How to use Windows Registry Editor to tune up PC performance
By Renee | 13/Dec/2024
Usually, you won't need to bother with the Registry - it operates in the background, automatically updated when you change an insignificant Windows setting like the wallpaper of desktop or install new software. However, if you want to tune up Windows' performance or customize some hard-to-find settings, editing the Registry may be the only way to do it.
All manual changes to Windows Registry could be finished by using Registry Editor. Registry Editor allows you to create and revise the keys and values to fix the performance. It sounds like a professional thing, but it is not that hard for the average users.
Let’s get it done step by step and take Windows 8 for example.
1. Restore Windows Registry
->Click Start, type regedit in the search box, and press Enter.
->Click File>Export.
-> In the dialogue box, enter a useful name such as registrybackup, select a useful location (My Document is the default) and click save.
2. Open Registry Editor
->Right-click the Start button and then choose Run.
->Type regedit in the search box, and enter OK.
(or you can use the backup way to open Registry Editor, they are the same)
3. Understanding Registry Keys and Values of Hives
I am afraid that you are scared to see the windows above, with all that folders and quirk name. So this paragraph is going to tell you some basic information about Registry keys and values before we make any changes.
From the pics above, we can see clearly that the Registry is organized into five major sections, which are called hives. Each hive is stored in its own system file on your PC's hard disk.
- HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT: holds information of the registered application.
- HKEY_USERS: contains subkeys for all users of the PC.
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER: stores the current user of the PC, all attributes of the desktop environment and network connections.
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE: contains the settings for PC's hardware, system software, and applications.
- HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG: gathers all the information when Windows first launches. The data restored in this hive is regenerated each time your PC boots.
Ok, if this is too much for you, a professional and free registry cleaner is recommended. Neptune SystemCare 2017 will save you all the efforts to study and clean the Windows registry within one click and speed up your PC, without any brain-consuming.
4. Tune up PC performance
Delete Subkey
For most average users, what we can do is to delete the useless keys. As for the value, unless you are familiar with that field, any changes are not suggested.
->Right-click the item and select Delete, to delete a subkey or value.
Speed up Window’s Menu
Follow these steps to make Window’s menu display faster:
->Open Registry Editor
->Find HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop key
-> Right-click the MenuShowDelay item and select Modify
->Change the current value (typically 400) to something a bit lower - something around 100 in the dialogue box.
This article may take you 10 minutes to read and follow the steps, but it will help you tune up PC performance use Windows Registry Editor, which will get your computer a longer and healthier life.