Microsoft® Windows® XP Networking and Security Inside Out: Also Covers Windows 2000

Restricting Access to the Registry

On a computer running Windows, every configuration detail is stored in a large, supremely organized database, the Windows registry. Most of the time, you make changes to the registry indirectly, using check boxes, drop-down lists, and other elements in the user interface, to ensure that you don't inadvertently enter the wrong data. Under some circumstances, however, editing the Windows registry directly is the only way to accomplish a particular task. To edit the registry safely, you need a basic understanding of how Registry Editor works, as well as a healthy respect for the havoc that even a simple misstep can unleash.

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If you need a refresher course on the structure of the registry and how to use Registry ...