Unleashing Windows: Understanding the Windows 95 Registry (Part I)

Last time we talked about backing up the Windows 95 Registry. This time let's take a look at the Windows 95 Registry in more detail. We'll examine what it does and how it is structured. We'll also see how it interacts with Windows 95 to handle a wide variety of settings. Part I of this series discusses the basic structure and Registry keys.

However, before we begin:

***** CAUTION ******
The Windows 95 Registry is critical to the proper operation of Window 95. In this article, we are just going to look at the Registry structure. However, we are going to look at it using a program called the Registry Editor, which allows modification of the Registry. Do NOT modify any entries in the Registry unless you are SURE of the proper syntax of the entry and what the implications of the entry are. If you incorrectly modify the Windows 95 Registry, Windows 95 will not operate properly or even worse, the Windows 95 system may not start.
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The above caution should make you wary of modifying the Windows 95 Registry, but hopefully, not make you scared to learn more about it. A better understanding of the Registry will help you to better understand how Windows 95 works.

The Windows 95 Registry was designed to replace the .ini file structure used by Windows 3.1. The .ini file structure had some significant disadvantages: .ini files were often scattered, .ini files did not allow for good remote administration over a network, and .ini files did not allow Windows 3.1 to have different user settings. The Registry allows a central storage area for the Windows 95 settings, including settings for different users at the same computer. It also allows for better remote administration of settings by a network administrator. The Registry structure also presents the data in a tree-like structure, designed to make it easier to find related data.

The Windows 95 Registry uses a tree-like structure similar to the format of folders and files used by the Windows 95 Explorer. However, the topmost level of the Registry is comprised of a structure known as keys. These keys are similar to folders in the Explorer. These key branch out into structures known as subkeys. These subkeys can contain other subkeys or items known as values. The values are items which actually contain a particular Windows 95 setting. The following better describes the Registry items:

Let's look at the Windows 95 Registry structure. First, open a program known as the Registry Editor by choosing the Start button, then the Run... command on the menu. When the Run dialog box is displayed, type: REGEDIT in the box. A window will be displayed showing the Windows 95 Registry. Keep in mind that the Registry Editor does allow you to modify the Registry, so keep the above caution in mind. Do NOT change any entries in the Registry!

You should see the following six subkeys that make up the logical parts of the Windows 95 Registry:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT - This subkey contains information about the associations of file extension with various Windows 95 applications. For example, .bmp files are associated, by default, with the Windows 95 Paint application.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER - This subkey contains information about the user currently logged into the machine. This subkey contains the different desktop settings configured in the Windows 95 Control Panel.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE - This subkey contains information about the Windows 95 system, including hardware configurations, regardless of which user is logged into the machine.

HKEY_USERS - This key contains all of the different user settings for all the users of the Windows 95 system. This subkey contains at least two other subkeys: one for the current user and one for the default Windows 95 user settings.

HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG - This key points to a branch of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE called Config. This key contains hardware information currently used by the Windows 95 system.

HKEY_DYN_DATA - This key contains dynamic data used to configure Plug and Play (PNP) devices. This information automatically changes as PNP items are added or removed from the system.

In the Registry Editor, you'll notice a little plus sign next to these keys. If you click on the plus sign or double-click the key, the tree structure for that key will be displayed. The tree should branch out into subkeys, which also have plus signs next to them. If you highlight a subkey that has values in it, they will be displayed on the right-hand window of the Registry Editor.

That's all of the discussion of the Registry for this time. Next time, we'll look at some of the subkeys and values in the Windows 95 Registry. In the meantime, feel free to browse around the structure using the Registry Editor. Just keep in mind one thing: DON'T MODIFY ANYTHING! When you are finished, close the Registry Editor. Now would also probably be a good time to back up the Registry. If you aren't sure how, just check my column from last time for some tools included on the Windows 95 CD-ROM to back up the Registry.

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