What are Registery Keys?

EnDouble · 12-01-2002, 01:27 AM

As you can see in my status, I'm an idiot.

Well, I'm not an idiot. I'm really good with computers, but I just are confused about Registery Keys.

How do they work?

What do they do?

How can I view them?

Please help me out with this. Thanks.

Lion7718 · 12-01-2002, 01:35 AM

Registry Keys are the Brains of your computer, If you don't understand them..don't mess with them, at all.

Blurry · 12-01-2002, 01:45 AM

Check out the following link. It is a very basic tutorial explaining the registry.

http://www.winguides.com/article.php...guide=registry

Quick answers:

1. Whenever a user makes changes to a Control Panel settings, or File Associations, System Policies, or installed software, the changes are reflected and stored in the Registry as keys.

2. The Registry is a database used to store settings and options for Windows. These registry keys basically tell Windows what to do.

3. Click Start>Run>Type 'Regedit'

That site also has a lot of registry tweaks to improve Windows:
You can start by going through one of the "tweaks" just to get the hang of it. I wouldn't change anything but just look around and get familiar with it:

http://www.winguides.com/registry/

You'll soon realize that most of what is done is the registry simply changes the settings or cosmetics of Windows. If a key is not changed correctly, however, it could really be devestating. But as long as you back it up before doing something, by right clicking on a key and exporting its value in a safe place, you should be fine. You can double-click the exported reg file if you mess up to make things as they were.

Lion7718 · 12-01-2002, 01:47 AM

Thanks Blurry, I didn't have a link to give.

gbread49 · 12-01-2002, 02:19 AM

:thumbs up blury....that was a great explaination......

.....and as lion said, don't change nothing in the Registry unless you know what it is you are changing.

.........and Welcome to UTC, EnDouble...........

(BTW: your not an idiot, your just uninformed)

12-01-2002, 02:34 AM

Welcome to the herd!!

LPDad · 12-01-2002, 08:12 AM

LOL...Welcome EnDouble !!

I have a much different outlook on things (like the registry)--What good is it if I cannot mess with it???

...course that also goes along with "If there is any way possible to SCREW it up I WILL find a way to do it..in the shortest possible time!!!"

Bottom line: MAKE a BACKUP of the registry before you "screw it up"

Then...have fun screwing it up, cause you can always restore your backup.

Seriously...If you have a specific question regarding a particular registry key or function..give us a shout. Often there are ways to make changes without resorting to hacking the registry.
And do not be afraid to ask!!

EnDouble · 12-01-2002, 08:33 PM

Hey thanks a lot.

Thanks for welcoming me too. If I have any questions I'll post them here.

I don't want to mess with it without messing it up, so how do you back it up?

Blurry · 12-01-2002, 08:49 PM

before you delete or modify a value, just right-click on its parent key (looks like a folder) and click 'export'

then you can name it and save it where ever you like. So if you mess up something in Windows, you can always double-click on the file you saved. This will export the original or backup key back into the registry.

You can also back up the entire registry by exporting My Computer at the very top of RegEdit... But it is recommended to only backup one key at a time.

AlienChld7 · 12-01-2002, 08:51 PM

Open up Regedit (as described before: Start -> Run -> type in regedit)

the thing all the way at the top should be My Computer. Click on that so that it is highlighted. Now, go to File -> Export. Choose a location on your computer and save it. If you mess stuff up, you can either
1. run Regedit again and this time, choose Import and select the backup
OR
2. I think you can just double-click the file on your comp and it will import by itself

Just remember, if you change things around or install/uninstall programs, you're changing your resgistry. don't backup one day, install a bunch of files, and then restore your backup. you could cause some problems

EnDouble · 12-01-2002, 09:05 PM

Thanks a lot blury and AC7, I appreciate your help.

Blurry · 12-01-2002, 09:35 PM

BTW, I like the fact that you type in orange text. Hey... it's something different.

Music Pirate · 12-01-2002, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AC7
Open up Regedit (as described before: Start -> Run -> type in regedit)

AC7 unleashes the great evil all....giving a small kid the knowledge of how to edit the registry....do you heard someone computer crashing today???

LPDad · 12-02-2002, 08:26 AM

Yeah AC, you really should be ashamed of yourself!!!

12-01-2002, 01:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
EnDouble Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 11	What are Registery Keys? As you can see in my status, I'm an idiot. Well, I'm not an idiot. I'm really good with computers, but I just are confused about Registery Keys. How do they work? What do they do? How can I view them? Please help me out with this. Thanks.

