Windows 2000 Registry For Dummies

The Registry hasn't gone away. It's more important than ever--and every bit as cryptic as before--in Windows 2000. Windows 2000 Registry for Dummies explains what the Registry is used for, how it works, and how you (a power user with an interest in optimizing the appearance and performance of your PC) can perform surgery on it. Throughout this book, the emphasis is on exploration and experimentation with the greatest possible degree of safety, so you're given full information on backing up the Registry before the authors show you how to start paring away at its branches and leaves.

You'll find lots of conceptual information, including a neat explanation of the Registry's logical structure and the files that hold it. But the best part of Weadock's work may be his little how-to items, such as the one that explains how to sort the items in the Start menu alphabetically and the one that automatically clears lists of recently used documents (and recently visited Web sites). Sometimes he opts for a Registry solution when a non-Registry approach exists (as in the case of getting My Computer to open in Explorer view), but that's not a problem. Overall, you'll be pleased with Weadock's approach to a Windows 2000 detail that wasn't really meant for human eyes. --David Wall

Topics covered: The purpose and operation of the Registry in Windows 2000 Professional and Windows 2000 Server, making Registry backups and restoring the Registry from them, using Registry editors (regedit.exe and regedt32.exe, especially), organizational structure, user profiles, handy tricks and customizations, and the Registry's networking effects.