[redted]

hello guys this is the first time i have posted, my op system is windows xp home, firefox 3 browser ,and i would like to find out why when i open reg edit and whatever key or sub key i click on i have no values showing in the right hand pane, my computer is running fine no spyware or adware has been found i have never edited the registry? so maybe there is an option to turn that pane off or may be some deleted spyware deleted a needed function so i would apreciate anyone giving me help many thanks . Red Ted

[Kitch]

Are there really no values showing? Or do you see (Default) REG_SZ (Value not set)

Are you having any problems with Windows?

[redted]

hi kitch thank you for replying you are right i have that value at top of page but clicking on various keys and there sub menues does not reveal any values no strings or d words, forgive me i am not a registry expert i only looked out of curiousity but thought it did not look right, computer is running fine no probs i have erunt installed in case of probs just wondered if
there is a fix thanks again. Red Ted

[Elvandil]

If you are not familiar with the registry, it is best to leave well enough alone.

There are many seemingly "empty" keys in the registry that have important functions. Sometimes, the name of the key is itself the data.

In other words, leave the registry alone for your own good and just solve problems that appear instead of making more for yourself.

If you have questions about any specific keys, let us know and maybe someone can fill you in about it. But the registry is a giant database that has close to a million entries. Even if there are keys there that do nothing, it makes no difference. Some keys are deliberately empty awaiting added programs or Windows components. Many of those would be removed by "registry cleaners" and not noticed until the function was discovered later not to work.

[redted]

elvandil thank you for your reply i can asure you i do not play with the registry i am just curious why if i have the option, why is it not working properly perhaps one day it may be nessesary to use it and if it dont work its no good that is the only reason i would like it fixed then if the ocasion arises it can be used under supervision cheers RedTed

[Elvandil]

That's the best approach. Look to your heart's content, and even get familiar with it. That may help you later on. Always make backups before making changes (A restore point is a good way to do that), even if the change seems minor. Bad syntax in even a simple key can lead to disaster.

Windows Registry Tutorial

You can think of it as a big phone book, where Windows keeps track of what is connected to what, and how they are connected. A few mistaken numbers or entries makes no difference at all to the operation (which is why registry cleaners do no good), and some of the entries are crucial to the computer's operation. And just like a phone book, Windows does not access entries by starting at the beginning and going page by page. So extra entries don't slow down access, and again, registry cleaners, besides the fact that they remove needed entries, make no difference to access speed.

[redted]

that is so true i have had this computer for 6 years and never edited the registry thats why i installed erunt registry backup which i have only used once so far and it worked real good but still like to to try to have programs that work ok so try to keep thing pretty clean and so far computer is working good so you guys keep up the good work im sure you are all appreciated RedTed

[Elvandil]

If you use ERUNT, you might try this command line at startup:

"C:\Program Files\ERUNT\Autoback.exe" C:\ERDNT\#Date#-#Time# sysreg curuser otherusers /noconfirmdelete /days:7 /alwayscreate

(adjusted for your folders, of course. I like keeping the folders in C: so they are easy to find from a booted CD). It will make a backup on each boot, keep 7 backups, and automatically delete the older ones.

[redted]

ok i have that i keep 6 copies and delete the old ones but thanks anyway
RedTed

[Elvandil]

They are bigger than I expected. They can take up a lot of space after a while, as I originally discovered.

Have fun.

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