12-01-2002, 01:35 AM	#2 (permalink)
Lion7718 Staff Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 2,317	Registry Keys are the Brains of your computer, If you don't understand them..don't mess with them, at all. __________________ "Protect me from my friends, I can take care of my enemies" You better not be touching my mannequin

12-01-2002, 01:45 AM	#3 (permalink)
Blurry Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 436	well...for starters Check out the following link. It is a very basic tutorial explaining the registry. http://www.winguides.com/article.php...guide=registry Quick answers: 1. Whenever a user makes changes to a Control Panel settings, or File Associations, System Policies, or installed software, the changes are reflected and stored in the Registry as keys. 2. The Registry is a database used to store settings and options for Windows. These registry keys basically tell Windows what to do. 3. Click Start>Run>Type 'Regedit' That site also has a lot of registry tweaks to improve Windows: You can start by going through one of the "tweaks" just to get the hang of it. I wouldn't change anything but just look around and get familiar with it: http://www.winguides.com/registry/ You'll soon realize that most of what is done is the registry simply changes the settings or cosmetics of Windows. If a key is not changed correctly, however, it could really be devestating. But as long as you back it up before doing something, by right clicking on a key and exporting its value in a safe place, you should be fine. You can double-click the exported reg file if you mess up to make things as they were. __________________ N/A

12-01-2002, 01:47 AM	#4 (permalink)
Lion7718 Staff Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 2,317	Thanks Blurry, I didn't have a link to give. __________________ "Protect me from my friends, I can take care of my enemies" You better not be touching my mannequin

12-01-2002, 02:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
gbread49 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 744	:thumbs up blury....that was a great explaination...... .....and as lion said, don't change nothing in the Registry unless you know what it is you are changing. .........and Welcome to UTC, EnDouble........... (BTW: your not an idiot, your just uninformed) __________________

12-01-2002, 02:34 AM	#6 (permalink)
Gunny_Snipes Guest Posts: n/a	Welcome to the herd!!

12-01-2002, 08:12 AM	#7 (permalink)
LPDad Admin & "Fixer" Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Costa Mesa, CA Posts: 2,293	LOL...Welcome EnDouble !! I have a much different outlook on things (like the registry)--What good is it if I cannot mess with it??? ...course that also goes along with "If there is any way possible to SCREW it up I WILL find a way to do it..in the shortest possible time!!!" Bottom line: MAKE a BACKUP of the registry before you "screw it up" Then...have fun screwing it up, cause you can always restore your backup. Seriously...If you have a specific question regarding a particular registry key or function..give us a shout. Often there are ways to make changes without resorting to hacking the registry. And do not be afraid to ask!! __________________ We don't need no stink'n TechSupport We ARE TechSupport. *LPDad* Administrator

12-01-2002, 08:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
EnDouble Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 11	Thanks Hey thanks a lot. Thanks for welcoming me too. If I have any questions I'll post them here. I don't want to mess with it without messing it up, so how do you back it up?

12-01-2002, 08:49 PM	#9 (permalink)
Blurry Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 436	before you delete or modify a value, just right-click on its parent key (looks like a folder) and click 'export' then you can name it and save it where ever you like. So if you mess up something in Windows, you can always double-click on the file you saved. This will export the original or backup key back into the registry. You can also back up the entire registry by exporting My Computer at the very top of RegEdit... But it is recommended to only backup one key at a time. __________________ N/A

12-01-2002, 08:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
AlienChld7 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 301	Open up Regedit (as described before: Start -> Run -> type in regedit) the thing all the way at the top should be My Computer. Click on that so that it is highlighted. Now, go to File -> Export. Choose a location on your computer and save it. If you mess stuff up, you can either 1. run Regedit again and this time, choose Import and select the backup OR 2. I think you can just double-click the file on your comp and it will import by itself Just remember, if you change things around or install/uninstall programs, you're changing your resgistry. don't backup one day, install a bunch of files, and then restore your backup. you could cause some problems

12-01-2002, 09:05 PM	#11 (permalink)
EnDouble Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 11	Thanks a lot blury and AC7, I appreciate your help.

12-01-2002, 09:35 PM	#12 (permalink)
Blurry Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 436	BTW, I like the fact that you type in orange text. Hey... it's something different. __________________ N/A

12-02-2002, 08:26 AM	#14 (permalink)
LPDad Admin & "Fixer" Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Costa Mesa, CA Posts: 2,293	Yeah AC, you really should be ashamed of yourself!!! __________________ We don't need no stink'n TechSupport We ARE TechSupport. *LPDad* Administrator

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