Where is control set data stored in the registry hive?

The control set data, which pertains to the configuration settings for the system, is stored in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM registry hive. This hive contains critical information about the system's hardware, software, and configuration settings.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE is fundamentally important for maintaining the overall operating system configuration for all users on the machine. Within this section, control sets help manage and delineate the various system settings, particularly during startup. There can be multiple control sets, allowing Windows to revert to a stable configuration if necessary.

The other registry hives have different purposes: HKEY_CURRENT_USER focuses on settings specific to the currently logged-in user, HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT handles file associations and OLE information, and HKEY_USERS manages the settings for all user profiles on the machine. However, none of these are directly related to the control sets that impact system-wide configurations stored under the SYSTEM hive. Thus, selecting HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM as the location for control set data is accurate and reflects the registry's organization.