GIMP Plugin Registry

hope some one can help me with this. I'm old school and tryin this program for the first time. here's my problem. I have installed gimp and all looks well but when I go to open layers nothing happens I get no toolbar for it. I can add layers all I want but I can not see the multi layer display box so when I make animation I can not edit each layer. Am I missing something here ? Did I not install it all ? any help would be welcome thanks sir j