Inside the Registry for Microsoft Windows 95: Developer's Guide to Tapping the Power of the Registry (Microsoft Programming Series) [Paperback]

Gunter Born (Author), Guenter Born (Author)

Book Description

Series: Microsoft Programming Series | Publication Date: November 1, 1996

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

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

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.

Product Details

• Paperback: 346 pages
• Publisher: Microsoft Press (November 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572314249
• ISBN-13: 978-1572314245
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,430,908 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected, December 11, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Inside the Registry for Microsoft Windows 95: Developer's Guide to Tapping the Power of the Registry (Microsoft Programming Series) (Paperback)

Inside the Registry did have a few tips, but the main focus was NOT to using the Registry. The author used Win95 desktop when ever possible to make changes. After browsing the book, I would say that the MS Resource book provided the same information.

2.0 out of 5 stars For end-users, not developers, May 6, 2000

By 

Matthew Kendall (Vancouver, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Inside the Registry for Microsoft Windows 95: Developer's Guide to Tapping the Power of the Registry (Microsoft Programming Series) (Paperback)

The blurb on the back cover claims that this book is for "application developers, system administrators and even power users" but the claims would be better stated the other way round. This is a book written by an end-user, not a Microsoft insider, and is primarily concerned with explaining Shell features of the registry that the author has "discovered". It is reasonably well organised but reads like a compendium of the tips and tricks columns that one sees in popular magazines - how to customise icons, context menus, the desktop, etc.

If you are an end-user and want a consolidated source of this sort of information this book may be for you. If you are a developer who wants to understand the logical structure of the registry and the conventions for storing your own data in it then look elsewhere.

3.0 out of 5 stars Not for the serious developer, December 3, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Inside the Registry for Microsoft Windows 95: Developer's Guide to Tapping the Power of the Registry (Microsoft Programming Series) (Paperback)

As mentioned in other reviews, this book is not for the serious developer. It is for an end-user. For developers I would recommend the book "Inside the Windows 95 Registry" by Ron Petrusha, published by O'Reilly and Associates.