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Managing the Windows Registry: Backing Up, Editing, and Troubleshooting

Understand the role of the registry in Windows, learn how to back up and modify it, and troubleshoot common Windows problems. Explore the registry files, their locations, and descriptions. Discover the process of viewing and editing the registry, as well as creating restore points. Gain insight into the Windows startup process and learn how to modify system startup settings.

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Managing the Windows Registry: Backing Up, Editing, and Troubleshooting

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  1. Chapter 7 Under the Windows Desktop McGraw-Hill

  2. Learning Outcomes • Define the role of the registry in Windows, and back up and modify the registry when needed • Describe the Windows startup process • Install and manage device drivers • Troubleshoot common Windows problems

  3. Understanding the Registry • The Registry Defined • Database of configuration settings for • Device drivers • Services • Installed application programs • Operating system components • User Preferences

  4. Understanding the Registry • Automatic Registry Changes when: • Windows starts up or shuts down • Windows Setup runs • Changes are mode through a Control Panel applet • A new device is installed • Any changes are made to the Windows configuration • Any changes are made to a user’s preferences • An application is installed or modified • Changes are made to application user preferences

  5. Adding a new device creates changes in the registry

  6. Understanding the Registry (cont.) • Registry Files (hives) • DEFAULT • NTUSER.DAT • SAM • SECURITY • SOFTWARE • SYSTEM

  7. Understanding the Registry (cont.) • Registry file locations • C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG • All but NTUSER.DAT

  8. Figure 7-1 This view of the CONFIG folder shows registry files

  9. Understanding the Registry (cont.) • Registry File Descriptions • SYSTEM • What to load at startup • Order of loading at startup • Settings for drivers, services, OS components • SOFTWARE • Settings for installed software • Other configuration information • SECURITY • Security policies

  10. Understanding the Registry (cont.) • Registry File Descriptions • SAM • Security Accounts Manager • Local security accounts database • DEFAULT • User profile settings • Used when no user is logged on • Logon screen

  11. Understanding the Registry (cont.) • Registry File Descriptions • NTUSER.DATA • User profile for a single user • Application preferences, screen colors, and more • After a user logs on, that user’s NTUSER.DAT is loaded • Saved in top-level personal folder for the user • Hidden file

  12. Figure 7-2 The default user profile used until a user logs on

  13. Table 7-1 Locations of the Hives within the Registry

  14. Understanding the Registry (cont.) • Viewing and Editing the Registry • View and edit the registry with REGEDIT.EXE • Navigation similar to Windows Explorer • Key: a folder containing settings and other keys • Root keys: five keys at the top of the hierarchy • Value entry: settings within a key • Data type: format of a value entry

  15. Figure 7-3 The registry root keys

  16. Figure 7-4 Registry components

  17. Table 7-2 Contents of Registry Root Keys

  18. Table 7-3 Windows Registry Data Types (The Short List)

  19. Understanding the Registry (cont.) • Backing up the Registry • Create a Restore Point • Backs up the registry and the entire OS • Use REDEGIT to back up all or a portion • Use Export Registry File option • Double-click on the .REG file to restore

  20. Step-by-Step 7.01 Understanding the Registry Creating a Restore Point in System Restore

  21. Back up a registry key and all its subkeys and values

  22. The Windows Startup Process • Phases of the Startup Process • Power-on Self-test • Initial Startup • Boot Loader • Windows XP Boot Loader Phase • NTLDR reads BOOT.INI • Windows Vista and Windows 7 Boot Loader Phase • BOOTMGR (boot loader) reads BCD • WINLOAD.EXE is OS loader • Detect and Configure Hardware

  23. The Windows Startup Process • Phases of the Startup Process (cont.) • Kernel Loading • NTOSKRNL.EXE loads into memory • Hardware abstraction layer (HAL) loads • System portion of the registry loads • Drivers required at startup load • Kernel initializes services and drivers and loads other code • Kernel switches Windows to GUI mode • CSRSS.EXE user-mode code starts • PAGEFILE.SYS created and WINLOGON.EXE started

