Modifying the System Registry

The system registry contains configuration data that the operating system, services, and applications use. Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) has a System Registry Provider and the StdRegProv class with methods that use to monitor or modify the registry on the local computer or remote computers. The Win32 Provider supports the Win32_Registry class that contains static data about the size of a registry.

The System Registry Provider is an instance, property, and event provider that interfaces with the system registry. The System Registry Provider is a standard provider with the IWbemServices interface. You can use the System Registry Provider to access registry keys and information on local and remote systems. For more information, see System Registry Provider.

WMI places the StdRegProv in the root\default namespace. However, you can compile the Regevent.mof file into other namespaces for other applications to use.

The topics identified in the following table can show you how to use the StdRegProv class and the System Registry Provider.

Topic	Description
Obtaining Registry Data	You can obtain or modify registry data through methods of the StdRegProv class, which allows you to automate registry activities locally or remotely.
Changing Registry Data	You can add or delete keys, and add or change registry entry values under keys.
Programming with the System Registry Provider	You can define your own classes that the System Registry supplies with data.
Registering for System Registry Events	The System Registry provider can send events to a consumer. To receive events, you must register your consumer, create a query, and then ensure that the provider is sending you events—correctly.
Registering the System Registry Provider	The System Registry provider is registered as part of the WMI installation process.