RemoteRegistry Description : |
Remote Registry Service. Service which is part of Windows. As per Microsoft's excellent explanation : "Enables remote users to modify registry settings on your computer, provided the remote users have the required permissions. The Remote Registry service is primarily used by remote administrators and for performance counters. If this service is stopped or disabled, modifying the registry will only be allowed on the local computer. If this service is disabled, it will not affect registry operations on your local computer. Other computers or devices will no longer be able to connect to your local computer's registry.".
For those who do not know, the Windows Registry is a database in which Windows stores all its settings : details of your hard disk, graphics card and other hardware, your Windows Registration key, all the software installed, all the Windows Updates installed, how you like Microsoft Word to open (full size or a specific reduced size), users, printers, etc.., etc... It is that database which TUT queries to give you the information on the System Info tab. |
RemoteRegistry Recommendation : |
Such a description, even though correct, can sound scary : What! A remote user modifying my Windows registry !!! The truth is rather simpler : no remote user can change your PC's Windows Registry without first being able to connect with the right username and password and having Administrator rights.
On a more pragmatic level this service is absolutely crucial to the ability of your PC to network to other computers on a Windows network or to connect to corporate networks, or the ability for your IT Manager to remotely change settings on your PC and, for the technically advanced, for Group Policies to work (the Domain Controller uses the Remote Registry Service to apply group policies - ditto with NetWare server policies).
Provided you have basic security on your network (all users have secure passwords, and users you would not trust your credit card with are not Administrators on the network!) then you should leave this service set to its default Startup Mode of Automatic. |
