The

Windows Registry

is actually a database that stores all the information about your computer. The software, the devices, the files and much, much more has a home here. It's perfectly safe to work with the Registry as long as you understand certain things about it.

tweaking the Windows Registry

can also

speed up your computer without buying software

, can

fix computer problems

and more. Michael "Doctor File Finder" Callahan runs through this

beginner's guide to the Windows Registry in this video series

, complete with handy

Windows Registry tips and tricks

.

Windows comes with a Registry editor built right into the operating system. It isn't elegant or fancy, but it gets the job done. Here we'll take a brief look at its functions. After viewing this

video tutorial

, you'll be able to go in and start

editing the Windows Registry

to

tweak Windows

Editing the Windows Registry

is good way to

tweak your Windows PC

... if you do it right. However, blithely

changing Windows Registry entries

is a recipe for disaster. Michael "Doctor File Finder" Callahan offers some common sense tips that will ensure your Registry changes are tweaks and improvements as opposed to train wrecks and a disappointment. First and foremost:

make a full backup of the Registry

before editing. Here's how.

Entries in the

Windows Registry

have names that mean something to Microsoft programmers and to tech gurus... however, to most of us they're just gibberish. Armed with a list of useful Registry tweaks and a little

Windows Registry editing know-how

, you can

completely tweak Windows

so it works the way you want it to.

There are times when the

Windows Registry becomes corrupted

to the point where the computer can no longer boot. Perhaps your own

Windows Registry editing went awry

or perhaps the Registry just got corrupted over time. Whatever the case, it's possible to

restore the Windows Registry from a back-up

(like the one we made in part 3 of this series, Precautions for using the Windows Registry editor. Even if

Windows won't boot

it's possible to get it back up and running with your

Windows Registry back-up

.