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Thread ID: 24058	2002-09-02 10:16:00	FAQ Canidate - editing Registry	parry (27)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
75851	2002-09-02 10:16:00	Quite a few solutions to problems involves editing the registry. As we all know if you stuff it up then the excrement is going to hit the cooling device. I think there should be a FAQ on this so a generic referal to the FAQ can be made so people are aware of the dangers and know how to back it up. What do you think? Any takers to do this? A couple of good links are... support.microsoft.com support.microsoft.com cheers Parry	parry (27)
75852	2002-09-02 10:46:00	Yes, I agree Parry. But you need to finish your other project first.... ;-)	Susan B (19)
75853	2002-09-02 10:56:00	Also this FAQ from xtra help on restoring your registry, this page is for the 95/98/ME family and there is also one for the NT versions too. www.xtra.co.nz	dipstick01 (445)
75854	2002-09-02 11:16:00	err what project Susan? Ive added some links to the Excel one (which i forgot to do) but basically have finished that. Excels a biiiiig subject and a site dedicated to Excel is better. I wasnt meaning doing a FAQ on the registry myself - I was hoping someone else may do that :-) Another registry link too ... support.microsoft.com	parry (27)
75855	2002-09-03 01:05:00	Basically it's a good idea Parry, but maybe it only requires a preamble and then your MS, Xtra, plus any other useful links. This would save re-inventing the wheel. Then in posts that involve registry editing, maybe the usual warnings can be given together with a link to the registry FAQ	Terry Porritt (14)
75856	2002-09-03 03:28:00	Ok, since Ive been referring a few people to the reg lately I have done it myself :-) Looks a lot but I nicked it out of a web site so was pretty quick . Have a critique then it can be copied to its own thread for Bruces/Robs approval . b]EDITING THE WINDOWS REGISTRY[/b] 1 . 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 . 2 . How do I access the registry? 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 . 3 . What are all those folders in the Registry? Each of the folders contain specific groups of information or settings about your PC . You navigate around the registry in the same way that you would Windows Explorer . Here is a description of what the folders functions are: - 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 . 4 . Making a Backup The Windows registry is one of the most important parts of your system . Make a mistake here and you may not be able to run Windows properly or at all . Fatal mistakes may only be corrected by a full re-install of Windows . Before making any changes to the registry it is advisable to do a backup first . See the following links for descriptions of how to perform a backup . [url=]http://support . microsoft . com/default . aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q256986 (]http://www . xtra . co . nz/help/0,,6156-1262916,00 . html[/url) 5 Editing the Registry You will see that the Registry is divided into two panes . The left hand panes folders are called Keys, and many of these folders will have information on the right hand pane . In the right pane there are SubKeys (Name column) and within each SubKey there is a Data Value (Data column) . Many of these values you will not understand and are not to be changed just to “see what happens” unless you are prepared for the consequences! To edit a SubKey, double click the key and an Edit String box will appear . Enter your new value in here and press OK . 6 Links about the Registry [url=]http://www . winguides . com/registry/ (]http://support . microsoft . com/default . aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q256986 [/url) [url=]http://support . microsoft . com/default . aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q184023 (]http://www . xtra . co . nz/help/0,,6156-1262916,00 . html[/url) [url=]http://www . activewin . com/tips/reg/index . shtml (]http://support . microsoft . com/default . aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q136393[/url) Thanks to The Active Network where most of this information has been obtained . Regards Parry	parry (27)
75857	2002-09-03 08:02:00	That looks good Parry, but as you say, a bit long winded (good for an in-depth explanation). How about having that as an link for extra information, but have a short simple version on the FAQ with the essentials (for example): opening up the registry backing up registry modifying an entry and do not touch any thing other than what instructed to. This way any one new to registry editing won't freak out with information overload but will have the basics covered. The person is usually given detailed info on which entry to edit by the person replying to their post. Cheers Jen :-)	Jen C (20)
75858	2002-09-03 08:27:00	OK, I have taken the liberty of editing your instructions ;\ , hope you don't mind . 1 . What is the Registry? It is where all the system settings are stored in a database . 2 . How do I access the registry? 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 . 3 . What are all those folders in the Registry? Each of the folders contain specific groups of information or settings about your PC . You navigate around the registry in the same way that you would Windows Explorer . 4 . Making a Backup The Windows registry is one of the most important parts of your system . Make a mistake here and you may not be able to run Windows properly or at all . See the following links for descriptions of how to perform a backup . . xtra . co . nz/help/0,,6156-1262916,00 . html" target="_blank">www . xtra . co . nz 5 . Editing the Registry You will see that the Registry is divided into two panes . The left hand panes folders are called Keys, and many of these folders will have information on the right hand pane . In the right pane there are SubKeys (Name column) and within each SubKey there is a Data Value (Data column) . To edit a SubKey, double click the key and an Edit String box will appear . Enter your new value in here and press OK . 6 . Links about the Registry . microsoft . com/default . aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q256986" target="_blank">support . microsoft . com . winguides . com/registry/" target="_blank">www . winguides . com . xtra . co . nz/help/0,,6156-1262916,00 . html" target="_blank">www . xtra . co . nz . microsoft . com/default . aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q184023" target="_blank">support . microsoft . com . microsoft . com/default . aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q136393" target="_blank">support . microsoft . com . activewin . com/tips/reg/index . shtml" target="_blank">www . activewin . com >>NOTE: I don't know anything about registry editing (true test of idiot proof instructions!), but the above seems clear to me . It will need warning instructions added etc but has the basics covered . PS* some of my formating hasn't worked under Preview, yet I cannot see any errors at this end in the formating code, so my apologies if it still looks weird when posted so here goes . . . . . . .	Jen C (20)
75859	2002-09-03 08:49:00	> err what project Susan? Ive added some links to the Excel one (which i forgot to do) but basically have finished that. Excels a biiiiig subject and a site dedicated to Excel is better. This (pressf1.co.nz) project Parry (scroll down about halfway). You've done the Excel one, now we need the Word and Access ones. :-) Regarding your Editing the Registry contribution, I hope you can take criticism because I've got quite a bit! Firstly, I think that instead of repeating all the information you grabbed from The Active Network I think it will be sufficient to just provide the link to that page. Personally, all I think should be in this registry FAQ is how to back it up and how to restore it if necessary, along with a warning to be very careful not to change things unless absolutely sure. For further reading a list of good links can be provided at the end as well as links to good registry cleaners and a brief explanation of what they do. I can't count the number of times I've had to drag out my own registry notes to copy and post on someone's thread so it would be good to have a FAQ to send them to. PS I typed this out in notepad since I couldn't get online and now I see that Jen has said pretty much the same as me. If it's OK with you I'll post my own version later (got to get off the net again in a minute) and we'll have a vote! :D	Susan B (19)
75860	2002-09-03 09:17:00	No problemo, feel free to criticise away . :-) I have had a run of mentioning the reg lately & got sick of saying the blurb about the reg . Nobody was really taking the hint to make a FAQ so I decided to kick it off - good 2c some responses . You ladies are onto it, so you and Jen can take it over and besides you seem to have a better idea what should be there . Short and sweet is probably best as you both say ;-) With a FAQ you now only need to say change key x located at Hkey blah blah & refer to the FAQ with how to edit, make backups etc all covered . Cool . On the Word/Access front I am having second thoughts as there are quite a few sites dedicated to these subjects and a FAQ here probably wouldnt add much value . Its for frequently asked questions after all - I dont see many questions about Word/Access here . Look forward to seeing the finished article! cheers parry	parry (27)
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