Windows Registry Origin

A feature of PCs and their operating systems is to allow users to perform various configurations on the hardware and software of computer systems as required. In earlier image operating systems, such as Win3.x, the configuration of the software and hardware work environment is based on the extension. ini files are modified, but ini files are not easy to manage, because each device or application must have its own ini file and it is difficult to achieve remote access on the network.

To overcome these problems, a database called "Registry" was used in Windows 95 and its subsequent versions for unified management, collect various information resources and store various configuration information. According to this principle, all the configuration information of applications and computer systems is included in the Registry in various Windows versions, it is used to manage application and file associations, hardware device descriptions, status attributes, and various status information and data.

Different from the INI file:

1. The Registry uses binary login data;
2. The Registry supports subkeys. subkeys at all levels have their own "key values ";
3. Key-value items in the Registry can contain executable code, rather than simple strings;
4. On the same computer, the Registry can store the features of multiple users.

Registry features:

1. The registry allows tracking configuration of hardware, system parameters, applications, and device drivers, which makes it possible to modify some settings without restarting.
2. Some of the hardware data logged on to the registry can support the plug-and-play feature of later versions of Windows. When Windows detects a new device on the machine, it stores the data in the Registry. In addition, it can avoid resource conflicts between the new device and the original device.
3. Administrators and Users can check system configurations and settings on the network through the Registry to achieve remote management.
We have described in detail the origin and basic structure of the Registry. It is found that the Registry is complex, but arranged in a very organized manner, which can effectively improve work efficiency and provide necessary conditions for system maintenance. Because the registry is a binary configuration database file for Windows, users cannot directly access the registry. To enable advanced users to edit the registry, Windows2000 provides the Registry Editor "c" and "Regedt32 ". This type of operation is only edited using the Registry Editor provided by Windows.

The editor has been installed on the hard disk when installing Windows, but there is no shortcut in the Attachment Program Group. If you need to use the Registry Editor, you can enter Regedt32 or Regedit in the "run" dialog box to open the Registry Editor,

You can also run regedt32.exe in the "register command prompt" to enter the Registry Editor,

The following describes how to use the Registry Editor, such as creating and deleting a primary key, a subkey, and a key value. Some instances for modifying the Registry are also provided.