Windows 98 registry Structure

In the Windows 98 registry, all data is organized in a tree structure using keys and subkeys, just like the directory structure of our disk file system. Each key contains a specific set of information. The key name of each key is associated with the information contained in it. If a key contains a subkey, the "+" symbol is displayed on the left side of the folder that represents the key in the registry editor window to show more content in the folder. If the folder is opened by the user, the "+" will be changed to "-". We can open the registry tree layer by layer like opening the folder, of course, sometimes we don't know which directory branch the key is to be searched for, so we have to search for the corresponding keywords. Let's take a look at the meanings of the six branches at the top of the registry tree, so that we can be aware of the changes.
1. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
Manage the file system. Based on the extension of the application installed in Windows 98, the root key specifies the name of the file type, the program to be called to open the file, and other information.
2. HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Manage the current user information of the system. The root key stores information about the currently logged-on users stored in the local computer, including the User Logon username and temporary password. When a user logs on to Windows 98, the information is copied from the corresponding items in HKEY_USERS to HKEY_CURRENT_USER.
3. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Manage the hardware configurations of the current system. The hardware configuration data of the Local Computer is saved in this root key. The sub-keywords under this root key are included in SYSTEM. DAT, used to provide information required by HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, or a group of keys that can be accessed on a remote computer.
Many subkeys in the Root Key are similar to those in the System. ini file.
4. HKEY_USERS
Manage the user information of the system. The user ID and password list stored in the password list of the local computer are saved in this root key. At the same time, the pre-configuration information of each user is stored in the HKEY_USERS Root Key. HKEY_USERS is one of the root keys accessed from a remote computer.
5. HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG
Manage the system configurations of the current user. The root key stores the data that defines the current user's desktop configuration (such as the display, etc.), the user's used document list MRU ), application configuration and other information about the current user's Windows 98 Chinese version installation.
6. HKEY_DYN_DATA
Manage System running data. The root key stores the dynamic data of the system at runtime, which changes every time it is displayed. Therefore, the information under this root key is not stored in the registry. In Windows 98, these key-value item data can be divided into the following three types:

1. String Value S)
In the Windows 98 registry, string values are generally used to indicate the file description, hardware identifier, and other information. A string value consists of letters and numbers. Its maximum length cannot exceed 255 characters. Key-value data is composed of key-value items, which is equivalent to setting rows under each section in the Win. ini and Ssytem. ini files.
2. Binary value B)
In the Windows registry, the binary value has no length limit and can be any byte length. In the Registry Editor, the binary is displayed in hexadecimal format.
3. DWORD Value D)
In the Windwos98 registry, the DWORD value is a 32-bit dubyte length value. In the Registry Editor, The system displays the DWORD Value in hexadecimal format.
In the modification, so many subkeys are not necessarily used. The most useful of them is the subkeys under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and HKEY_USERS keys. Let's take a look at the important subkeys of the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE key and their functions:

1) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ software \ microsoft \ windows \ currentVersion \ uninstall save information on uninstalling Windows applications installed in windows 98.
2) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ system \ currentControl-Set \ control \ keyboard Layouts saves the language used by the keyboard in Windows98 and information about various Chinese input methods.

3) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ software \ microsoft \ windows \ currentVersion \ explorer \ user shell folders saves the path of personal folders and favorites in the computer.
4) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ system \ CurrentControl-Set \ services \ class save control panel-add hardware device-device type directory to manage your hardware information comprehensively.
5) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ software \ microsoft \ win-dows \ currentVersion \ run saves the name of the program running at startup set by the control panel, and its icon is displayed on the right of the task bar. This is also a directory that we often modify and use.
6) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ software \ microsoft \ windows \ currentVersion \ Policies \ Ratings saves the password (Data Encryption) set in IE's "security" \ "hierarchical Review ), if you forget the password, delete the data in Ratings to solve the problem.
7) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ software \ microsoft \ windows \ currentVersion \ explorer \ desktop \ nameSpace save special icons on the desktop, such as the recycle bin, inbox, and network neighbors. You can change the icon to a different one, people cannot recognize it.
First, let's take a look at the important branches below another important key HKEY_USERS:
1) HKEY_USERS \. Default \ so .. \ microsoft \ windows \ current-Version \ explorer \ RunMRU Save the list of programs running in "Start \ Run. This branch is cleared when the Document menu is cleared.
2) HKEY_USERS \. Default \ software \ microsoft \ internet explorer \ typeURLs Save the URL address list information entered in the address bar of IE4.0 browser. It is also cleared when the Document menu is cleared.
3) HKEY_USERS \. default \ so .. \ microsoft \ windows \ current-Version \ explorer \ RecentDocs saved the latest fifteen files that can be modified.) The shortcut is cleared when the Document menu is cleared.
4) HKEY_USERS \. default \ software \ microsoft \ windows \ currentVersion \ applets saves the recorded data of windows 98 applications.
In the above section, we roughly introduced the structure and important information of the Windows 98 registry, which is very useful for us to modify the registry.