Windows Tutorials - Herong's Tutorial Examples - v5.62, by Dr. Herong Yang
What Is Windows Registry
This section provides a quick introduction on the Windows registry and related concepts like registry key, registry value name, type, and data.
What is the Windows Registry? According to the Microsoft dictionary, the Registry is a central hierarchical database used in Microsoft Windows systems to store information that is 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 the ports that are being used.
But here is my understanding: The Windows registry is a simple database used by Windows systems to store operating system information application program information. More precisely, The Windows registry contains:
Information in the Windows registry is organized in a tree structure using the following concepts:
For example, the Microsoft FreeCell game program uses the Windows registry to store multiple registry values. One of them is called "wins" and associated to a registry key called "FreeCell" under several parent registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER - 1st level key Software - 2nd level key Microsoft - 3rd level key Windows - 4th level key CurrentVersion - 5th level key Applets - 6th level key FreeCell - 7th level key wins - Value name REG_BINARY - Value type 46 0b 00 00 - Value data
Table of Contents
Introduction to Microsoft Windows
Introduction to Windows Explorer
Introduction to Internet Explorer
"Paint" Program and Computer Graphics
GIMP - GNU Image Manipulation Program
JPEG Image File Format Quality and Size
GIF Image File Format and Transparent Background
"WinZip" - ZIP File Compression Tool
"WinRAR" - RAR and ZIP File Compression Tool
FTP Server, Client and Commands
"FileZilla" - Free FTP Client and Server
Web Server Log Files and Analysis Tool - "Analog"
Spyware Adware Detection and Removal
IE Addon Program Listing and Removal
Vundo (VirtuMonde/VirtuMundo) - vtsts.dll Removal
Trojan and Malware "Puper" Description and Removal
VSToolbar (VSAdd-in.dll) - Description and Removal
Spybot - Spyware Blocker, Detection and Removal
Setting Up and Using Crossover Cable Network
Home Network Gateway - DSL Modem/Wireless Router
Windows Task Manager - The System Performance Tool
"tasklist" Command Line Tool to List Process Information
"msconfig" - System Configuration Tool
Configuring and Managing System Services
►Windows Registry Key and Value Management Tools
Registry Hives - HKCR, HKCU, HKLM, HKU, HKCC, and HKPD
Registry Supporting Files - Registry Backups
What Is the Registry Editor - "regedit.exe"
"regedit.exe" - Finding Registry Keys for FreeCell
"regedit.exe" - Viewing Registry Values
"regedit.exe" - Changing Registry Values
"regedit.exe" - Exporting Registry Keys
"regedit.exe" - Importing Registry Keys
Command Line Console Registry Tool - "reg.exe"
"reg.exe" - Query Registry Keys and Values