Registry
Editing Tips
What Is The Registry
The Registry is a hierarchical database within later versions of Windows
(95/98/NT4/NT5) where all the system settings are stored. It has replaced all of
the .ini files that were present in Windows 3.x. The data from system.ini,
win.ini, control.ini, are all contained within it now, along with hundreds of
other system settings. Additionally, all Windows specific programs are now to
store their initialization data within the Registry instead of in .ini files in
your Windows folder.
About The Registry Editor
The Registry cannot be viewed or edited with a normal editor - you must use a
program included with Windows called RegEdit (Registry editor) for Windows 95
& 98 or RegEdit32 for Windows NT 4 & 5. This program isn't listed on
your Start Menu and it is well hidden in your Windows directory. To run this
program, just click on Start, Run, and type regedit (for Win 9x) or regedit32
(for Win NT) in the input field. This will start the Registry Editor. Now add
this to the Start Menu or to the desktop for easier editing.
Registry Subtree
MY COMPUTER
- HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT: Contains software settings about drag-and-drop
operations, handles shortcut information, and other user interface
information. There is a subkey here for every file association that has been
defined.
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER: Contains information regarding the currently
logged-on user.
- AppEvents: Settings for assigned sounds to play for system and
applications sound events.
- Control Panel: Control Panel settings, similar to those defined in
System.ini, Win.ini and Control.ini in Windows 3.xx.
- InstallLocationsMRU: Contains the paths for the Startup folder
programs.
- Keyboard layout: Specifies current keyboard layout.
- Network: Network connection information.
- RemoteAccess: Current log-on location information, if using Dial-Up
Networking.
- Software: Software configuration settings for the currently
logged-on user.
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE: Contains information about the hardware and
software settings that are generic to all users of this particular computer.
- Config: Configuration information/settings.
- Enum: Hardware device information/settings.
- Hardware: Serial communication port(s) information/settings.
- Network: Information about network(s) the user is currently logged
on to.
- Security: Network security settings.
- Software: Software specific information/settings.
- System: System startup and device driver information and operating
system settings.
- HKEY_USERS: Contains information about desktop and user settings for
each user that logs onto the same Windows 95 system. Each user will have a
subkey under this heading. If there is only one user, the subkey is “.default”.
- HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG: Contains information about the current hardware
configuration, pointing to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
- HKEY_DYN_DATA: Contains dynamic information about the plug-and-play
devices installed on the system. The data here changes if devices are added or
removed on-the-fly.
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