Python to Shell script? to Registry Change ... and beyond...?

When I posted “Using the Registry (aka R3g!xtRY)” I hoped I would learn how to make registry changes.

I got a sympathetic response, and I got to know users I remembered and respected. But it seems there was actually very little out there that might teach me how to make registry changes. I wasn’t quite successful in my attempts to change the registry (those changes I so carefully implemented didn't happen)—that convinced me I needed to learn to operate a Windows imaging program (MacriumR) so I would be able to make up for my mistakes by, every time I made a mistake, reinstalling everything on the disk.

Now that I’ve purchased MacriumR (but not yet been sent access to the program), and hoping to be able to use this same program to backup (Clone) AND Image the drive.

I’m wondering how far I’ll get… a) Ghot linked “Macrium Reflect and AOMEI Backupper--Guides”; b) Bree joined in with the ‘Bible’ “Windows Internals Book – Sysinternals” ; c) Ghot Windows XP Annoyances; d) all intelligently disintegrating into a discussion about Mark Russinovich…

What I’ve REALLY wanted to do because this would complement all the skill sets I would like to develop (though these days the whole subject of adopting a sensible attitude toward a Microsoft development seems hopeless) would be to be able to, in order of complexity:

USE PYTHON (since C++ days, another lifetime, I’ve been “”wed” to OOP) TO:
a) Reliably create and execute Shell Scripts, then
b) Reliably run (backup (cloning) and imaging) software
b) Reliably affect the Windows registry.

So that, in the future I can reliably use a single tool (Python) to schedule and execute, and re-execute if necessary, small scale tasks. And if need be, to expand to larger tasks, like the perfect filing system program (for the Mac) Infolog, that disappeared in the ether.

Is this a reasonable hope?

Why do you need to use Python or some other programming language to manipulate the registry? It doesn't make it any less or more "reliable" unless you wish to make sweeping changes to the registry which I would advise against.

I'm not sure why you would need to call a third-party backup from Python either? Just use the backup program itself to make scheduled backups or manually do itself yourself before making any changes, as programmatically doing so would only really work if Macrium has provided a set of APIs or command-line arguments in order to do so.

What are you exactly trying to achieve? Understand what all the keys and values in the registry are used for? You aren't going to find that information all in one place and most of it is undocumented. The Windows Internals book only really touches on how the registry is managed by the configuration manager - there is much better third-party research on this though - and doesn't actually mention what the keys are used for apart from a few system ones. Having said that, the Windows Internals book is quite lacking in many places, and only serves as a foundation rather than an be all and end all.

x BlueRobot said:

Why do you need to use Python or some other programming language to manipulate the registry? It doesn't make it any less or more "reliable" unless you wish to make sweeping changes to the registry which I would advise against.

I'm not sure why you would need to call a third-party backup from Python either? Just use the backup program itself to make scheduled backups or manually do itself yourself before making any changes, as programmatically doing so would only really work if Macrium has provided a set of APIs or command-line arguments in order to do so.

What are you exactly trying to achieve? Understand what all the keys and values in the registry are used for? You aren't going to find that information all in one place and most of it is undocumented. The Windows Internals book only really touches on how the registry is managed by the configuration manager - there is much better third-party research on this though - and doesn't actually mention what the keys are used for apart from a few system ones. Having said that, the Windows Internals book is quite lacking in many places, and only serves as a foundation rather than an be all and end all.

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Very sound advice.
I wanted a give you a 'like' but it won't let me.

But it is so intimidating; so sensitive; so critically able to mess up your computer (or so I've been told), that for me to even consider trying to modify Win11 so that it acts more like Win10, a version of Windows that apparently respects its user base more than its successor, seems insane.
I've already given it a try, and failed miserably.

This should be easy. I'm going to supply a step-by-step guide. If I can get the first suggested registry 'repair' to work, I think it should be smooth sailing from there. But I've been wrong before--and anyway, I failed my first attempt.

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From your original thread, it seems that you want to edit some registry settings so it behaves like Windows 10? You'll be better off installing some third-party software which does this for you rather than attempting to edit some registry settings which may or may not do what you desire.

OAT said:

Very sound advice.
I wanted a give you a 'like' but it won't let me.

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Thanks, and no worries, you've probably hit your reputation limit for the day, at least that's how the old forum software used to work.

x BlueRobot said:

you've probably hit your reputation limit for the day, at least that's how the old forum software used to work.

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That's the thing, I haven't issued any today.
Maybe @Brink can help.

x BlueRobot said:

Why do you need to use Python or some other programming language to manipulate the registry? It doesn't make it any less or more "reliable" unless you wish to make sweeping changes to the registry which I would advise against.

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OF COURSE one doesn't need Python to make registry changes! (Do I get a like for this?)

but I want to learn Python and rather than going the Hello World route I thought it would be interesting and instructive to learn how to have it do some fairly simple direct things (change a registry item, execute a shell script, add/remove OneDrive ...eventually create InfoLog...)

Learning aside, it could come in handy as a way to reissue a registry change, or macro, or shell script, if some Windows update comes along that reduces everything back to the status quo... And starting out with simple tasks seems a solid way to progress..

One could even issue 'solutions' as named Python programs; slap the right API on some and allow the user to have a more general purpose registry changer that could address particular problems; etc, etc, etc. all in the service of learning Python and getting something useful done.

Of course it could probably be done with Java, Basic, or C++ if one wants to go overboard. But I want to learn Python.

If you want to use Python, then take a look at the WinReg module: winreg — Windows registry access

You will need to be running as an administrator to make changes to certain keys though.

I've issued you a Like to thank you for being so patient, yet willing to take my enquiry seriously.

Also I'm taking a serious step back...abandoning any registry change attempts and accepting Win11 for the awful experience it is.

that for me to even consider trying to modify Win11 so that it acts more like Win10, a version of Windows that apparently respects its user base more than its successor, seems insane.
I've already given it a try, and failed miserably.

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I don't know who's quote this is, but if you guys manage to fail (miserably) I know it's someplace I don't even want to go.

I used to enjoy using my computer. What I did with it was often challenging, but I could count on the machine being reliable. Now I have to fight my computer constantly. I dread using it.

But thank you, (and the rest of this forum). Sometimes it gives me hope.

jro11 said:

I don't know who's quote this is

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It's your own words from this thread: Using the Registry (aka R3g!xtRY)

jro11 said:

Also I'm taking a serious step back...abandoning any registry change attempts

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That's probably a good idea and if you don't enjoy using Windows 11, then wouldn't it be best to use a different operating system?

x BlueRobot said:

It's your own words from this thread: Using the Registry (aka R3g!xtRY)

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certainly sounded like me...and kudos to you for looking at my previous comments

Though I've been (extensively) involved with the Mac, and peripherally with Linux, I'm committed to Windows. Since the last OS has been discontinued and won't be supported longer than another year, one's pretty much committed to W11... (esp. when, as I've read in this forum, W12 is expected sometime 2024). If one is committed to a particular platform, and wants to be reasonably conversant with that platform it kind of behooves one "stay current" doesn't it?