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Q: In your 23 April 07 column, a reader (Pam S.) asked about adware/spyware and also what a "registry" was. You failed to address "registry" in your reply. I also would like to know what a "registry" is.
James S.
A: I can normally count on you, my readers, to keep me honest and on my toes. The system registry or registry for short is where the configurations for most programs are located. When you install software applications on your computer the settings or configurations are saved here so that your computer will know exactly how to run those programs for you each time that you open them up. The system registry has about five major Handles to Registry Keys or HKEY’s. They are categorized by those for hardware/operating system/ and applications settings, current user preferences, monitor/printer settings, performance data, and the settings for linking files. So it is easy to see that this is a very sensitive area of your computer. Unfortunately, the settings aren't in plain English, so making changes to registry is not advised unless you know what you are doing. I intentionally did not mention the registry because I believed that a solution could be found that circumvented the need to edit the registry. I liken explaining editing a system registry to talking someone through an appendectomy. It could be done, but is ill advised outside of unusual circumstances.
Making a mistake in the system registry could potentially dwarf the original issue, and is a sure fire way to reduce your computer to the largest paperweight in your house. For this reason, it takes a little work to change the system registry. In order to change or edit it, you must open a program called regedit.exe. To open this program you need to go to the Start menu. Next, select the header titled Run. A little box should appear. Type regedit and press the Enter button. A new window should appear with HKEYs for the Root, Current User, Local Machine, Users, and Current Configuration. It is ok to look, but do not change anything.
In the unlikely case that you do need to make changes to your computer’s system registry, there are a plethora of third party system registry program that can walk you through the process in a wizard type format. Many adware/spyware removal detection and removal programs do just that. They detect the changes that were made to the system registry by the adware/spyware programs, and changes them back without the need for you to get your hands dirty. If you ever find yourself in a situation where your system registry has been accidentally changed for the worst, it’s not the end of the world. Depending upon the type and location of the change that was made, a recovery may be possible. It is important to note that you will likely pay with your time, money, and a bit of frustration.