Microsoft Windows XP Professional Administrators Guide

Overview

The operation of Windows XP Professional is controlled by a myriad of system configuration settings. Most of these settings are stored in the Windows XP registry, a specialized database that contains configuration settings for the operating system, hardware, software, and users. An understanding of the registry and how it operates is essential information for any administrator.

The registry is not the only location where Windows XP Professional stores and retrieves system configuration information. A number of other files contain configuration data that Windows XP uses. Some of these files are simply there to provide support for legacy applications. Others directly control system startup settings and govern which services and applications are automatically started during system startup.

This chapter will identify the location and purpose of various Windows XP system files and will explain the operation of the tools that administrators use to maintain these files.