Learn about the Windows Registry - Part I

1. Introduction to the Registry

Registry is a database used to store Windows specifications. It records all information when you change, edit in Settings Menu, Control Panel .

2. Where the Registry is stored

In Win95 & 98, the Registry is recorded in 2 files: user.dat and system.dat in the Windows directory. In Windows Me, the Registry is stored in the Classes.dat file in the Windows folder. In Win2K Registry is saved in the "WindowsSystem32Config" folder.

3. Is the Registry editable?

Registry can edit directly, change parameters through the Registry Editor editor. Run Registry Editor by typing regedit in the Run window.

4. Structure of the Registry

The registry has a tree structure, similar to the directory structure. Usually there are six main branches. Each branch is assigned the task of keeping separate information. In the main branches there are many sub-branches. These sub-branches are also kept separate information.

1. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT: Save shared information for the entire system.
2. HKEY_CURRENT_USER: Save the information for users Logon.
3. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE: Save information about the system, hardware, software.
4. HKEY_USERS: Save the information of all Users, each user is a branch with the ID number of that user
5. HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG: Save information about the current hardware in use.
6. HKEY_DYN_DATA: This is also part of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE branch.

5. Data types used in the Registry

1. REG_BINARY: Binary type
2. REG_DWORD: Double Word style
3. REG_EXPAND_SZ: Special extension string type. Example: "% SystemRoot%"
4. REG_MULTI_SZ: Special string type
5. REG_SZ: Standard string type

6. Why do you need to know about the Registry?

1. The Registry stores all the information about the hardware, software, and user choices . controlling the contents of the Registry is an essential requirement for you to use your PC in a scientific way, better understanding the environment. The field is a Windows operating system.
2. Want to go further in Windows-based programming, how to secure, cracking, and hacking you need to have a certain understanding of the Registry.
3. Most of the Windows tricks that popular Vietnamese computer magazines have been and will be closely related to the Windows Registry.

7. Warning!

When using Registry Editor you must perform a Registry backup. Any changes can cause your computer to not start, hang, . Back up by running Registry Editor: File - Export . and save to a safe place.

If you do not have knowledge of Windows Registry, please read a bit of instructions below.

The following lines of the words: User Key, Sytem Key, or Key indicate the path to the branch to be repaired or created if it does not exist.

Note: User Key: is for that change to work with Logon users. System Key: is for that change to work for all users.

The Name line is the name of the key to be created, which is the sub-branch on the right side of the Registry

The Type line is the data type of the newly created key

Line: Value is the value of the key

ACTIVE DESKTOP

Whether or not the Desktop mode works:

User Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER Software Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Policies Explorer
System Key: The HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Policies Explorer
Name: ForceActiveDesktopOn
Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value: (0 = default, 1 = enabled)

Some prevent the Desktop mode from working.

1. NoChangingWallpaper - Do not allow changing Wallpaper image.
2. NoComponents - Do not allow displaying components.
3. NoAddingComponents - Do not allow adding new components.
4. NoDeletingComponents - Do not allow to delete components.
5. NoEditingComponents - Do not allow milk components.
6. NoCloseDragDropBands - Does not allow drag and drop functionality on the Desktop.
7. NoMovingBands - Does not allow dragging and dropping Taskbar to other places on the Desktop.
8. NoHTMLWallPaper - Bitmaps (BMP) format only.

User Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER Software Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Policies ActiveDesktop.
System Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Policies ActiveDesktop.
Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value: (0 = disable restriction, 1 = enable restriction)

Hide Active Desktop function from Menu Settings on Start Menu.

User Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER Software Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Policies Explorer.
System Key: The HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Policies Explorer.
Name: NoSetActiveDesktop
Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value: (0 = disable restriction, 1 = enable restriction)

Do not change the Active Destop mode.

User Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER Software Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Policies Explorer
System Key: The HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Policies Explorer
Name: NoActiveDesktopChanges
Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value: (0 = disable restriction, 1 = enable restriction)

CONTROL PANEL

Do not allow changes to the styles of Controls.

This section will restrict part or all of the Appearance tab in Display. Assign value 0: to show, 1 to hide with key names given below.

1. NoVisualStyleChoice - does not allow to change the style of windows and click.
2. NoColorChoice - Not allowed to change the color scheme.
3. NoSizeChoice - Not allowed to change the font size.

You access the following key:

1. User Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER Software Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Policies System.
2. Name: NoColorChoice, NoSizeChoice, NoVisualStyleChoice, SetVisualStyle.

Turn off Themes Settings in Display in Control Panel

Themes Settings to change the style of the push button windows. If you don't like it, save it by creating a new key named `NoThemesTab` and assigning it a value of 1.

1. User Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER Software Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Policies Explorer.
2. System Key: The HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Policies Explorer.
3. Name: NoThemesTab
4. Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
5. Value: (0 = default, 1 = enable restriction)

Turn off the change mode of Keyboard Navigation Settings in Control Panel:

User Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER Software Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Policies Explorer.
System Key: The HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Policies Explorer.
Name: NoChangeKeyboardNavigationIndicators
Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value: (0 = default, 1 = enable restriction)

Prevent animation feature Animation Settings.

User Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER Software Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Policies Explorer.
System Key: The HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Policies Explorer.
Name: NoChangeAnimation
Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value: (0 = default, 1 = enable restriction)

Control animation mode:

User Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER Control Panel Desktop WindowMetrics
Name: MinAnimate
Type: REG_SZ (String Value)
Value: (0 = disable, 1 = enable)

Turn off Settings of Display in Control Panel:

This also means that you cannot change the resolution of the Settings screen.

User Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER Software Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Policies System.
System Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Policies System.
Name: NoDispSettingsPage
Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value: (0 = disabled, 1 = enabled)

Turn off the ScreenSaver section of Display in Control Panel:

When ScreenSaver is turned off, it does not turn off the ScreenSaver mode, which is hidden for changes to the ScreenSaver. So before you turn it off, you have to consider.

User Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER Software Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Policies System.
System Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Policies System.
Name: NoDispScrSavPage
Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value: (0 = disabled, 1 = enabled)

Turn off the Display background change item in Control Panel:

Do not change the wallpaper, Desktop background color.

User Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER Software Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Policies System.
System Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Policies System.
Name: NoDispBackgroundPage
Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value: (0 = disabled, 1 = enabled)

Turn off the Appearance section of Display in Control Panel.

User Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER Software Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Policies System.
System Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Policies System.
Name: NoDispAppearancePage
Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value: (0 = disabled, 1 = enabled)