Configure the Registry

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 with SP1

If a registry entry must be created or modified to correctly configure the server, you can edit the entry directly using the registry editor Regedit.exe.

Requirements

  • Credentials: Membership in the Administrators group on the local computer.

  • Tools: Regedit.exe.

Recommendation

As a security best practice, log on to your computer using an account that is not in the Administrators group, and then use the Run as command to run IIS Manager as an administrator. At the command prompt, type **runas /user:**administrative_accountname mmc %systemroot%\system32\inetsrv\iis.msc.

Procedures

Warning

Do not edit the registry unless you have no alternative. The registry editor bypasses standard safeguards, allowing settings that can damage your system, or even require you to reinstall Windows. If you must edit the registry, back it up first and see the registry reference.

To create a new registry entry by using the registry editor

  1. In the Run dialog box, type regedit, and then click OK.

  2. In the registry editor, navigate to the key or subkey under which you wish to add an entry and select the name of the key or subkey by clicking on it.

  3. On the Edit Menu, point to New and then click the data type for the entry, such as String Value, Binary Value, or DWORD Value.

  4. In the details pane, type the name of the registry entry, and then press ENTER to create the entry.

  5. To assign a value to the registry entry, right-click the entry and then click Modify. If the entry has been defined as Binary Value, click Modify Binary Data instead.

  6. In the Edit ValueType Value dialog box, type an appropriate value in the Value data text box. Type or select the value of other options, such as the base (hexadecimal or decimal) for DWORD values, and then click OK.

To configure an existing registry entry by using the registry editor

  1. In the Run dialog box, type regedit, and then click OK.

  2. In the registry editor, navigate to the registry entry that you want to modify.

  3. In the details pane, right-click the entry, and click Modify. If the entry has been defined as Binary Value, then click Modify Binary Data instead.

  4. In the Edit ValueType Value dialog box, type an appropriate value in Value data. Type or select the value of other options, such as the base (hexadecimal or decimal) for DWORD values, and then click OK.

For more information about the registry, see the Registry Reference in the Windows Server 2003 Deployment Kit.