Creating a local Registry

I always wondered if it was possible for a user to create a local
registry and use the Windows API's to access it? It appears that XP
(NT) has many Registry related API's;
RegCloseKey RegOpenKey
RegConnectRegistry RegOpenKeyEx
RegCreateKey RegQueryInfoKey
RegCreateKeyEx RegQueryMultipleValues
RegDeleteKey RegQueryValue
RegDeleteValue RegQueryValueEx
RegEnumKey RegReplaceKey
RegEnumKeyEx RegRestoreKey
RegEnumValue RegSaveKey
RegFlushKey RegSetKeySecurity
RegGetKeySecurity RegSetValue
RegLoadKey RegSetValueEx
RegNotifyChangeKeyValue RegUnLoadKey

However, you won't find, RegCreateRegistry. I am certain that there
are also a bunch of .Net calls that also manipulate the registry. And
I would image, .Net being object centric, you would be able to create
a new object of type registry!

Perhaps someone can demystify this for me. As you are always warned
to backup the registry before you 'play' with it, I would think that
it would be safer for an application to have its own Registry.

My registry is a mess. It is huge. I know there are many tools to
fix the registry but each time I try one of them it appears that
something important gets deleted. I have entries that an 'administer'
can not open. I image the REGISTRY is an attractive playground ripe
for hacking.

I an betting that the Registry is a database; I have heard some
speculate that it is an off shoot of MS ACCESS. However, I never came
across an ACCESS mdb that you can map to the REGISTRY. Call me
curious, I just wonder what technology the REGISTRY is based on; what
is the access scheme, etc.? If XP and VISTA use it why can't
programmers make their own?

Fred Jacobowitz

I think you might find some of the tools at this web site interesting!:

http://www.csc.calpoly.edu/~bfriesen/software/console.shtml

the following registry tools might be of interest:
HiveLoader v1.0
Registry Wizard v1.2
TreeCompare v1.6
http://users.csc.calpoly.edu/~bfriesen/software/software.shtml

this will be a god send when you have everything all fouled up. there's one for windows 95 and 98:
http://members.cox.net/scotterpops/articles/regback/regback2.html

you'll find editreg.reg at this website and if you will scroll down to the bottom it will also direct you to some web sites and books on the registry:
http://aumha.org/regfiles.php#icons

yes, the registry is a very interesting playground.
i do not know if you can access it with api's. you certainly can access it via:
start
run
type in regedit or regedit 32
the best way to experiment is to do a little reading on the area you wich to explore. back up the registry before you do anything. also, highlight the key you want to edit. like say you wanted to edit the control panel.
highlite control panel.
go up to the top
click on registry
export registry file
and save it as a reg file.
then you can view it with editreg.reg. you can also make changes.

you can also go online and type in a line from the registry and learn a great deal about that line.
for instance do a search on line for:
SHELL ICON BPP=16
you'll find out that sets your icons to 16 bit color. if your icons turn ugly this the key to fix it.