What
is the Registry?
The
Registry in Windows Operating Systems is
a central hierarchical database used in
Microsoft Windows 9x, Windows CE,
Windows NT, and Windows 2000 used to
store information necessary to configure
the system for one or more users,
applications and hardware devices.
The
Registry contains information that
Windows continually references during
operation, such as profiles for each
user, the applications installed on the
computer and the types of documents that
each can create, property sheet settings
for folders and application icons, what
hardware exists on the system, and which
ports are being used.
The
Registry replaces most of the text-based
.ini files used in Windows 3.x and
MS-DOS configuration files, such as the
Autoexec.bat and Config.sys. Although
the Registry is common to several
Windows platforms, there are some
differences among them.
Registry
data is stored in binary files.
Administrators can modify the registry
by using Registry Editor (Regedit.exe or
Regedt32.exe) from the Run command.
(Windows
2000 Regedit screenshot)
(Windows
2000 Regedt32 screenshot)
If you use
Registry Editor incorrectly, you can
cause serious problems that may require
you to reinstall your operating system.
Microsoft (and I) does not guarantee
that problems that you cause by using
Registry Editor incorrectly can be
resolved. Use Registry Editor at your
own risk.
For
additional information about the
differences between Regedit.exe and
Regedt32.exe in Windows NT and Windows
2000 go to
141377
In Windows
XP and in Windows Server 2003, REGEDT32
(which was native to Windows NT and
2000) and REGEDIT (which was native to
Win9X) were replaced by a new version of
REGEDIT which combines features from
both tools. In Windows XP, the new
version is marked as version 5.1.2600.0
while the W2K one was v 5.0.2134.1. In
Windows Server 2003 the version number
is 5.2.3790.0. Try typing REGEDT32 or
REGEDIT and you'll find the same tool
pops up. You'll like it better than you
liked the old tool (and yes, it has the
PERMISSIONS feature!).
(Windows
Server 2003 Regedit screenshot) |
