System Log Analysis, Registry, Control Panel

Windows Registry Demystified: What You Can Do With It

Notes:

• The Windows Registry is a database where Windows and many programs store their configuration settings.
• “Registry hacks” - You can edit the registry yourself to enable hidden features and tweak specific options.
• Most Windows users will never need to touch the registry.
• Windows itself and many programs use the registry, and you usually don’t have to worry about it.
• This is especially useful when you’re looking for options that aren’t normally exposed in Windows.
• The article recommends to back up the reistry and the computer when utilizing this function.

Editing the Registry:

• Open the Registry Editor application (press Windows+R to open the Run dialog)
• Type “regedit” and then press Enter
• Open the Start menu, type “regedit.exe” into the search box, and press then Enter
• You’ll be asked to agree to a User Account Control prompt before continuing. This gives the Registry Editor the ability to modify system settings.

Summary: If I'm understanding the windows registry correctly, it kind of reminds me of some of the work we were doing in the BIOS previously. Especially because the article states that "most Windows users will never need to touch the registry". Prior to enrolling in ops classes, I actually never heard of the BIOS just like I hadn't previously heard about the registry. It is neat because both can change the configuration as you need to.