Windows Under The Hood Flashcards
Complex binary file used to store configuration data about a particular Windows system. To edit it, users can use the applets found in the Control Panel
Registry
Registry files
Hives
Programs used to edit the Windows Registry
Registry Editor/regedit
Five main categories in the Windows Registry
Root keys
Root key that defined the standard class objects used by Windows
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
A named group of functions that defines what you can do with the object it represents
Class Object
Root key that stores the current user settings
HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Root key that stores all of the personalized information for each user
HKEY_USERS
Root key that contains all the data for a system’s non-user-specific configurations. Encompasses every device and every program in your computer
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
If the values in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE have more than one option, this root key defines which one is currently being used
HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG
These are the most flexible type of value and are very common. Can put any form of data in these
String Value
These values store nothing more than long strings of ones and zeros
Binary Value
These values are like Binary values but are limited to exactly 32 bits
DWORD Value
These values are like Binary values but are limited to exactly 64 bits
QWORD Value
A full Registry editing tool in the Command-Line interface. Can view Registry keys and values, import and export some or all of a Registry, and even compare two different versions of a Registry
Reg command
A command that can modify the Registry in only one way, adding/registering dynamic link library (DLL) files as command components in the Registry
regsvr32 command
Manages the boot process using the information from the Boot Configuration Data
Boot Manager/bootmgr
A file that contains information about the various OSes installed on the system as well as instructions for how to actually load (bootstrap) them
Boot Configuration Data (BCD)
Segment of code in a system’s BIOS that scans for an OS, looks specifically for a valid boot sector, and, when one is found, hands control over to the boot sector; then the bootstrap loader removes itself from memory
Bootstrap Loader
A program that enables you to perform a specific task on a computer, such as write a document or play a game
Applications
Tab in Task Manager that lists all running processes on a system. Frequently, a handy tool for ending buggy or unresponsive ones
Processes
A process that runs in the background of a PC but displays no icons anywhere. You can view a list of them in the Task Manager
Services
Gives you the ability to devote more or less processor time to a process
Set Priority
Enables you to specify which CPU cores a process can run on
Set Affinity
