how to edit windows registry freely

[chee]

some days ago i got a mail asking how to change/edit WPA keys in the registry. i think it's necessary to share this how-to here if some still don't know how to edit protected keys/values/data in the registry!

any suggestions and corrections are welcomed!

some keys/values/data in the registry are protected while xp are running, indeed they're no more than keys/values/data in these 3 files:

system

usres

system

in the directory

%systemroot%\windows\system32\config

so it's not possible to edit contents marked protected in these files while xp running. but to accomplish this kind of task, all you need are utilities in which files could be copied without running xp itself, win 98 bootable cd, dos.., will be ok.

here's how:

0. back up your registry if needed

1. non-xp environment:

boot your pc through other media--cd or other os--win 98,dos,..,any evironment that the task of copying/moving files from dos partitions could be carried out and which doesn't require xp to run is ok. copy files:

system

software

from

%systemroot%\windows\system32\config (always in the "c:\" partition, for multi-win os users, it's appropriate to remember the partition label where the files to be edited reside and to write the extract path instead of using %systemroot%\)

to any partition accessible to window xp without renaming them ( , for easy manipulation, not necessary to rename them),since we're going to edit there files via registry.

now exit from the environment and boot into windows xp

2. xp environment:

in windows xp there's also a shell with command prompt, which could be activated by executing "cmd.exe". now at the command prompt, mount the files:

system

software

you've just copied to the registry by:

reg load directoryofthecopiedfiles\system HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\sys

and by:

reg load directoryofthecopiedfiles\software HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\soft

these two commands will mount files:

system

software

as:

sys

soft

right under

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\

you can mount them wherever and with whatevername desired in the registry.

now exit from the command prompt and run registry editor to open your registry. under:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\sys

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\soft

find the whatever you want to edit.

after edition, exit registry editor, this will save changes you've just made into the copied files without renaming them at all.

now run 'cmd.exe" and at the command prompt unmount the files you've just mounted into the registry by the commands:

reg unload HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\soft

and

reg unload HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\sys

5. non-xp environment:

shut down xp and boot into the previous evironment and overwrite the orignal files by the files you've copied and edited through registry editing:

copy directoryofthecopiedfiles\software %systemroot%\windows\system32\config

copy directoryofthecopiedfiles\system %systemroot%\windows\system32\config

chose overwrite while executing these 2 commands

exit and restart and boot into window xp

done

good luck

Edited August 25, 2005 by chee

[Press any key]

Well, lots of luck to you...

I have Registry Editor pinned to the start menu and just go from there.

If you cannot find RegEdit just click Start, Run and type in ___ regedit

_________________________________________________________

Change Outlook Express name

Follow your way down..

HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-3469509842-254541981-1596856438-1005\Identities\{9AF5ECC8-C7A9-465D-A0D1-3457490CC205}\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express\5.0

*In right panel at bottom..

WindowTitle

Right click on it and select modify. Type in the new name and click OK.

Mine says 'Graham's eMail'

**For XP only**

Or you could just use X-Setup Pro

____________________________________________________________

That's as much as I want to know !!!

[chee]

well, i just didn't get what you meant!