How Dangerous is Editing the Windows Registry?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the risks and considerations involved in editing the Windows Registry on a Windows 10 PC. Participants share their experiences, concerns, and methods related to registry editing, including the potential for system failure and the importance of backups.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express concern that corrupting the Registry can prevent Windows from running, highlighting the severity of potential errors.
  • There is a suggestion that backing up the Registry is possible, but questions arise regarding the feasibility of restoring it if corruption occurs.
  • One participant emphasizes the importance of having a cloned drive available for recovery in case of significant issues during registry edits.
  • Several participants note that while minor edits can be safe, more complex changes carry greater risks and require careful planning.
  • Some participants advocate for using System Restore as a safer method to back up the system before making registry changes.
  • There are differing opinions on the necessity of editing the registry, with some suggesting that alternative solutions may exist for certain problems.
  • One participant compares registry editing to using dangerous tools, suggesting that it should only be done by those who are experienced and knowledgeable.
  • Concerns are raised about the fragility of the Registry and the challenges in tracking its structural details, which complicate the editing process.
  • Humorous analogies are made regarding the dangers of registry editing, comparing it to handling hazardous materials.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that editing the Windows Registry carries risks, but there is no consensus on the best practices for backing up and restoring the Registry or whether editing is necessary in all cases. Multiple competing views on the topic remain unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various methods for backing up the Registry, including cloning drives and using System Restore, but the effectiveness of these methods in all scenarios is not fully established. The discussion also highlights the complexity of the Registry's structure and the potential for errors during editing.

  • #31
phinds said:
No, not nearly everything, but most important things.
I get that, my incorrect exactness... But it do change what 'She' cares about....haha
 
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  • #32
Some details of the registry format can be found here:

http://www.sentinelchicken.com/data/TheWindowsNTRegistryFileFormat.pdf

KB822705 on the Microsoft website

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Registry+Overview+Windows+NT+site:microsoft.com

https://www.google.com/search?&hl=en&q=The+Windows+NT+Registry+File+Format.pdf

https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/19143045/windows-nt-registry-file-regf-format-specification



Books:
Windows XP Registry, ISBN0-7821-2987-0 (SYBEX)
Windows XP Registry Guide, ISBN 0-7356-1788-0 (Microsoft Press)
The Windows 95 Registry, ISBN 1-55828-494-X (MIS Press)
Inside The Windows 95 Registery, ISBN 1-55692-170-4 (O'Reilly & Associates)

Cheers,
Tom
 
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  • #33
sbrothy said:
A good idea is probably to run one or more of these programs who “claims” to clean up your registry. But be careful which ones you select. Perhaps that would take care of your problem without you having to manually edit the registry.
No, this is not good advice. The very fact that you put "claims" in scare quotes should be a red flag.
 
  • #34
WWGD said:
curious as to do something I want to do on My Win10 PC, which requires editing the registry.
I'm having difficulty imagining something requiring that that would be worth the risk.
 
  • #35
PeterDonis said:
No, this is not good advice. The very fact that you put "claims" in scare quotes should be a red flag.
Touche. One can check them out before running them though. Some may be malware but not all of them. But yeah, if you’re at the OP’s tech level choosing correctly might not be so easy. Disregard my faulty advice.
 
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  • #36
WWGD said:
TL;DR Summary: I've seen, heard of people editing the registry . Some , though, warn of the dangers of incorrect editing. Who should we believe?

Hi, curious as to do something I want to do on My Win10 PC, which requires editing the registry.
You may get somewhat better answers, and perhaps even suggestions, if you clarify what that "something" is that you want to try.
 
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  • #37
Vanadium 50 said:
Sure, you can back it up. The better question, though, is whether you can restore it. If the corruption is a little bad, no problem. If it's very bad, and Windows won't start, how do you plan to restore it?
If you have a system image backup and repair disc made, you can always restore after trying a registry change.
 

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