  24. This Windows 7 screen displays during kernel loading

  25. The Windows Startup Process • Phases of the Startup Process (cont.) • Logon • User Logon • Program Startup • Plug and Play Detection

  26. Figure 7-5 Log on to Windows 7

  27. The Windows Startup Process • Modifying System Startup • Modifying System Startup for Windows XP • BOOT.INI must be modified directly or indirectly • System Properties | Advanced | Startup and Recovery

  28. Figure 7-6 The Advanced System Settings in Windows XP

  29. The Windows Startup Process • BOOT.INI for a Dual-boot System [boot loader] timeout=30 default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS [operating systems] multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS=”Windows XP Professional”/fastdetect multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT=”Windows 2000 Professional”/fastdetect

  30. The Windows Startup Process • Simple BOOT.INI [boot loader] timeout=30 default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS [operating systems] multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS=”Windows XP Professional”/fastdetect

  31. The Windows Startup Process • Modifying System Startup for Windows Vista and Windows 7 • Boot configuration database (BCD) is a hidden part of the registry • C:\BOOT\BCD • Contains • Locale information • Location of the boot disk • Location of the Windows files • Other startup information

  32. The Windows Startup Process • Modifying System Startup for Windows Vista and Windows 7 • Directly edit BDC using BCDEDIT • Modify in Startup and Recovery dialog

  33. Step-by-Step 7.02 Understanding the Registry Modifying System Startup for Windows 7

  34. Installing and Managing Device Drivers • Finding Device Drivers • In addition to drivers that are available on the Windows distribution CD, you can find more current drivers: • On the disc that came with the device • On the Web site of the manufacturer of the device

  35. Figure 7-7 A list of drivers for a device

  36. Installing and Managing Device Drivers • Installing Device Drivers • Windows comes with a huge cache of device drivers • Windows and virtually all devices for PCs are plug and play • Some devices require that you install the driver before connecting the device • Always read the instructions

  37. Installing and Managing Device Drivers • Installing Device Drivers (cont.) • Permissions • Administrator privileges to install • An administrator must log on for Windows XP • Respond to UAC prompts in Windows Vista and Windows 7

  38. Installing and Managing Device Drivers • Installing Device Drivers (cont.) • Signed versus Unsigned Device Drivers • Code signing an encrypted digital signature in the file • Driver signing is code signing of device driers

  39. Installing and Managing Device Drivers • Managing Installed Devices • Disconnecting Devices • Does not uninstall driver • Use Safely Remove Hardware for storage devices The Windows XP Safely Remove Hardware icon

  40. Figure 7-9 Safely Remove Hardware dialog box

  41. Figure 7-10 Select Safely Remove Hardware from the hidden icons

  42. Figure 7-11 Select the device you wish to disconnect

  43. Figure 7-12 Now it is safe to disconnect the hardware

  44. Installing and Managing Device Drivers • Managing Installed Devices (cont.) • Devices and Printers • Overview of most obvious devices • Access to tools for each device

  45. Figure 7-13 The Devices and Printers page

  46. Figure 7-14 The Device Stage page for a printer

  47. Installing and Managing Device Drivers • Managing Installed Devices (cont.) • Using Device Manager to Manage Device Drivers • View and change device properties • Update device drivers • Configure Device settings • Uninstall devices • Roll back driver update

  48. Step-by-Step 7.03 Understanding the Registry Getting to Know Device Manager

  49. Troubleshooting Windows Problems • Troubleshooting with Modified Startups • The Advanced Boot Options Menu • Repair Your Computer (Windows 7 Only) • Startup Repair • System Restore • System Image Recovery • Windows Memory Diagnostic • Command Prompt • Safe Mode (three variants)

  50. Figure 7-15 The Windows Advanced Options Menu for Windows XP

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