BKMWNTRG.RVW   980529

"Managing the Windows NT Registry", Paul Robichaux, 1998,
1-56592-378-2, U$34.95/C$49.95
%A   Paul Robichaux
%C   103 Morris Street, Suite A, Sebastopol, CA   95472
%D   1998
%G   1-56592-378-2
%I   O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
%O   U$34.95/C$49.95 800-998-9938 fax: 707-829-0104 nuts@ora.com
%P   360 p.
%T   "Managing the Windows NT Registry"

The AUTOEXEC.BAT and then .INI files used to be the dividing line
between the novice and experienced user.  Now, in Windows 95 and NT
4.0, that distinction has fallen to the Registry.  As with its
predecessors, the Registry is a deep, dark secret, best revealed only
to true Microsoft acolytes--or through third parties.

Chapter one introduces the Registry historically, conceptually, and
functionally.  The history and concepts are better than the functions
that are used as initial examples: at this point in the book the
actions taken by or through the Registry are rather vague.  The
structure of the Registry is presented very well in chapter two, and
there are even a number of helpful tips for values to set for specific
common problems.  If you know anything about the Registry, you know
that there are dire warnings (and sometimes even more dire penalties)
for mucking about with it.  Backup and recovery are dealt with
extensively and in detail in chapter three, in rather stark opposition
to many Registry books that simply tell you to back up.  Chapters four
and five review the RegEdit and RegEdt32 programs, respectively,
covering the functions, strengths, and weaknesses of each.

The first of the sections dealing with Registry content is the
material on system policies in chapter six.  The explanations are very
good, and better than the contents of many NT security and
administration texts.  It can also be seen as the last chapter on
tools, since the policy editor is examined.  Chapter seven looks at
programming for modification of the Registry with a variety of
programming languages.  While there are some general tips (including a
section on the REG.EXE command line utility), most of the
administration of the Registry that goes on in chapter eight deals
with the securing of it.  Chapter nine contains a very useful list of
Registry tweaks for everything from the user interface to printers. 
An outline of major Registry keys is given in chapter ten, which also
points to a more complete reference at
http://oreilly.windows.com/registry.

While not a complete programmer's catalogue like  "Windows NT 4.0
Registry" by Thomas (cf. BKWNTRPR.RVW), this book contains everything
that the normal user or administrator would need.

copyright Robert M. Slade, 1998   BKMWNTRG.RVW   980529