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Why does the registry store unimportant file locations



 
 
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  #1  
Old March 6th 12, 01:27 PM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion
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Default Why does the registry store unimportant file locations

When I run something like RegSeeker, to check the registry for junk, I
often find references to files that I deleted, and even some that are
self deleting from the "temp" folder. often named xxxxx.tmp.

Or lets say that I save a picture called tree22.jpg in my folder named
"c:\downloads". Then I move that file to f:\pictures\nature. When I
clean the registry it will say "tree22.jpg can not be found in
"c:\downloads". Or xxxxx.tmp can not be found in c:\windows\temp.

First off, dont windows clean up after a file is deleted or moved?

Secondly, why does windows even put non-executible files in the
registry? Isn't there a way to shut this off? It seems so senseless,
not to mention slowing down the system with an oversized registry.

This is not just Win98, but Win2000 and XP also do it. (I supposed
vista and Win7 do it too, but I have never used those).

I have always wondered if windows stores EVERY file location in the
registry? I have a huge hard drive with thousands of saved downloads,
pictures, text files, etc. Is all of that in the registry? Once again,
this is all stuff that has no reason to be in the registry, only .EXE
files really need it, and probably .DLL and possibly .INI.

  #2  
Old March 6th 12, 02:09 PM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion
Lostgallifreyan
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Posts: 1,562
Default Why does the registry store unimportant file locations

wrote in :

When I run something like RegSeeker, to check the registry for junk, I
often find references to files that I deleted, and even some that are
self deleting from the "temp" folder. often named xxxxx.tmp.


That needs careful examining, so start by finding out exactly where in the
registry those file records are kept. Full key/branch names. Post what you
find, especially if more than one location in the registry is being used.

It may be a nasty tracking problem, or it may just be from 'Recent Files'
lists for various programs being examined by an over-zealous registry
cleaner.

Looking at the registry paths that hold the records is vital to help find out
which.

Or lets say that I save a picture called tree22.jpg in my folder named
"c:\downloads". Then I move that file to f:\pictures\nature. When I
clean the registry it will say "tree22.jpg can not be found in
"c:\downloads". Or xxxxx.tmp can not be found in c:\windows\temp.

First off, dont windows clean up after a file is deleted or moved?


W98 wouldn't even care, unless the file is associated by ClassId or some
other means. Even then it's often associated by directory, not each
individual file. And as far as NT kernel OS's go, unless the file protection
cache is involved, the same probably applies, barrign read/write permissions.

It looks as if something is watching your files more closely than the OS's
normally would, which is why thios needs careful watching from you. It might
not be serious, but you won't know without a close look.

Secondly, why does windows even put non-executible files in the
registry? Isn't there a way to shut this off? It seems so senseless,
not to mention slowing down the system with an oversized registry.


Normally it will watch for shared DLL's (and not all that many of those in
W98), but not data files. That's why this is weird.

This is not just Win98, but Win2000 and XP also do it. (I supposed
vista and Win7 do it too, but I have never used those).


If it does it for many data files, and does it consistently across all those
OS's, start looking at all the software you have brought in to all of them.
It may be something common to all of them, added by you, by accident or
design.

I have always wondered if windows stores EVERY file location in the
registry? I have a huge hard drive with thousands of saved downloads,
pictures, text files, etc. Is all of that in the registry? Once again,
this is all stuff that has no reason to be in the registry, only .EXE
files really need it, and probably .DLL and possibly .INI.


INI won't, they were specifically about NOT using it. EXE files don't
either, they just use a base association to run, and the OS doesn't track
what they are or where they are to do that. DLL's may be registered to
prevent deletion on uninstall, if some other program shares it, and even
then, the 'record' is a DLL name, and a count of how many times the OS thinks
it was registered. It may not even know the path to the DLL if it's not on
the main system path.

