Registry is technology terminology often refers to Windows Registry. Windows Registry, as its name suggests, is only relevant to Windows Family of Operating Systems such as Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 7, etc. Registry is a hierarchical database that contains Windows settings. As you would guess, windows settings are crucial to the smooth functioning of desktops and servers, and should the registry develop errors or get corrupted, the entire system will fall apart. Thankfully Windows registry is only a database, it is possible to fix registry errors using software tools.

Registries also can accumulate excessive information and unwanted settings that are added by unwanted software. Just as one would fix errors in registry, it is also possible to check the registry and also clean the registry on a regular basis, as a part of preventive maintenance.