Windows Registry

Registry History
Before the Windows Registry: (DOS, Windows 3.x)
INI files
SYSTEM.INI This file controlled all the hardware on the computer system. WIN.INI This file controlled all the desktop and applications on the computer system.

Individual applications also utilized their own INI files that are linked to the WIN.INI.

Registry History: INI File Problems

Proliferation of INI files. Other problems Size limitations
Slow access No standards Fragmented Lack of network support

Registry History
The Windows 3.x OS also contained a file called REG.DAT. The REG.DAT was utilized to store information about Object Link Embedding (OLE) objects.

Registry Definition
The Microsoft Computer Dictionary defines the registry as: A central hierarchical database used to store information necessary to configure the system for one or more users, applications and hardware devices.

Registry Structure
The registry contains two basic elements. keys values

Keys
Registry keys are similar to folders contains the values.

each key can contain sub keys, which may contain further sub keys, and so on.
. Keys are referenced with a syntax similar to Windows' path names, using backslashes to indicate levels of hierarchy

Each sub key has a mandatory name, which is a non-empty string that cannot contain any backslash
E.g. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows refers to the sub key "Windows" of the sub key "Microsoft" of the sub key "Software" of the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE root key

Root Keys
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT (HKCR) Contains information in order that the correct program opens when executing a file with Windows Explorer. HKEY_CURRENT_USER (HKCU) Contains the profile (settings, etc) about the user that is logged in. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE (HKLM) Contains system-wide hardware settings and configuration information. HKEY_USERS (HKU) Contains the root of all user profiles that exist on the system. HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG (HKCC) Contains information about the hardware profile used by the computer during start up.

Sub Keys
Sub Keys These are essentially sub directories that exist under the Root Keys.

Values
Registry values are name/data pairs stored within keys Each registry value stored in a registry key has a unique name whose letter case is not significant

Types of Values

Editing

Registry editors

Registry Functions
The Registry Editor allows users to perform the following functions: Creating, manipulating, renaming and deleting registry keys, sub keys, values and value data Importing and exporting .REG files, exporting data in the binary hive format Loading, manipulating and unloading registry hive format files (Windows NT-based systems only) Setting permissions based on ACLs (Windows NT-based systems only) Bookmaking user-selected registry keys as Favorites Finding particular strings in key names, value names and value data Remotely editing the registry on another networked computer

Examples

Automatically Ending Non-Responsive Tasks

Increasing System Performance

Hiding the Drives

Turn Off Window Animation

Removing the Shortcut Icon Arrows

Force Use of Classic Start Menu

ANY QUERY ???