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               [Image][the seven commandments of Registry editing]
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NEWS.COM            The Windows 95 Registry collects information on
Radio               software, hardware, and user preferences from
                    several critical system files--system.dat,
BROWSERS!           user.dat, win.ini, system.ini, and a [screen shot]
                    handful of others. This information
REVIEWS             is stored in the three major types of Registry
Hot List            keys. (For ease of use, Win 95 duplicates three
Just In             subkeys buried in the directory trees of the major
All                 keys, so you'll see six as you go.) The value of
comparisons         each key is set by the software you've installed
CD-ROM central      or the information you've entered.
Best of the
Web
                                       But before you go messing
FEATURES                               around with the Registry, read
Techno               [Image]           and digest these seven
How to                                 rules--or there will be tears
Digital life                           before bedtime.
Events
                    1. Know what you're dealing with.
GAMECENTER             Everything you'll want to mess around with in
                       the Registry can be found under three keys:
PERSONALITIES          HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT (file types, extensions, and
Christopher            files); HKEY_CURRENT_USER (personal profile
Barr                   information and customizations); and
Rafe Needleman         HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE (hardware profiles). You can
Mark Glaser            double-click almost any entry under these keys
Don Steinberg          and edit them. But don't do it yet.
Movers &
shakers             2. Keep a pristine backup.
                       Before you mess around with anything else, you
CNET TV                need to back up your Registry in the Microsoft
The shows              Registry Editor (or regedit). Under the
The hosts              Registry menu, select Export Registry File, and
Air times              make absolutely sure the All button is selected
Live studio            under Export Range. Save the information in a
cam                    file with a name you'll remember (such as
                       registry.txt), and keep it somewhere obvious,
COMMUNITY              like on your PC desktop. Just to be safe, copy
About CNET             it to a floppy disk, too.
Feedback
Member              3. Know how to restore the Registry from your hard
services               drive.
Posting                In regedit, select Registry/Restore, and point
Today's poll           to the file you saved. Memorize this right now,
CNET jobs              and pray you won't have to use it.

RESOURCES           4. Know how to restore the Registry from a floppy
Software               disk.
central                If you can get into Windows 95 at all, select
Glossary               Start/Shut Down, and click "Restart the
                       computer in MS-DOS mode." If Windows won't
HELP                   load, you need to use an emergency boot disk to
                       start up your system. From there on, it's all
CNET SERVICES          DOS commands.
NEWS.COM
BROWSERS.COM           Change to your Windows directory (for example,
GAMECENTER.COM         cd c:\windows), then restore your Registry from
SEARCH.COM             the backup disk using these six DOS commands:
DOWNLOAD.COM
SHAREWARE.COM               attrib -h -r -s system.dat
ACTIVEX.COM                 attrib -h -r -s system.da0
MEDIADOME                   copy system.da0 system.dat
                            attrib -h -r -s user.dat
MARKETPLACE                 attrib -h -r -s user.da0
BuyDirect.com               copy user.da0 user.dat
Specials
CNET store             Try restarting your computer as you cross your
Sponsorship            fingers, fiddle with your rosary, and pray to
info                   the patron saint of losers who destroy their
                       Registry.

                    5. Remember: you're on your own, buddy.
                       Tweaking the Registry is risky. It can cause
                       your system to lock up and crash. It can raise
                       your blood pressure. It can ruin your career.
                       It can cause severe static cling. It may be fun
                       and even productive, but you're taking your
                       system into your own hands.

                    6. Make only one change at a time...
                       ...or people will laugh at you as your system
                       refuses to boot.

                    7. Don't come crying to us if anything gets
                       broken.
                       It's good to note that if you muck with your
                       Registry, screw it up, and then contact
                       Microsoft for tech support, they're going to
                       tell you to go     [tools of the hacking trade]
                       away. And CNET
                       will also disavow all knowledge of your mission
                       or motivation. Get the picture?


               [10 tips for Windows 95 experts]
               [lose the boring C[rename the Recycle [preview BMP graphics]
               [delete the Shortc[change icons on the[hide all icons on the desktop]
               [trash the Trash] [register Windows un[a real Welcome]]
               [crack the CD-Key code]

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