A registry setting is a configuration option within the Windows Registry that determines how a computer functions or behaves. An example of a registry setting is the Maximum Password Age, which determines the maximum period of time that a password can be used before it must be reset or changed. This setting is found in the Hive HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\LSA. This setting is set to 42 days by default, but it can be adjusted by an administrator to restrict users from using their passwords for an extended period of time. Other examples of registry settings include the ability to enable or disable certain features, control how applications behave, and control how system resources are allocated.