Windows 2000 Registry - Softcover

The Registry. Such a simple sounding word, but in the world of Microsoft it is one of the core components for an operation system like Windows 2000 to function. No matter your skill level, there is always something new to learn about this most important component and the tools used to access it and, in some cases, modify it.

If you know about the Registry and its importance to Windows, feel free to skip ahead. But for many, the Registry is just another compu-speak word with little meaning. But it's not that complicated an idea. If you can imagine for a minute that Windows 2000 is a business, then the Registry would be its headquarters.

Just as a business can have multiple departments, with numerous duties and jobs and services, Windows 2000 does, too. We typically think of a business headquarters as the place where all the information needed to run that business is stored. Some of this information might be kept in satellite offices or even other cities, states, or countries. But in the end, there usually is one place that the important stuff resides (or at least a copy of it).

The Registry is the headquarters for Windows 2000. You will see that it contains more information than you'll probably ever have time to inspect. But all this information is 100% critical to Windows 2000's productivity and reliability.

By the time you finish the book, you'll see that the analogy between the Registry and a company headquarters isn't as far-fetched as it sounds. And you'll learn in the first chapter why Microsoft chose to create Windows 2000 in this manner.Who This Book Is For

If you're a Windows 2000 Registry novice, you're going to learn a lot from this book. If you're a Windows 2000 Registry expert, you're also going to learn a lot from this book.

System and network administrators will find information that will save them time and energy that will translate to cost savings. If something can be manually configured on a server or desktop, a good bet is that there's a Registry setting that can accomplish the same task. Day-to-day users of Windows 2000 Professional will also find this book useful as long as they keep in mind that tinkering with the Registry without understanding the consequences will result in, well, consequences. But the good news is that knowing a little about the Registry can sometimes help typical users to do some things for themselves.How This Book Is Organized

Following is a summary of the chapters and the information you will learn in each. Some of the information may not be needed by all readers, so feel free to skip ahead to the chapters that will benefit you most in your work and study.Chapter 1: Introducing the Registry

Here, you learn what the Registry is, where it is stored, and why it even exists. Warnings will be provided here (and continually through the book) on the dangers that can befall your operating system should you make changes haphazardly. And finally, a detailed breakdown of how the Registry is structured is presented. This breakdown will give you the basic building blocks for how the Registry stores its information.Chapter 2: Using the Editors to Inspect and Modify the Registry

The two major tools used to access the Registry are described in detail for you. Since there are two tools, you will also be shown when using one over the other will provide you with an advantage in performing your duties. Descriptions are also provided on how to customize the look and feel of each tool as well as to learn basic uses.Chapter 3: Putting Security in and Around the Registry

There are issues with security that you will need to be aware of when accessing and modifying the Registry. Warnings are issued again and with good reason. Windows 2000 comes with many tools and you will no doubt be using these tools in conjunction with the Regedit and Regedt32 skills picked up in Chapter 2.Chapter 4: Diagnosing, Repairing, and Preventing Windows 2000 Disasters

Okay, they happen. And you've got to know how to fix them. But knowing how to prevent them in the first place is a skill worth having. This chapter shows you how to use the Recovery Console, Emergency Repair Disks, and other options that can help "save the day." What do these things have to do with the Registry? Well, you'll see that much of the information that is used to repair a server or workstation is information pulled directly out of the Registry.Chapter 5: Using the REG Utility

A new power tool is available in the Windows 2000 Resource Kit called the REG utility. Power users will love it and administrators will find themselves saving time by learning its intricacies.Chapter 6: System and Startup Settings

Most people don't think about what goes on inside that machine when you flip the power switch. Windows 2000 performs myriad tasks before you ever get to the desktop. This chapter will walk you through the process and explain to you why the Registry is so important to the hardware as well as the software in your computer. You'll also be provided with details that will finally allow you to start customizing the Registry by making changes using the Registry editing tools described earlier.Chapter 7: Configuring Quality of Life Settings

