Understanding Registry Entries (WME)

[crispy]

Hi all, this is my first post, so please be gentle with me. /images/forums/icons/smile.gif

I've tried to read all the info on this site, but good as it is, I don't seem able to find the information I'm looking for.

After researching and buying a registry program, I don't feel confident in letting it repair my registry. It reports a total of 225 errors, and in my ignorance of what most of the keys refer to, I'm wary of just clicking on FIX, in case I screw up the system more, rather than 'Fixing' it.

The program creates a backup of any changes made, and can undo them, but my fear is that something may not show up for days, weeks or months.

Is there anywhere I can go to find out what all these keys and values actually mean?

The most obvious values among the errors, refer to a path that no longer exists (about 20 entries), and I know what I've done to cause that error. I have a Downloads folder on my main drive and that gets filled with umpteen files. When it gets too cluttered, I create a sub-folder, and drag all the top level downloads into that, and then start again.

Those entries are in Windows\CurrentVersion\OpenSaveMRU\* etc. but the majority of errors and keys could be written in machine code for all the sense they make to me.

TIA for any help or advice,
Chris P

[josefz]

Hi,
don't worry. MRU is an abbreviation for "Most Recent Used"; so - sooner or later - these items will be overwritten at all. Hence, you can delete it immediately - IMHO.

[crispy]

Thanks for that josefz, that takes care of those entries at least.

I really thought this would be the place to find out about registry entries, but perhaps a bit more searching is called for. Maybe I'm worrying too much about the reported errors and I should just let the program do its own thing. With so many people using so many different registry programs, I really expected a bit more response on this one.

All the best,
Chris P

[report_2]

"I really expected a bit more response on this one. "

Crispy, In order to work the entries in the registry one must have a good understanding of how the registry works along with it's structure.

That understanding can not be relayed in a simple post reply.

There are many webpages dedicated to just that as seen at RegSeeker (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22understanding+the+registry%22>http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22understanding+the+registry%22</a>.

For).
The first time I used RegSeeker it reported 960 invalid entries. Although I had no problems with my machine at the time I let it remove all of them with the backup enabled. I had absolutley no negative effects in doing so. This does not mean that you will have the same positive results.

Do note that upon restarting my machine a couple hundred of the removed entries were re-established without my causing them to be recreated.

If you have a specific problem or problems then no utility will be able to repair or reinstall the entries that are causing a problem. (Maybe Registry Mechanic can...I don't know)

HTH

[crispy]

Thanks for that, you make some very valid points.

I am in the middle of trying to sort out a laptop for a relative - one that has had no care after five years use. I thought it would be a good idea to try my registry tool on my own PC before risking it on the lappy.

The Google search you suggested certainly came up with plenty of options that I hadn't come across. I think I shall have to learn a bit more about search terms, that would be start. :)

Thanks again,
Chris P

[tom_keefer]

In addition, WinGuides has its own <a target="_blank" href=http://www.winguides.com/article.php?id=1&guide=registry>Registry Tutorial</a>.

<font color=purple>Tom</font color=purple>

ya'aa'tey

[crispy]

Thanks Tom, but if you go back to the start of this topic, you will see I'd already read all that - It didn't give me all the information I was looking for, but I'm sorted now.

Chris P

[report_2]

<a target="_blank" href=http://www.google.com/help/basics.html>Google Basics</a>
<a target="_blank" href=http://www.googleguide.com/advanced_operators.html>Google Advanced Operators</a>

What OS is the laptop running?
If it is Win98 then go to the Windows startup menu by holding down the left Ctrl key after powering it up.
Select Command prompt.
At the Command prompt type:
scanreg /fix
to repair the registry.
When done type:
win
to return to Windows.