Starting and Stopping The Desktop Taskbar Tweaking Tuning Up Explorer Keyboardese Shortcuts Galore Sound Advice Registry Review Improving Performance Installing Software Custom Looks Net Working Dos Forever REGISTRY REVIEW The Registry: What is it? The Registry is a hierarchical database within Windows95 where all system settings are stored. It replaces all .ini files present in Windows 3.x. The data from system.ini, win.ini, control.ini, are all contained within it along with hundreds of other system settings. All Windows95-specific programs should store initialization data in the Registry instead of .ini files in the Windows folder. Regedit.exe: The Registry Editor The Registry cannot be viewed or edited with a normal editor, you must use the "regedit.exe" program included with Windows95. This program is not on the START menu. You either need to add it, or click on Start/Run, and type "regedit" in the input field. WARNING! Be very careful while running RegEdit. You can easily render your machine unbootable if you play with unfamiliar settings! IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED you BACKUP your Registry before doing any editing. RegEdit Command Line Switches RegEdit.exe has command line switches for importing and exporting the Registry data: * /e This specifies that the complete registry should be exported (copied) to a file named file.reg. This is a good way to back up the registry. * /c This specifies the .REG file to use to overlay the entire registry. This is a VERY dangerous thing to do! Make sure you know you have the right file before replacing your entire registry in this manner! Contents of the Registry When start RegEdit, you will see the following subtrees under the "My Computer" header: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT Contains software settings about drag-and-drop operations, handles shortcut information, and other user interface information. There will be a subkey for every file association you have defined. HKEY_CURRENT_USER Information regarding the currently logged-on user (see HKEY_USERS below). AppEvents: contains the settings for which sounds to play for system sound events Control Panel: Control Panel settings are stored here, similar to system.ini and win.ini in Win 3.x. InstallLocationsMRU: appears to contain paths for Startup folder programs keyboard layout: specifies current keyboard layout Network: Network connection information RemoteAccess: Contains information about the current log-on location 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 computer. Subkeys include: Config: Configuration information Enum: Hardware device information, such as monitor settings Hardware: Serial communication port information and settings. Network: information about networks the user is currently logged onto. Security: network security settings. Software: Software-specific information and settings System: System startup and device driver information, and operating system settings. HKEY_USERS Information about desktop and user settings for each user that logs onto this computer. Each user will have a subkey under this heading. if there is only one user, the subkey will be ".default" HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG Contains info about the current hardware configuration, pointing to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. HKEY_DYN_DATA This key contains dynamic information about plug-n-play devices. The data here changes if devices are added or removed on-the-fly (i.e., hot-docking). Create a new registry from scratch If you want to create a new registry without a total reinstall, type 'setup /Pf' at the C: prompt. This will create a new registry from scratch. Please note the case of the letters, capitol 'P', and small case 'f'. Unabridged version of Tips and Tricks for Windows 95 copyright © 1995 - 2001 Hanar Software, all rights reserved. Tips and Tricks for Windows 95 Abridged Internet Edition copyright © 1997-2001, Hanar Software and William Foard Publishing, all rights reserved. AmericaToday.com copyright © 1995 - 2001 William Foard Publishing. Microsoft, MS, Windows, and the Windows logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft Corporation in no way endorses or is affiliated with Tips and Tricks for Windows 95. All other trademarks are the sole property of their respective owner(s).