Why must I restart the PC when registry is changed?

[horst]

Can please somebody explain me why sometimes I must restart the PC when
some registry entry is changed and sometimes change of the registry is
immediately recognized.
Thank you
Horst

 

[Gary Smith]

Some registry entires are read only at system startup, so when you change
them, you have to restart the system to get Windows to notice. Others,
particularly those used by applications, are read at program startup, or
dynamically when the program needs the information.

 

[horst]

hank you very much, Gary!

Some registry entires are read only at system startup, so when you change
them, you have to restart the system to get Windows to notice. Others,
particularly those used by applications, are read at program startup, or
dynamically when the program needs the information.

 

[John John]

To add to what Gary said, keys in the HKCU hive might require the user
to just log off and back on to take effect. As mentioned, other changes
involving applications and services might just need the application or
service to be stopped and restarted to take effect. Generally, changes
made in the CurrentControlSet will require a reboot to take effect.
Stopping and restarting Explorer.exe can permit some changes to occur
without a reboot.

John