How do I change the value of a registry key?

[Don J]

How do I change the path at Registry Key:

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\WAB\WAB4\WAB File Name

which is:

D:\Documents and Settings\Johansen\Application
Data\Microsoft\Address Book\Johansen.wab

to:

C:\(My Documents)\Address Book\Johansen.wab

I want to do it by applying "reg" and/or "bat" files.

Don J

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Stan Brown]

How do I change the path at Registry Key:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\WAB\WAB4\WAB File Name

I want to do it by applying "reg" and/or "bat" files.

It's not difficult to do but, meaning no disrespect, are you sure you
actually want to do it? How do you know?

In general, people who have to ask how to change a registry key are
very likely to get themselves into trouble if they monkey with the
registry.

If someone asks me how to load a revolver, I'd generally like to know
what they're going to do with it before I answer.

 

[GeneK]

What is to be gained by this proposal??
Gene K

It's not difficult to do but, meaning no disrespect, are you sure you
actually want to do it? How do you know?

In general, people who have to ask how to change a registry key are
very likely to get themselves into trouble if they monkey with the
registry.

If someone asks me how to load a revolver, I'd generally like to know
what they're going to do with it before I answer.

 

[Don J]

Drive D: is the Windows XP drive. Drive C: is a different drive and
therefore doesn't get wiped out on doing a Windows reinstall. I want to
move the Address Book to drive C: so that I don't have to reconstruct it
every time I have to reinstall. I am currently doing the manipulation that
I want to do to the registry manually.

I have gone in and diddled with the registry at least 20 times in the last
few months. Although I have reinstalled my copy of Windows XP many times I
HAVE NEVER HAD TO REINSTALL IT BECAUSE OF SCREWING AROUND WITH THE REGISTRY!
I am now retired, my business when I was working was computer hardware
design.

Don J

 

[Guest]

If you know the registry key you want to change, it's easiest to just run
regedit and make the change manually.

MD

Drive D: is the Windows XP drive. Drive C: is a different drive and
therefore doesn't get wiped out on doing a Windows reinstall. I want to
move the Address Book to drive C: so that I don't have to reconstruct it
every time I have to reinstall. I am currently doing the manipulation that
I want to do to the registry manually.

I have gone in and diddled with the registry at least 20 times in the last
few months. Although I have reinstalled my copy of Windows XP many times I
HAVE NEVER HAD TO REINSTALL IT BECAUSE OF SCREWING AROUND WITH THE REGISTRY!
I am now retired, my business when I was working was computer hardware
design.

Don J

 

[Don J]

I know it! I am prestently doing exactly what you suggest. I believe I
said: "I am currently doing the manipulation that I want to do to the
registry manually."

Today I am reinstalling Waindows XP several times a year. I am looking
forward to a date when I won't be doing it so often. When that time comes,
and I am reinstalling only once a year, I want to be able to do things like
this by hitting either a batch file or a reg file.

I am pretty sick of this! I origially asked a very simple question and was
expecting to get a very simple answer. Instead I get a series of lectures
questioning what I wanted to do and warning me that if I didn't know what I
was doing I would screw up the registry! I think that I have demonstrated
my technical competance. Would somebody please answer my original question?
Or I'll have to buy a book on the registry, and invest the time coming up to
speed on it. Actually I've already got a book on the Registry but it
doesn't tell me how to load a value into the registry.

Which reminds me what is a good book on the registry that will tell me
exacty how to use reg files.

Don J

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you know the registry key you want to change, it's easiest to just run
regedit and make the change manually.

MD

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Just move your Address Book, Johansen.wab, to wherever you want it. There
is no need to change the registry. When you reinstall Windows, move
Johansen.wab back to where it belongs.

If you are hell bent on changing the registry...

Open the Registry Editor.
Navigate to...
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WAB\WAB4\Wab File Name
Double click (Default).
Change the Value data to
C:\(My Documents)\Address Book\Johansen.wab
Click OK.

WTF is (My Documents)? Is that anything like My Documents?

