Specifying a Registry Key

A version of this page is also available for

4/8/2010

You can add a registry key to specify values that you need.

To specify a key or entry within the registry

Locate the root that you want to use.
Enter the new key or entry as a text string, starting at the selected root. Specify separate subkeys with a backslash (\), as follows.
```
[ROOT]\[Key]\[Subkey]\[Subkey or entry]
```
Traditionally, applications store data using the following key structure:
```
[ROOT]\Software\[Company name]\[Product name]
```
For example, Microsoft stores configuration information for the game FreeCell in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\FreeCell registry key.
Most APIs access keys under a predetermined root. Therefore, text strings used as parameters should start at the key, rather than the root.