Fortunately, most of us don't need to fiddle with the Registry. But if it's your job, this book is the reference you'll want to have close by. The book-and-CD set provides an overview, starting from the baseline tools of the Registry that are directly accessible, like RegEdit and .INF files. Concepts and recurring features of the Registry are explained, so developers can ensure that their applications are well behaved in the many flavors of 32-bit Windows. They'll also be able to extend the functionality of the various Windows shells through proper modification of Registry files. It's a single comprehensive source of much-needed information and tools.
""Inside The Microsoft Windows 98 Registry"" topics include:
- The basics
- The Registry Editor and other Registry tools
- Registering filename extensions
- Customizing the desktop, Start Menu, and Control Panel
- Customizing the Explorer menu and shell icon settings
- Miscellaneous Registry settings
- Programming issues
Taking a task-oriented approach to the Windows 95 Registry,
Inside the Registry for Microsoft Windows 95 outlines the steps for getting Windows 95 to look or behave in certain ways, and it just may be the easiest introduction to the Registry yet. Like most Registry books,
Inside the Registry begins by discussing the Registry's function and the mechanics of using Registry Editor. Author Güter Born then tackles Registry-related tasks users might want to perform, such as associating file name extensions with applications and exorcising the Inbox and Briefcase icons from the Desktop.
Thankfully, Born clearly identifies the easiest way to do these tasks; rather than merely explain which keys to delete or modify to accomplish something, he tells you when you can use a Properties sheet or a utility called Tweak UI to avoid editing the Registry directly. A special appendix deals with Windows NT Workstation 4.0. The differences between Windows 95 and Windows NT Registries are highlighted, and many of the important NT keys are documented.