Chapter 1. A Gentle Introduction to the Registry

The Windows 2000 Registry plays a key role in making Windows 2000 work. It serves as a central data repository, and it's involved in everything you do with Windows 2000 computers, from the initial boot sequence to logging in and running applications and services. For such an important component, though, there is surprisingly little documentation that explains how the Registry works, what's in it, and what it's good for. Even seasoned Windows NT administrators who are making the leap to Windows 2000 admit to being a little unsure of the Registry's inner workings.

Part of the Registry's mystery comes from the fact that its data is stored in a special format that can be read only with the tools and programming interfaces routines Microsoft provides; part comes from the strict warnings against Registry tampering plastered on page after page of Microsoft (and third-party) documentation, books, and web pages. However, since the Registry's an integral part of Windows 2000, you should be comfortable using, repairing, and modifying it if you want to administer Windows 2000 systems. The overall goal of this book is to demystify the Registry's workings and help you understand when, how, and why Windows 2000 services, applications, and operating-system components use it so you'll be better able to administer the machines under your care.