Hkey Local Machine - how do I log in? Hkey Local Machine on "Windows" where is located?

Quite often you can find situations when installing some software or to improve the performance of Windows operating systems have to interfere with the operation of the so-called system registry, but not with changing user settings, but with editing the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE section. How to go to "Windows 8" in this thread or in any other system, and then it will be considered. We'll make a reservation at once: you only need to edit parameters if you have a clear understanding that this can cause irreparable harm to the entire operating system.

What is the registry?

In general, while leaving aside the question of how to go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE (SYSTEM) or to another subkey, it is worth noting that the Windows registry is a kind of registration table for all installed components and settings.

It stores data not only about the system's own tools, but also about all device drivers or user applications. Roughly speaking, no program can work if it is not registered, however, like the system services themselves. Similarly, it is impossible to open any file, information about which is not included in the registry.

Why do I need a Windows registry?

The problem of how to enter the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE registry branch is solved quite simply. You can fit the whole process into one line. But in order for the understanding to be more complete, first let us dwell on why all this is necessary.

Roughly speaking, all programs or data (any information) presented as files must somehow be recognized by the operating system itself, not to mention that all "iron" devices must function correctly using the drivers installed for them. How can the OS determine them? The primary BIOS is activated only at the very beginning of the computer boot, and the operating system starts only after that.

And the data for downloading is taken from the system registry. By the way, if you paid attention to the processes of Windows recovery, in the first place, it restores the registry from a previously created backup. However, user files are reportedly not affected. This is understandable, the recovery priority is set for the functionality of the software, which at the time of some unforeseen failure could already be deleted. And so - no problems! Through the restoration of the system registry, you can restore and those applications that are currently not in the system.

Note: the program files are not physically removed from the hard drive, but only renamed, and in the names the first character is replaced with an unreadable one (usually $ or ~ $). Thus, it is easy enough to define all the files marked with such attributes in order to restore the work of any program. By this principle, by the way, almost all currently known utilities work to restore lost information on any type of media, including not only hard disks, but also flash devices, external USB-HDD or even memory cards of the most popular standards.

What data is stored in the HKLM branch?

But back to the very branch of the registry. Again, before deciding how to go to "Windows 8.1") in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, it should be clear which data is stored here.

Basically they concern the system settings, with the parameters of which you need to be very careful when editing.

Depending on the OS version, the partitions may be different. But the main ones are SOFTWARE, HARDWARE and SYSTEM subpoints. As already clear, they correspond to the program, "iron" and system part. In other words, the first section stores information about installed programs, the second one is responsible for the drivers and equipment, the third section stores the settings of the OS itself.

How to access HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE on "Windows 7" or any other system in the fastest way?

Now directly on the entrance. The question of how to enter HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, in any of the now known Windows-systems is solved quite simply.

In this case, we are talking about using the program launch console and Run services, which registers the standard regedit command corresponding to the executable EXE file. After logging on, simply expand the branch in the directory tree on the left.

As on "Windows 7" go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE from the "Explorer"

But the above method is not the only one. Similarly, simply the question of how to enter HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE can also be resolved when using the manual program file.

It is called regedit.exe and is located in the System32 folder. In this case, even the launch on behalf of the administrator is not required, since the system will still request confirmation of the rights to intervene. Another thing is when you want to merge by running a key file with a REG extension. And here the rights of the administrator are mandatory, because the system will not be able to change the registry simply.

Editing the registry

With editing, as already noted, it is necessary to be extremely cautious. The price of the issue is the operability of the entire system.

This problem is due only to the fact that unlike other Windows programs and settings that offer the user to save the changes made, there can not be anything about this in the Registry Editor (if something is fixed, even if the editor is closed, the changes will be made In effect automatically). Thus, simply by changing one key, you can bring the entire system to full blast. Without special need this branch is better not to touch.

Defragment and clean up unnecessary data

So, how to go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, more or less figured out. With editing issues too, there should not be problems. Now a few words about defragmenting the registry. Many users underestimate this problem, to put it mildly. And in vain, because it is because of the problematic keys in the registry that the load of the system can become quite long.

As you can see, this is akin to hard disk operations, but the difference is not only in ordering the records and keys stored in it, but also in removing unnecessary ones. What is the point? At startup, the operating system scans the registry, and the more keys there are in it, the more time it takes to load. The conclusion suggests itself: the registry should be cleaned from time to time. But how to do that?

The easiest way to use special optimizer programs, which allow automatic cleaning and defragmentation without much user involvement. Among the most popular utilities can be identified CCleaner, Advanced SystemCare, Glary Utilities and many others. In the set of their tools, there are quite a few modules for all cases of life, including actions with the system registry. But you can also use narrowly-focused utilities, rather than integrated care programs for the system. They also have enough. But if you understand, it is better to use complex care, because the modules included in the programs provide additional cleaning and acceleration.

Do I need to change the keys myself?

Finally, I almost asked for the answer to the most important question about whether it is advisable and unsafe to change the values of registry keys. The medal has two sides. It seems that it is undesirable to change these parameters, but, on the other hand, some settings of the system components can not be activated or deactivated without intervention in the registry, in particular, in the settings branch mentioned above.

If you want a normal optimization of the operating system's load, without doubt, the optimizer applications are best suited. If you want to enable certain services or activate some components of the system itself, you can not do without intervention using the manual configuration mode. And therefore you need to be extremely careful not to cause the system such damage that it will cease to work at all and will not even give signs of life. After that, sometimes it may even be necessary to completely re-install it.

In any case, it is necessary to approach the questions of parameter changes as deliberately as possible, and without understanding the essence of the actions performed at a certain moment without the need for a registry, it is better not to climb at all.