Why does no one talk about the Windows Registry?

UnUnOctium said:
Also, just as the same way that Mac stores system configuration settings in plists and databases, so does windows. The registry is just an interface to that.
Click to expand...

The key difference there is individual files. If I remember correctly, the registry is a handful of files in total, i.e. one file contains the entries from many different applications.
 
Fudzy said:
Oh so the configuration file is in the program folder, cool. But then system configurations etc? The registry goes a bit further than just application settings.

Also if you have two users on a Mac, one is allowed to burn CDs etc using application X while the other user is not allowed, how do you manage that?
Click to expand...

I could be wrong, but there are hidden side files in folders - will see them if you put a flash in a Mac and then put it in a PC and show hidden files. Maybe some of the stuff is stored there? Just my guess though... ;)
 
koffiejunkie said:
We weren't talking about it until a Windows user bought it up in a Mac forum.



Individual files - mostly plist files and sqlite databases.



No. The program files are contained in one place. Your configuration files for each app is stored in two places. /Library/ somewhere for system-wide, and /Users/yourname/Library/ for user config. If you just drag and drop something from the /Applications folder to another machine, you basically get a fresh install.

There are exceptions to the everything-in-one-place way. Some applications vendors still have Windows mentality and just install their **** all over the place. Microsoft, for example. Office dumps a load of stuff under ~/Documents instead of ~/Library - I really hope this is fixed in the new version.

Some other applications, I imagine VMware/Parallels/VirtualBox need to install stuff at a system level to work at all. I seriously doubt they'll just work if you drag/drop them to another machine. But usually they're pretty good about setting themselves up the first time you run them, so it should be reasonably straight-forward.
Click to expand...

True, but most programs out their are installed by drag and drop though. Real complicated installs (like Photoshop) are a bit different...
 
macboer said:
Secondly, Why do i only find out now about the Windows registry "problem".
Am i wrong or is this a huge problem with Windows?
Click to expand...
the registry is not like the other windows pointy-clicky idiot mode config options that leads the user around and helps them not make mistakes. The registry doesnt ask you to confirm your setting. It doesnt baby you. It assumes you know what the consequences of your actions will be and allows your to completely destroy the OS. It doesnt provide you with a dropdown of possible valid values, rather it lets you enter anything you wish.

Fiddling in the registry is for those who are more than just paper mcse's
 
Well, technically the Mac's does not have a "Registry" but it does have the Library and your Application Preferences are kept there in Plist files, the neat thing about it is that you can edit and modify your preferences easily without screwing up your Mac.
 
StbA said:
Well, technically the Mac's does not have a "Registry" but it does have the Library and your Application Preferences are kept there in Plist files, the neat thing about it is that you can edit and modify your preferences easily without screwing up your Mac.
Click to expand...

Why is that? If you go in and mess up the files what is the recourse?
 
rapidblue said:
I could be wrong, but there are hidden side files in folders - will see them if you put a flash in a Mac and then put it in a PC and show hidden files. Maybe some of the stuff is stored there? Just my guess though... ;)
Click to expand...

Yeah, I hate that. Mac users are oblivious to those odd hidden files and folders.
 
Fudzy said:
Yeah, I hate that. Mac users are oblivious to those odd hidden files and folders.
Click to expand...

The only "hidden" folders of any consequence are trash, fseventsd and spotlight. Neither of which would break the OS if you messed with them. In fact, you can delete them both, and nothing much will happen. Spotlight might re-index a bit but that's about it.
 
koffiejunkie said:
The only "hidden" folders of any consequence are trash, fseventsd and spotlight. Neither of which would break the OS if you messed with them. In fact, you can delete them both, and nothing much will happen. Spotlight might re-index a bit but that's about it.
Click to expand...

Yeah I'm talking about those plist files etc? How do you edit those/protect them from corruption? Surely the programs would fall over if they aren't correct?
 
Well, if those droppings help that I don't need a registry and are invisible to me, then I'll rather call them Mac Angels :)
 
Fudzy said:
Yeah I'm talking about those plist files etc? How do you edit those/protect them from corruption? Surely the programs would fall over if they aren't correct?
Click to expand...

They're not hidden. You can edit them and break them too, and you're still taking matters into your own hands, but 99.99% you can just nuke the file if you manage to mess it up completely. You won't break your system.
 
koffiejunkie said:
They're not hidden. You can edit them and break them too, and you're still taking matters into your own hands, but 99.99% you can just nuke the file if you manage to mess it up completely. You won't break your system.
Click to expand...

How does it recover?
 
I love it how mac users love and promote their macs, but when they have a problem, have no one to help them. And don't tell me that mac users don't have problems. I had a mac user with a problem, that when he clicked on his calendar, it would take forever to open. All that I could tell him, was to format and re-install, cause no one had an answer.
 
SharkBait said:
I had a mac user with a problem, that when he clicked on his calendar, it would take forever to open. All that I could tell him, was to format and re-install, cause no one had an answer.
Click to expand...

I'm curious how you would have fixed that on Windows given that you failed to provide him the most basic, OS-independent troubleshooting advice, i.e. crate a new account, log in and see if it has the same problem. If not, no need to re-install.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X