If something really is watching thousands of files and keeping a record of
them all, you need to monitor net connections until you're sure that this
isn't part of something benign and local. There have been attempts by
attackers on P2P networks, to get software onto machines that monitor for all
content, looking for copyrighted files. I'm not at all sure this is what's
happening, but something is watching closely, in far more detail than the OS
normally would. I think if this were an OS standard feature I'd have heard a
lot more about it, and apart from the things I mentioned, there isn't a lot
else unless it gets added by someone.
  #3  
Old March 8th 12, 12:26 AM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion
Lostgallifreyan
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Posts: 1,562
Default Why does the registry store unimportant file locations

wrote in :



Does this make me a sad person? It took me THREE DAYS to get that joke!
  #5  
Old March 8th 12, 12:54 AM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion
Lostgallifreyan
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Posts: 1,562
Default Why does the registry store unimportant file locations

"Hot-Text" wrote in -
privat.org:

Putting the joking aside,
you know;
you were a 100% right;
on his one...........



The guess about the over-zealous reg-cleaner looking at recent file menu
storage for programs? Possibly. I hope he'll post back what he found, I want
to know if there's something interesting going on.

(And it was two days. But they felt like three).
  #6  
Old March 8th 12, 08:38 AM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion
Hot-Text
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Posts: 32
Default Why does the registry store unimportant file locations



"Lostgallifreyan" wrote in message .. .
"Hot-Text" wrote in -
privat.org:

Putting the joking aside,
you know;
you were a 100% right;
on his one...........



The guess about the over-zealous reg-cleaner looking at recent file menu
storage for programs? Possibly. I hope he'll post back what he found, I want
to know if there's something interesting going on.

(And it was two days. But they felt like three).


you known as will as I, If check the registry for junk,
and if he do not know a MRUList is,
He needs not to be in the registry.......

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  #7  
Old March 8th 12, 08:41 AM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion
Lostgallifreyan
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Posts: 1,562
Default Why does the registry store unimportant file locations

"Hot-Text" wrote in -
privat.org:

you known as will as I, If check the registry for junk,
and if he do not know a MRUList is,
He needs not to be in the registry.......



No, no, that just means he DOES. There was a time when I had no clue, but
spending time in there was the only way to go. The more I looked, the more it
made sense.

  #8  
Old March 8th 12, 09:09 AM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion
Bill in Co
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Posts: 701
Default Why does the registry store unimportant file locations

Lostgallifreyan wrote:
"Hot-Text" wrote in -
privat.org:

you known as will as I, If check the registry for junk,
and if he do not know a MRUList is,
He needs not to be in the registry.......



No, no, that just means he DOES. There was a time when I had no clue,
but
spending time in there was the only way to go. The more I looked, the more
it
made sense.


Yes, but that's you. :-)
For those who are unaware, it's best to follow those "No Trespassing" signs
posted in regedit, and stay away. :-)


  #9  
Old March 8th 12, 10:51 AM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion
Lostgallifreyan
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Posts: 1,562
Default Why does the registry store unimportant file locations

"Bill in Co" wrote in
m:

Yes, but that's you. :-)
For those who are unaware, it's best to follow those "No Trespassing"
signs posted in regedit, and stay away. :-)



I used to break stuff as a kid. Once you're in (and he's in) there's only one
way out. Get familiar so you can come and go without breaking stuff.

Think of the registry as like a museum. Imagine fat blue ropes keeping the
fragile glass cases safe from close approach. Looking is usually harmless,
just got to resist the temptation to touch. Or get a method of reliable
backup/restore. Seriously. it wasn't because I wanted to explore that I got
Ghost, registry backups, etc. it was because I knew there'd be times when I
didn't, and just wanted a safe way to go. Either way, not looking makes no
sense. We might see stuff that scares us but we won't get bitten in the arse.
  #10  
Old March 8th 12, 11:53 AM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion
Hot-Text
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Posts: 32
Default Why does the registry store unimportant file locations

"Bill in Co" wrote in message m...
Lostgallifreyan wrote:
"Hot-Text" wrote in -
privat.org:

you known as will as I, If check the registry for junk,
and if he do not know a MRUList is,
He needs not to be in the registry.......



No, no, that just means he DOES. There was a time when I had no clue,
but
spending time in there was the only way to go. The more I looked, the more
it
made sense.


Yes, but that's you. :-)
For those who are unaware, it's best to follow those "No Trespassing" signs
posted in regedit, and stay away. :-)



I remember my first day as a bull in a Windows-1.0 china shop ..


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