Extremely Low prices on Ink and Toner Cartridges

Registry | Windows95 |

The Windows 95 Registry is a hierarchical database that holds information about the system configuration and about program configuration settings.

Note: The registry is very much like the Windows 3.x INI files. Windows 95 does not used INI files any more other than for compatibility with older programs you might be running.

The information is stored in a tree-like format and contains 6 distinct sections called the root keys.

The root keys

• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
  Information on file associations and OLE is stored here. This section is also used when a program is opened or printing is performed.
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER
  Specific User environment settings are stored here. The way the screen looks, what sounds are played when you shut down, and things like that.
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
  Computer Driver information and machine specific settings are stored here. Current Software configuration settings are also stored here.
• HKEY_USERS
  Information such as the desktop configuration and various default settings for each user is stored here. New user settings are also stored here.
• HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG
  The current configuration of the computer is stored here. This information is specific to how the computer is configured at the time you use it, and it is copied from the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE key.
• HKEY_DYN_DATA
  Plug and Play hardware device information is stored here. The information is generated every time the computer is turned on and includes such things as the current device status, and any problems the device has encountered. Also DYNamic status information used by system monitoring is stored here.

The Registry is stored in two files. The System.dat file holds information about the computer and its settings. The other file is the User.dat and it contains information specific to the user of the computer. Both of these files are hidden files in the Windows folder. There are also backup files for each of the above, named System.da0 and User.da0.

The Registry is updated automatically during installation of programs.

Note: You should not try to change the registry. Most of the changes to the registry can be done by using the control panel and the device manager. If you do need to change it, always make a backup of the registry prior to touching it and then do so at your own risk. It can make the computer unusable if there is a problem.

The program used to make changes to the registry is the REGEDIT.EXE program which is located in the windows 95 folder. Alternately the System Policy Editor program Poledit.exe also located in the Windows folder.

Using the regedit.exe program

To use the regedit.exe program, click Start on the task bar and select run
Then type in the white text box

regedit and press the <OK> key

You navigate the registry by pressing the + signs in front of the key you need to open. Every time you press the + sign the related entry will further open to show you the entries within that entry. When you find the entry you want to view and click over the entry, the associated information for that entry is shown on the right side of the window.

You can also use the Edit Find method from the top menu bar to find a key a value or data relating to a key.

The changes take place immediately after you close the registry by selecting Registry Exit from the top menu.

Again do NOT make any changes to the registry manually. Use at your own risk and at a minimum make a copy of the registry prior to making any changes, if you have to modify it.

Links

• the Netscape 3.0 page, 

© 1997,98,99,2000 www.techadvice.com All rights reserved

---