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Stan Brown]

I am pretty sick of this! I origially asked a very simple question and was
expecting to get a very simple answer. Instead I get a series of lectures
questioning what I wanted to do and warning me that if I didn't know what I
was doing I would screw up the registry!

We will immediately begin processing the refund of every cent you
paid to this help desk, plus 10% for the outrage.

In other words: this is Usenet. When you ask a question, you accept
that people will make comments on it, particularly if the question
itself raises some warning flags.

 

[Don J]

Thank you very much, it works!

However this leaves me with another problem. When I do a reinstall of
Windows I will want to pick up the location of the address book at the old
location not the new location. I do not want to move the new address book
to the old location and overwrite the old one. Sounds like I will have to
write the old address into the registry as I originally thought I would.

But I can trick it into thinking that the new WAB file has been transferred
in. What I do is to change the extension on the old "wab" file to "zzz"
then copy the new "wab" file to the old location and delete it. I then
change the extension on the "zzz" file back to "wab". I've tried it out and
it works!

Don J

 

[Don J]

I thought that the purpose of newsgroups was to provide help by individuals
with a little more experience. I asked a simple question. You had provided
an initial response, in the respose you indicated that the question did have
an answer. But you didn't give me the answer, you chose instead to
challenge me on why I would want to do such a thing. I then very carefully
wrote a follow-up that explained why I wanted to do it and why I thought I
could do it. I received a sequence of two resposes from two different
people, neither of which answered my original question. Finally I got mad
and threw a temper tantrum. Thats when someone came in and made a
suggestion that finally helped me.

Don't forget the fundamental purpose of newsgroups is to help the
individual. It seems that there are many people out there who would rather
challenge the questioner with the inquiry, "Why would you want to do such a
[crazy] thing?"

Don J
-----------------------------------------------------

 

[gls858]

I thought that the purpose of newsgroups was to provide help by individuals
with a little more experience. I asked a simple question. You had provided
an initial response, in the respose you indicated that the question did have
an answer. But you didn't give me the answer, you chose instead to
challenge me on why I would want to do such a thing. I then very carefully
wrote a follow-up that explained why I wanted to do it and why I thought I
could do it. I received a sequence of two resposes from two different
people, neither of which answered my original question. Finally I got mad
and threw a temper tantrum. Thats when someone came in and made a
suggestion that finally helped me.

Don't forget the fundamental purpose of newsgroups is to help the
individual. It seems that there are many people out there who would rather
challenge the questioner with the inquiry, "Why would you want to do such a
[crazy] thing?"

Don J
-----------------------------------------------------

We will immediately begin processing the refund of every cent you
paid to this help desk, plus 10% for the outrage.

In other words: this is Usenet. When you ask a question, you accept
that people will make comments on it, particularly if the question
itself raises some warning flags.

Not wishing to provoke you, but I would be interested in why you need to
reload several time a year or even once a year. Just curious.

gls858

 

[Don J]

I bought my PC from a shop that apparently doesn't test their product very
well. In fact I've bought two machines all from the same place. As a
result there have always been problems that would force me to reinstall. If
the problem occured right after I reinstalled I would reinstall again
immediately. Once I got it installed it would last about a month until a
new problem would show itself and I would have to reinstall again.

Initially I didn't understand what was going on so I spent much time
transferring data to a different drive so it wouldn't get wiped out when I
had to reinstall again. I am using Drive D: as my Windows directory, and
Drive C: as the drive where I install all my data so it doesn't get lost.

My last item to move to Drive C: is the addresas book. One of the best
methods of keeping data files originally located on drive C: is to define a
new "Program Files" directory on Drive C: and to relocate all progrms from
Drive D: to Drive C: during their installation process. This works for
everything except Windows Programs themselves which define their own
location to put the data.

I've got a system worked out so that I can reinstall Windows XP, all my
programs, and keep my original data files in 3-4 hrs.

Now that I know what is going on I will probably buy a new machine from a
company who I know is going to test it properly.

Who can I count on to thourolly test the product I buy?

