No Registry, no computer
| The Registry is the key to a Windows computer. In real life, you have stuff and you have records about all your stuff. If you lose the records, you still have the stuff. Computers, since Windows 95, have been different. If you don't have the records, you can't have the stuff. Without the Registry, you effectively don't have a computer-no programs, no data, no games. The registry is a database which keeps track of everything on your-really, quite intricate and fragile-computer. It makes programs interact with each other so that you don't crash often. It keeps the kernel separate from the clock, and keeps the clock available to your word processor without actually messing with it. If there is some error in that registry database, you are far, far up a well-known creek. It could be a tiny error, the human equivalent of losing one receipt from the electric company from last year-something you don't even need. But Windows "needs" everything. You should never tamper with your registry unless you are following instructions from an expert. You don't need to fear it, but you must respect it, because if you make an error, it is possible.. no, let me amend that, it is likely you will have to re-install Windows. This is never fun and sometimes disastrous. Windows computers come with two programmes designed to look at the Registry. Feel free to use them, but if you have never used them before, do not use them to change anything just yet. The Registry Editor is called Regedit. To start it, press the Windows key, then R-for-Run, and then type "regedit" (without the quotes) and press Enter. You can do anything with Regedit but you cannot undo it again, so don't change anything unless you are absolutely certain you want to change it. You can make a backup of your Registry with Regedit by clicking on Files, Export and "save all."The Windows version of Registry Checker is called Regcheckw. You can run this without fear. Click Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Information, Tools, and Registry Checker. Regcheckw will scan your registry and inform you of errors. It will not fix-or even inform you of-any missing programs or files. A good source of information on the registry, written in actual English instead of geekspeak, is at the web site http://www.winguides.com Source: Database, Bangkok Post, March 14, 2001 |
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