How do I control and manipulate windows through C++?

Sorry for the newbie question.

There are a lot of things that programs can tell windows to do. Are all these things done through the Win32 API, or other c++ libraries?

-Change desktop wallpaper
-Change resolution
-Use audio/video input and output components. (Eg: Webcam)
-Manipulate registry.

Win32

MFC
COM
and wxWidgets or other widget libraries may be helpful, but as robwhit suggested, I advise learning the basic Win32API first.