Don J

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I thought that the purpose of newsgroups was to provide help by
individuals with a little more experience. I asked a simple question.
You had provided an initial response, in the respose you indicated that
the question did have an answer. But you didn't give me the answer, you
chose instead to challenge me on why I would want to do such a thing. I
then very carefully wrote a follow-up that explained why I wanted to do
it and why I thought I could do it. I received a sequence of two
resposes from two different people, neither of which answered my original
question. Finally I got mad and threw a temper tantrum. Thats when
someone came in and made a suggestion that finally helped me.

Don't forget the fundamental purpose of newsgroups is to help the
individual. It seems that there are many people out there who would
rather challenge the questioner with the inquiry, "Why would you want to
do such a [crazy] thing?"

Don J
-----------------------------------------------------

Sun, 30 Jul 2006 16:22:51 GMT from Don J <[email protected]>:
I am pretty sick of this! I origially asked a very simple question and
was
expecting to get a very simple answer. Instead I get a series of
lectures
questioning what I wanted to do and warning me that if I didn't know
what I
was doing I would screw up the registry!
We will immediately begin processing the refund of every cent you
paid to this help desk, plus 10% for the outrage.

In other words: this is Usenet. When you ask a question, you accept
that people will make comments on it, particularly if the question
itself raises some warning flags.

Not wishing to provoke you, but I would be interested in why you need to
reload several time a year or even once a year. Just curious.

gls858

 

[cschiller1]

I've got to ask you why you seem be doing things so bass ackwards. Why
put your data on C: and your programs on C: when the native
configuration is programs on C:. Why aren't you happy just putting your
data on D:? You seem to be making an incredible amount of extra work for
yourself.

Also, if your problem is a PC shop that "apparently doesn't test their
product very well" one would think that might result in hardware
problems, if anything. I can't see what a re-install has to do with that.

Craig

I bought my PC from a shop that apparently doesn't test their product very
well. In fact I've bought two machines all from the same place. As a
result there have always been problems that would force me to reinstall. If
the problem occured right after I reinstalled I would reinstall again
immediately. Once I got it installed it would last about a month until a
new problem would show itself and I would have to reinstall again.

Initially I didn't understand what was going on so I spent much time
transferring data to a different drive so it wouldn't get wiped out when I
had to reinstall again. I am using Drive D: as my Windows directory, and
Drive C: as the drive where I install all my data so it doesn't get lost.

My last item to move to Drive C: is the addresas book. One of the best
methods of keeping data files originally located on drive C: is to define a
new "Program Files" directory on Drive C: and to relocate all progrms from
Drive D: to Drive C: during their installation process. This works for
everything except Windows Programs themselves which define their own
location to put the data.

I've got a system worked out so that I can reinstall Windows XP, all my
programs, and keep my original data files in 3-4 hrs.

Now that I know what is going on I will probably buy a new machine from a
company who I know is going to test it properly.

Who can I count on to thourolly test the product I buy?

Don J

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I thought that the purpose of newsgroups was to provide help by
individuals with a little more experience. I asked a simple question.
You had provided an initial response, in the respose you indicated that
the question did have an answer. But you didn't give me the answer, you
chose instead to challenge me on why I would want to do such a thing. I
then very carefully wrote a follow-up that explained why I wanted to do
it and why I thought I could do it. I received a sequence of two
resposes from two different people, neither of which answered my original
question. Finally I got mad and threw a temper tantrum. Thats when
someone came in and made a suggestion that finally helped me.

Don't forget the fundamental purpose of newsgroups is to help the
individual. It seems that there are many people out there who would
rather challenge the questioner with the inquiry, "Why would you want to
do such a [crazy] thing?"

Don J
-----------------------------------------------------


Sun, 30 Jul 2006 16:22:51 GMT from Don J <[email protected]>:

I am pretty sick of this! I origially asked a very simple question and
was
expecting to get a very simple answer. Instead I get a series of
lectures
questioning what I wanted to do and warning me that if I didn't know
what I
was doing I would screw up the registry!

