The Registry Editor

The RAM in your computer is short term memory, which is cleared when you restart the computer. The Registry in your operating system is the long term memory of the operating system. The Registry Editor helps you to make manual changes to this memory.

Have you used the Registry Editor before? If not, it's a scary tool, but it's pretty simple once you get used to it. Read Annoyances: Introduction to the Registry.

As an example, say you need to Change or to Delete the Value NodeType in Registry Key [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ System\ CurrentControlSet\ Services\ Netbt\ Parameters], as instructed separately.

1. Locate the Registry Key.
   • Open the Registry Editor
   • Navigate to [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ System\ CurrentControlSet\ Services\ Netbt\ Parameters].


2. Backup the Registry Key.
   • Right click on the Parameters entry in the registry tree.
   • Select Export.
   • Specify a file name and a folder, using the mini Windows Explorer wizard.


3. Change or Delete the Value.
   • To Change the Value, double click on it, and type the appropriate value. Hit OK.
   • To Delete the Value, right click on it, and choose Delete. Hit OK.


4. Reboot to ensure that the system accepts the change.


5. If you experience any problems, simply locate the file created in step #2, and double click on it. Its contents will be automatically merged back into the registry, reversing any changes you just made.

(Note): The terminology here may take getting used to. The string (with spaces added to enhance readability)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ System\ CurrentControlSet\ Services\ Netbt\ Parameters

is called the Registry Key. The string

NodeType

is called the Value name. And the string

1, 2, or whatever (entered as a DWord)

is called the Value data. My sympathy to you, as you try to absorb this. I don't find it too instinctive either.