, you will return the PC to a working state. You can also make a copy of the registry key that you edit. After all the preparations, you can start running regedit.

Ways to open the registry editor in Windows 8

The first method uses a search. Press start, then you will be taken to the home screen. In this area, move all the way to the right, then click the magnifying glass icon, which is located next to the power control (shutdown) button.

Note: You don't have to go to the start screen, just press Win + W where you are now.

A panel with a search form will appear in front of you, where you will need to enter regedit.exe. After successful entry, press the Enter key or select Registry Editor from the list below.

If you see the UAC window, click yes. Thus, you can enter the registry on Windows 8.

In order not to enter the name of the editor file each time, I propose to make a shortcut to the regedit file in visible places. While typing the file name, when regedit appears in the list, click on it right click and select one of the following:

  1. Pin to Start Screen - Windows 8 Registry Editor is attached as a tile to the Start Screen workspace.
  2. Pin to taskbar - The most productive of these two methods, the registry shortcut is placed on the taskbar.

The second method is to click on the context menu item. Windows 7 does not provide this feature, so in the previous article we added this item manually. Right-click on an empty spot on your desktop. In the open menu, select the item called "Registry Editor".

In the third way it is necessary. This is done by pressing the Windows + R key combination, after which the familiar regedit.exe construct is entered into the line, then Enter or OK is pressed.

After completing 1 of 3 recommendations, you can enter the Windows 8 registry in a convenient way for you. All of the recommendations described can be used equally, and there is no clear leader here. Sometimes a picture emerges that after trying all the steps, the Windows 8 registry editor does not open, showing an error that, follow the link to fix the problem.

Many novice users are wondering how to enter the Windows 10, 8, 7 or XP registry. No matter how much you go through the Start menu items, you can’t find a shortcut to the registry in it! How to open the registry in Windows?

The fact is that any rash change in the registry can lead to disastrous consequences for your computer. To prevent inexperienced users from getting into trouble, access to the registry has been hidden.

Make a promise to yourself that you will not make rash changes to the registry in order to do not harm your computer!

Details about what is a registry how it works, and how it can be used, can be found in.

For any Windows versions There are several ways to launch a program in which you can change registry settings (it's called " registry editor»).

Let's start with the latest Windows 10, and consider two options for accessing the registry.

Launching the Registry Editor - Method 1 for Windows 10

  1. Click the "Start" button with the left mouse button (or the "Windows" key on the keyboard);
  2. When the Start menu opens, type " regedit" (without quotes);
  3. At the top of the search menu, under the inscription "Best match", the item "REGEDIT - Run command" will appear, click on this item with the left mouse button;
  4. If a confirmation window for starting the registry editor appears, click "Yes";

You will see the "Registry Editor" window, in which you can make changes to the registry itself.

Launching the Registry Editor in Windows 10

Launching the Registry Editor - Method 2 for Windows 10

  1. Click the Start button with the right mouse button (or the keyboard shortcut Win + X);
  2. In the menu that appears, select the "Run" item (these two steps can be replaced with one Win + R key combination);
  3. In the Run window that appears, type regedit" (without quotes) and click the "OK" button;
  4. In the launch confirmation window, click "Yes";

The "Registry Editor" window will appear, and you can proceed to make changes.

You can clearly see how to enter the Windows 10 registry in this video:

How to open the registry in Windows 8/8.1

To launch the registry editor in Windows 8, you need to follow the same steps as in Windows 10, if you have version 8 and not 8.1, then you don’t have a Start button, so in the first step of the first method, press the Windows key and then follow the instructions above.

Detailed video instruction on how to enter the Windows 8 (8.1) Registry Editor:

How to open the registry in Windows 7

To open the Registry Editor in Windows 7, you need to follow similar steps:

Launching the Registry Editor - Method 1 for Windows 7

  1. Type command " regedit" (without quotes);
  2. Click at the top of the menu, under the inscription "Programs" on the inscription " regedit»;
  3. Select “Yes” to the prompt to confirm the launch.

Launching the Registry Editor - Method 2 for Windows 7

  1. Press the key combination Win + R on the keyboard (hold down Windows key and, without releasing it, press the R key);
  2. In the "Run" window, type the command " regedit
  3. Confirm the launch of the registry editor with the "Yes" button.

Both ways to enter the Windows 7 registry editor can be seen in this video:

How to open the registry in Windows XP

In Windows XP, opening the Registry Editor is slightly different:

Launching the Registry Editor - Method 1 for Windows XP

  1. Click on "Start" with the left mouse button;
  2. In the right column, find the item "Run" (both steps can be replaced with a combination of Win + R)
  3. In the window "Start the program" write the command " regedit” (without quotes) and click the “OK” button;

Launching the Registry Editor in Windows XP

Launching the Registry Editor - Method 2 for Windows XP (and not only)

  1. Open File Explorer (you can use the keyboard shortcut Win + X);
  2. Go to drive "C:";
  3. Open the Windows folder;
  4. Find the "regedit" file and run it.

And, of course, a video version of opening the registry editor in Windows XP:

The second method is suitable for all listed versions of Windows. Moreover, you can cheat a little:

Once you get to the "regedit" file, you can create a desktop shortcut and greatly simplify access to the Registry Editor in the future.

You can find out more about what a registry is and how it works.

Conclusion

Today you learned how to enter the registry in all current versions Windows OS.

Collected in total three ways:

  1. Search through the start menu by entering the command "regedit"
  2. Using the "Run" command and typing "regedit"
  3. Opening the "regedit" file located in the C:\Windows\ folder

And one additional way: having reached the file "regedit" (third way), create a shortcut on the desktop.

In the next lesson, I plan to look at a way to save (backup) certain parts of the registry before changing them.

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