We will immediately begin processing the refund of every cent you
paid to this help desk, plus 10% for the outrage.

In other words: this is Usenet. When you ask a question, you accept
that people will make comments on it, particularly if the question
itself raises some warning flags.

Not wishing to provoke you, but I would be interested in why you need to
reload several time a year or even once a year. Just curious.

gls858

 

[Don J]

If you had gone back and taken care to read things well you would have seen
that my time has been dominated by reinstalling Windows XP. Splitting
things between drives C: and D: eliminates the problem of updating data
files when I do a reinstall. I can reinstall my system, reinstall my
programs, and go back to my original data files in 3-4 hours

I am convinced that this newsgroup is scanned only by people who want to say
"Why would you want to do such a crazy thing?". Awhile back I asked for a
good source where I could buy a PC without having the problems of startup.
Nobody has offered an answer to that question yet.

Don J

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I've got to ask you why you seem be doing things so bass ackwards. Why put
your data on C: and your programs on C: when the native configuration is
programs on C:. Why aren't you happy just putting your data on D:? You
seem to be making an incredible amount of extra work for yourself.

Also, if your problem is a PC shop that "apparently doesn't test their
product very well" one would think that might result in hardware problems,
if anything. I can't see what a re-install has to do with that.

Craig

I bought my PC from a shop that apparently doesn't test their product
very well. In fact I've bought two machines all from the same place.
As a result there have always been problems that would force me to
reinstall. If the problem occured right after I reinstalled I would
reinstall again immediately. Once I got it installed it would last about
a month until a new problem would show itself and I would have to
reinstall again.

Initially I didn't understand what was going on so I spent much time
transferring data to a different drive so it wouldn't get wiped out when
I had to reinstall again. I am using Drive D: as my Windows directory,
and Drive C: as the drive where I install all my data so it doesn't get
lost.

My last item to move to Drive C: is the addresas book. One of the best
methods of keeping data files originally located on drive C: is to define
a new "Program Files" directory on Drive C: and to relocate all progrms
from Drive D: to Drive C: during their installation process. This works
for everything except Windows Programs themselves which define their own
location to put the data.

I've got a system worked out so that I can reinstall Windows XP, all my
programs, and keep my original data files in 3-4 hrs.

Now that I know what is going on I will probably buy a new machine from a
company who I know is going to test it properly.

Who can I count on to thourolly test the product I buy?

Don J

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Don J wrote:

I thought that the purpose of newsgroups was to provide help by
individuals with a little more experience. I asked a simple question.
You had provided an initial response, in the respose you indicated that
the question did have an answer. But you didn't give me the answer, you
chose instead to challenge me on why I would want to do such a thing. I
then very carefully wrote a follow-up that explained why I wanted to do
it and why I thought I could do it. I received a sequence of two
resposes from two different people, neither of which answered my
original
question. Finally I got mad and threw a temper tantrum. Thats when
someone came in and made a suggestion that finally helped me.

Don't forget the fundamental purpose of newsgroups is to help the
individual. It seems that there are many people out there who would
rather challenge the questioner with the inquiry, "Why would you want to
do such a [crazy] thing?"

Don J
-----------------------------------------------------


Sun, 30 Jul 2006 16:22:51 GMT from Don J <[email protected]>:

I am pretty sick of this! I origially asked a very simple question
and
was
expecting to get a very simple answer. Instead I get a series of
lectures
questioning what I wanted to do and warning me that if I didn't know
what I
was doing I would screw up the registry!

We will immediately begin processing the refund of every cent you
paid to this help desk, plus 10% for the outrage.

In other words: this is Usenet. When you ask a question, you accept
that people will make comments on it, particularly if the question
itself raises some warning flags.

--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA
http://OakRoadSystems.com/


Not wishing to provoke you, but I would be interested in why you need to
reload several time a year or even once a year. Just curious.

gls858

 

[cschiller1]

I read things quite well, thank you. I understand fully your desire to
isolate your data to minimize reinstallation problems, but the fact
remains that you are doing things ass backwards. You operating system
and program files should be on your C: drive and your data on your D:
drive. Doing it the other way around will cause (and obviously has
caused) all kinds of avoidable complications.

