The Windows Registry editor comes standard with the Windows operating system. Below are some examples of what can be achieved through manipulating the Windows XP Registry using the Windows Registry editor. However, this article assumes that you are familiar with the structure of the Windows Registry database. Down below you will find links to more useful related articles.

The Registry in later versions of Windows serves dozens of innovative purposes, introducing many features that were difficult to implement in older versions of Windows. It keeps track of all the hardware and software that you install on your computer and how each entity relates to the others.

There are many ways in which the Windows operating system can be modified or enhanced through a Windows XP Registry tweak (otherwise known as a Windows XP Registry hack). Mastering the Registry can enhance one’s experience with Windows and enthusiasts refer to this practice as "hacking the Registry." In quotes this practice sounds quite innocent but, sadly, the Registry is also a prime target for serious hackers through malware. The personal satisfaction that can be enjoyed through successful hacking of the Registry can be in sharp contrast to the horror experienced when these hacks appear unannounced on your desktop or within a software application such as Internet Explorer.

Lets have a look at a few simple examples of tweaks that can be achieved through using the Windows Registry editor:

Remove the Recycle Bin from your desktop Open Regedit by going to START, RUN, enter regedit, Enter and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
\Desktop\NameSpace\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E} and delete it. This action should remove recycle bin from your desktop.

Remove Shared Documents folder from My Computer branch
Open Regedit by going to START, RUN, enter regedit, Enter and go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ My Computer \ NameSpace \ DelegateFolders You must see a sub-key named {59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5-5595fe6b30ee}. If you delete this key, you have effectively removed the Shared Documents folder.

Speed up start up sequence by defragmenting all key boot files
Open Regedit by going to START, RUN, enter regedit, Enter and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction. In right hand panel look for Enable. Right click on it and set it to 'Y' for enable. This should speed up boot time.

Customize Internet Explorer Title Bar
Open Regedit by going to START, RUN, enter regedit, Enter and go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet. Explorer\Main. In right hand panel look for string "Window Title" and change its value to whatever custom text you want to see.

Speed up browsing AVI files (audio/video) By default, opening folders containing AVI files (audio/video) can be very slow because Windows is trying to extract unimportant information. This can be solved, by deleting the following key:
HKCR\CLSID\{87D62D94-71B3-4b9a-9489-5FE6850DC73E}

Here we have seen a number of innocent Registry tweaks, or hacks. In a similar fashion, the Windows Registry editor can be used to rectify errors in the Registry. However, if you’re not a technical boffin, you may want to take a look at our Registry cleaner reviews where we can assist you in finding the best registry cleaner that will take care of the integrity of the Registry for you.