Windows Registry Troubleshooting
Whatever version of Windows you’re using--from Vista up to Windows 8.1--the registry is at the heart of your desktop experience. Software installs and compatibility, hardware operation and more are managed by a complex database of codes and numbers. When
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Contents at a Glance About the Authors��������������������������������������������������������������������������� xiii About the Technical Reviewer����������������������������������������������������������xv Introduction������������������������������������������������������������������������������������xvii ■■Chapter 1: The Architecture of the Windows Registry�������������������� 1 ■■Chapter 2: Registry Tools and Utilities����������������������������������������� 11 ■■Chapter 3: Troubleshooting a Corrupted Registry������������������������� 33 ■■Chapter 4: Working with Other Users’ Registry Files/Advanced Troubleshooting�������������������������������������������������� 51 ■■Chapter 5: Securing the Registry������������������������������������������������� 73 ■■Chapter 6: Hacks, Tweaks, and Common Changes����������������������� 93 Index���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 111
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Introduction Whatever you do on your Windows PC, from installing software and apps, to using GPS hardware, creating 3D models, or intricate embedded security systems and games, the Registry is at the heart of what you do. Consequently, it’s the one common element that’s guaranteed to run through all troubleshooting problems. This makes a good knowledge of what the Registry is, how it works, and how you can work with it, an essential skill for any support technician or IT pro. That’s where this book comes in. There have been other Windows troubleshooting books, but none have gone into as much detail about the Registry as you’ll find here. It’s not all dry technical code and complex structures, though. There are also a lot of fun and cool things you can do with the Registry to enhance your productivity and enjoyment of using your PC. In this book we’ve included over 60 of our favorite hints, tips, and tweaks for Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.1. With a good knowledge of the Registry—and there’s no better way to learn than to dive in with some hacks—you’ll be in a much better position to quickly diagnose and repair Windows and PC problems as you encounter them.
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Chapter 1
The Architecture of the Windows Registry The most relevant simile for the Windows Registry in your PC is the human brain It stores all of the key information and code that allows the different parts of your computer, and its operating system and software, to communicate with one another. This includes details about hardware addresses and communications protocols, software installation and configuration files and, of course, the inner workings of Windows itself. No matter what version of Windows you are using, you will have not one but many registry files, as Windows splits the registry into several main files, which contain all the information relevant to the overall operation of the computer and its hardware, and other files spe
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