Ok,

Today, I killed my Explorer.exe Shell/Desktop process using taskmgr.exe...

Then, once the desktop shell was gone, again I brought up taskmgr.exe using CTRL+ALT+DEL keys combo!

Then, from taskmgr.exe FILE menu, I brought up a File Finder dialog (browse feature)...

Well, I was able to copy my system's registry files once Explorer.exe was not "in motion" anymore! You CAN copy, move, delete files (and change their attributes as well) inside the dialogs... rightclick on files in one of those & see for yourself.

This IS odd, and right now to me it is a good thing, but it's also seeming like a potential security violation!

(mixed bag here on this one... )

* Was this just a fluke here, or can you guys do that as well?

APK

yea I've done that before on accident, never really changed any setting tho just did a restart from the taskmgr

"yea I've done that before on accident, never really changed any setting tho just did a restart from the taskmgr"

Well the reason being is that the registry files located at C:\Windows\System32\Config in XP during the Explorer.exe shell uptime & operations in 'enhanced mode' cannot be normally copied or moved...

DOING that on my first install today, & before in the past, I was able to pull that trick & move them but I had to kill the shell first...

* IF this works for one of you guys, being able to copy them this way, it gives me an idea to write a registry backup program that knocks the shell down, backs up the registry, & then when done? Restarts the shell... real simple, real easy, may even work IF you guys can do this like I did today earlier!

(I want to be sure this is NOT some glitch on my part or mistake or messed up setup here)



APK

"This IS odd, and right now to me it is a good thing, but it's also seeming like a potential security violation!"

Non-admins can only list the files in that folder. So there isn't really that much of a security risk seeing as one would need to be an administrator to copy or move the registry.

This IS odd, and right now to me it is a good thing, but it's also seeming like a potential security violation!

Non-admins can only list the files in that folder. So there isn't really that much of a security risk seeing as one would need to be an administrator to copy or move the registry.

Great!

(I was not aware of that, now I am... the security rights defaults appear to protect things that way.)

I just found it odd that it could be done & I was not sure if it was a bogus install I had or if it's the Explorer.exe shell desktop process that appears to lock those files against access!

* That was on an earlier install I had today & in the past, going to try this again on THIS installation & see if it still works or not... has potential for a registry backup technique WHILE you are logged onto your system & in Windows itself!



APK

Well,

I did a CLEAN reinstall today, & cannot do it... that has happened to me before & I do NOT know what causes it!

(Happens on initial installations where I can do the above 'effect' & copy the registry after killing the Explorer.exe process... odd!)

I cannot now, so I know that this was just a fluke here: Disregard the "experiment"...



APK