is stored in control register 3 (CR3). Registry Windows Registry is a repository for configuration and settings information for the operating system and for other software, such as applications. It can be thought of as a filesystem optimized for small files. However, it is not accessed through file system-like semantics, but rather through a specialized set of APIs, implemented in kernel mode and exposed to user mode. The registry is stored on disk as several different files called "hives." One, the System hive, is loaded early in the boot sequence and provides configuration information required at that time. Additional registry hives, providing software-specific and user-specific data, are loaded during later phases of system initialization and during user login, respectively. Drivers The list of drivers to be loaded from the disk are retrieved from the Services key of the current control set's key in the SYSTEM registry hive. That key stores device drivers, kernel processes and user processes. They are all collectively called "services" and are all stored mixed on the same place. During initialization or upon driver load request, the kernel traverses that tree looking for services tagged as kernel services. See also Architecture of Windows NT Windows NT Startup Process Notes References Further reading External links Inside the Windows Vista Kernel (TechNet Magazine) struct LOADER_PARAMETER_BLOCK Driver Development Part 1: Introduction to Drivers Windows NT kernel Windows files