Don't like the way your desktop works or looks? Change it. You can use the power of the Registry to do some amazing things that will make your computing life easier (or at least easier to look at). This chapter provides you with the specific settings you can use to do all kinds of tricks. Some of these are simply shortcuts that you can do normally using the Control Panel. Others are "hidden" tricks that aren't that easy to do except from the Registry.Chapter 8: Managing Desktop Configuration

The Registry stores a wide range of details about a workstation's desktop configuration. You can read in this chapter how to configure via the Registry a range of desktop elements, such as the command prompt, message display, Start menu, Control Panel, and more.Chapter 9: Configuring Microsoft Office 2000

When you consider that one of Microsoft's most popular application suites is Office 2000, it makes sense that the Registry should allow you to do some customization of applications such as Word or Excel. From installation to that (sometimes) annoying help desk assistant, you'll learn how to make Office 2000 more enjoyable to install and use. As with earlier chapters, you're given specific Registry settings that can be set to customize your own Office desktop.Chapter 10: Accessing the Registry from Code

Now that you have the basics down from earlier chapters, it's time to turn "Pro" with the Registry. The Regedit and Regedt32 tools are great, but sometimes you have to go to the source. Programmers and power users will find this information quite valuable and perhaps indispensable. For everyone else, just understanding how the Registry works with third party applications can give a better understanding of its importance.Chapter 11: Network Tweaks in the Registry

Registry support for Windows 2000 network features and services is broad. This chapter will show you some of the more useful ways to manage network connections via the Registry.Chapter 12: Working with Group Policy

Group policy is a tool available in Windows 2000 for system administrators to help manage and control users' desktop configurations. This chapter discusses how group policy works and how to use the group policy tools, as well as how to see all of the Registry keys and entries that support group policy.Chapter 13: Hardware Management

Most users don't realize that the hardware in their computers isn't the entire story. There is software involved that allows the Windows 2000 operating system to "talk" to the hardware. And, no surprise, the Registry is where much of this information is stored. You will learn exactly where and how the Registry manages all the moving parts.Appendix A: HKCU Entry Names and Keys

This appendix provides a listing that shows all the Registry keys sorted by entry name from HKEY_CURRENT_USER (HKCU). Specifically, the listing shows all entries by name and the key in which each resides.Appendix B: Class ID Reference

This appendix includes a table that provides a reference of the CLSID to the object each one represents. The list is based on a fresh install of Windows 2000 with only Microsoft Office 2000 installed.Appendix C: Object Reference

This appendix provides a table which shows the class ID for each of the objects installed into the Registry by Windows 2000. The table also reflects an installation of Window 2000.

• Learn how Windows 2000 configures your system at startup via the Registry
• Tune and troubleshoot Windows 2000 through the Registry
• Secure your desktop-or an entire network
• Discover the secrets of Registry organization
• Use the Registry Editor to edit, create, and delete Registry keys and entries
• Solve problems using the Registry as a diagnostic tool
• Automate memory management and performance
• Manage network and security policy throughout your organization

Master the Registry to take control of your Windows 2000 system

Whatever your experience level, you can learn to use the Windows 2000 Registry to tune, manage, and troubleshoot your system. Expert Paul Sanna starts with an overview of the Registry and its organization, then quickly moves to instruction on how to inspect and change data in the Registry. You'll be able to change and add keys and entries to fix problems and add functionality to Windows 2000 in no time.

At the system level, Windows 2000 Registry teaches you the critical skills to standardize your network configuration, locate and solve problems, and fine tune performance throughout the system. You can use the Registry to manage software rollouts and application settings, controlling completeness and consistency. Then create and maintain a security system to ensure system integrity and data quality.

Unlike other books that follow the structure of the Registry and its hives, Windows 2000 Registry is organized by function, so you can quickly find information based on your needs. Handy appendices offer instant look-ups for the most common product codes and class IDs. This user-friendly approach makes it a perfect teaching tool for beginners, but also an intuitively accessible reference guide for seasoned administrators.