Rekisteröintitiedostot

Rekisteröintitiedostot, known in English as registry files or hive files, are fundamental components of the Windows operating system. They are binary files that store configuration settings, user preferences, and hardware information for the operating system and installed applications. The Windows Registry itself is a hierarchical database where these settings are organized.

These files are not directly human-readable and are managed by the operating system. When you install software, change system settings, or create new user accounts, the corresponding information is written into the registry, and thus into these underlying files. The primary registry hive files are typically located in the C:\Windows\System32\config directory. Examples include SAM, SECURITY, SOFTWARE, SYSTEM, and DEFAULT. User-specific registry information, known as the user hive, is usually stored within each user's profile directory, for instance, NTUSER.DAT.

Modifying registry files directly is generally discouraged for average users as incorrect changes can lead to system instability or prevent Windows from starting. Specialized tools and utilities exist to manage and edit the registry, but they should be used with caution. System administrators and advanced users may interact with these files for troubleshooting, system deployment, or fine-tuning performance. Backup and restore procedures are crucial for registry files to safeguard against data loss or corruption.