

To create a restore point in Windows Vista, choose Control Panel -> System and Maintenance -> Restore files from backup -> Create a restore point or change settings. It's also a good idea, once you begin editing the Registry, to write down the current state of any key or value you plan to edit before you make any changes. So before you touch the Registry, use System Restore to create a restore point so that you can revert to the previous version of the Registry if something goes awry. If you're not careful, you could do serious harm to your computer setup, your applications and the way Windows works. When you modify a value, it changes right then and there. Always check with your IT department before altering a company-owned machine.Įditing the Windows Registry is easy - perhaps too easy. In this article, I'll explain how the Registry works, give you an overview of its organization and offer detailed instructions on how to edit it.Įditor's note: We're assuming that any Registry edits you make will be on your own computer. In fact, though, there's some method to the madness. At first glance, the Registry is a maze of apparently incomprehensible settings, overwhelming in their complexity.