If your time has been dominated by reinstalling Windows XP that's an
indication of further problems, since while it is doubtless a PITA it's
a relatively short process.

As for buying a PC, if you can't determine a reliable local vendor, as
it seems obvious you can't, I would suggest Dell. They are not perfect,
but they are certainly a vast improvement on your current situation.

Craig

If you had gone back and taken care to read things well you would have seen
that my time has been dominated by reinstalling Windows XP. Splitting
things between drives C: and D: eliminates the problem of updating data
files when I do a reinstall. I can reinstall my system, reinstall my
programs, and go back to my original data files in 3-4 hours

I am convinced that this newsgroup is scanned only by people who want to say
"Why would you want to do such a crazy thing?". Awhile back I asked for a
good source where I could buy a PC without having the problems of startup.
Nobody has offered an answer to that question yet.

Don J

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I've got to ask you why you seem be doing things so bass ackwards. Why put
your data on C: and your programs on C: when the native configuration is
programs on C:. Why aren't you happy just putting your data on D:? You
seem to be making an incredible amount of extra work for yourself.

Also, if your problem is a PC shop that "apparently doesn't test their
product very well" one would think that might result in hardware problems,
if anything. I can't see what a re-install has to do with that.

Craig

Don J wrote:

I bought my PC from a shop that apparently doesn't test their product
very well. In fact I've bought two machines all from the same place.
As a result there have always been problems that would force me to
reinstall. If the problem occured right after I reinstalled I would
reinstall again immediately. Once I got it installed it would last about
a month until a new problem would show itself and I would have to
reinstall again.

Initially I didn't understand what was going on so I spent much time
transferring data to a different drive so it wouldn't get wiped out when
I had to reinstall again. I am using Drive D: as my Windows directory,
and Drive C: as the drive where I install all my data so it doesn't get
lost.

My last item to move to Drive C: is the addresas book. One of the best
methods of keeping data files originally located on drive C: is to define
a new "Program Files" directory on Drive C: and to relocate all progrms
from Drive D: to Drive C: during their installation process. This works
for everything except Windows Programs themselves which define their own
location to put the data.

I've got a system worked out so that I can reinstall Windows XP, all my
programs, and keep my original data files in 3-4 hrs.

Now that I know what is going on I will probably buy a new machine from a
company who I know is going to test it properly.

Who can I count on to thourolly test the product I buy?

Don J

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Don J wrote:


I thought that the purpose of newsgroups was to provide help by
individuals with a little more experience. I asked a simple question.
You had provided an initial response, in the respose you indicated that
the question did have an answer. But you didn't give me the answer, you
chose instead to challenge me on why I would want to do such a thing. I
then very carefully wrote a follow-up that explained why I wanted to do
it and why I thought I could do it. I received a sequence of two
resposes from two different people, neither of which answered my
original
question. Finally I got mad and threw a temper tantrum. Thats when
someone came in and made a suggestion that finally helped me.

Don't forget the fundamental purpose of newsgroups is to help the
individual. It seems that there are many people out there who would
rather challenge the questioner with the inquiry, "Why would you want to
do such a [crazy] thing?"

Don J
-----------------------------------------------------



Sun, 30 Jul 2006 16:22:51 GMT from Don J <[email protected]>:


I am pretty sick of this! I origially asked a very simple question
and
was
expecting to get a very simple answer. Instead I get a series of
lectures
questioning what I wanted to do and warning me that if I didn't know
what I
was doing I would screw up the registry!

We will immediately begin processing the refund of every cent you
paid to this help desk, plus 10% for the outrage.

In other words: this is Usenet. When you ask a question, you accept
that people will make comments on it, particularly if the question
itself raises some warning flags.

--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA
http://OakRoadSystems.com/


Not wishing to provoke you, but I would be interested in why you need to
reload several time a year or even once a year. Just curious.

gls858