HKEY_CURRENT_USER contains the same information as that listed by the security identifier in HKEY_USERS, as shown in Figure H.1. Any change made to HKEY_CURRENT_USER is immediately made to HKEY_USERS also. The opposite is also true.
NOTE: All of the settings in HKEY_CURRENT_USER are the same in both Windows NT and Windows 95. There is a minor difference in location, but the actual keys are the same. For that reason, only the Windows NT information will be shown, and the descriptions of all the keys are the same for Windows 95.
Figure H.1. HKEY_CURRENT_USER and the currently logged-on user in HKEY_USERS are both mapped from NTUSER.DAT.
All of the settings in this chapter appear in the following format:
Full path=Handle Key\Keyname
Description, specific information, values
Full path=Handle Key\Keyname\Keyname
Description, specific information, values
Full path=Handle Key\Keyname\Keyname\Keyname
Description, specific information, values
Full path=Handle Key\Keyname\Keyname\Keyname\Keyname(\Keyname)
Description, specific information, values
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents
This key lists the event labels, descriptions, and sounds for system functions.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\EventLabels
This key lists strings and corresponding full descriptions for the following Windows functions. In the operating system, the string is used and then translated with the data in the Registry to make it more readable. The different event labels are shown in the following list:
AppGPFault
Close
EmptyRecycleBin
Maximize
MenuCommand
MenuPopup
Minimize
Open
RestoreDown
RestoreUp
SystemAsterisk
SystemDefault
SystemExclamation
SystemExit
SystemHand
SystemQuestion
SystemStart
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes
The default and current sound schemes are listed in this key and its subkeys. The system plays whatever sound is listed at the time of the event.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes\Apps
This key lists the sounds and descriptions of default Windows NT functions, plus the settings for Explorer, Media Player, and Sound Recorder.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes\Apps\.Default
The default and current sound settings are listed for each of the following Windows NT events. These settings, as shown in the following list, could be changed here, but normally they are changed in Control Panel:
AppGPFault
Close
EmptyRecycleBin
Maximize
MenuCommand
MenuPopup
Minimize
Open
RestoreDown
RestoreUp
SystemAsterisk
SystemDefault
SystemExclamation
SystemExit
SystemHand
SystemQuestion
SystemStart
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes\Apps\Explorer
The sound settings for Explorer are set in this key. The only item listed for the user is the setting for EmptyRecycleBin.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes\Apps\MPlay32
This key contains the default and current sound settings for the opening and closing of Media Player.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes\Apps\SndRec32
This key contains the current sound settings for the opening and closing of Sound Recorder.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes\Names
This key holds the descriptions for two strings: .Default and .None. When the operating system sees these strings in relation to sounds, it replaces them on-screen with NT Default and No Sounds, respectively.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Console
This key holds the options, layout, screen color, and font settings for MS-DOS windows.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel
All the settings that are made in the Control Panel are held in this key and its subkeys.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Accessibility
This key holds all the settings for the Accessibility applet in the Control Panel. These are normally set in the Control Panel, not in a Registry editor. The following lists the Registry keys corresponding to the accessibility options:
Keyboard Response
MouseKeys
ShowSounds
SoundSentry
StickyKeys
TimeOut
ToggleKeys
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Appearance
This key holds all the settings for the Appearance tab in the Display applet in the Control Panel. These are normally set in the Control Panel, not in a Registry editor.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Appearance\Schemes
This key lists the schemes available by default, plus any created by the user, and what each scheme includes as colors and fonts.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Colors
This key holds the settings for each default color in Windows NT. Each value (the color name) is listed as an RGB (Red, Green, Blue) value. For example, Black is 0 0 0, which means the red value is set to 0, the green value is set to 0, and the blue value is set to 0. White is on the opposite end of the spectrum at 255 255 255. Every other color is a combination of those RGB values. This setting also holds colors created by the user.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Current
This key holds the setting for the current color scheme for the current user.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Cursors
This key holds the cursor schemes available to the system by default, plus any that have been added by the user.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Cursors\Schemes
This key holds the file locations and names that make up the cursor schemes. The following schemes are in the key:
3D-Bronze
3D-White
Conductor
Dinosaur
Hands 1
Hands 2
Magnified
Old Fashioned
Variations
Windows Animated
Windows Default
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Custom Colors
This key holds the settings for up to 16 custom colors that can be created in Control Panel. The colors are created in the Display | Appearance with Other Colors.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
This key holds all the settings for the desktop, its appearance, and how the windows and menus will react to user input.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics
Specifics about the windows that appear onscreen are held in this key. It includes sizes and border widths and minimize/maximize properties.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\International
The Control Panel options for International settings are held in this key. These are normally set in the Control Panel, not in a Registry editor.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Keyboard
This key controls the keyboard options for lock activation, repeat delay, and repeat speed.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\MMCPL
This is a nonfunctional key relating to the Multimedia Control Panel applet.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Mouse
This key holds the mouse settings in the corresponding Control Panel applet.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Patterns
This key holds the default and custom pattern settings from Control Panel |
Display
|
Background | Pattern.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Screen Saver.3DFlyingObj
This key holds the settings for the 3D Flying Objects screen saver as set in Control Panel | Screen Saver | Settings.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Screen Saver.3Dpipes
This key holds the settings for the 3D Pipes screen saver as set in Control Panel | Screen Saver | Settings.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Screen Saver.Bezier
This key holds the settings for the Bezier screen saver as set in Control Panel | Screen Saver | Settings.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Screen Saver.Marquee
This key holds the settings for the Marquee screen saver as set in Control Panel | Screen Saver | Settings.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Screen Saver.Mystify
This key holds the settings for the Mystify screen saver as set in Control Panel | Screen Saver | Settings.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Screen Saver.Stars
This key holds the settings for the Stars screen saver as set in Control Panel | Screen Saver | Settings.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Sound
This key determines whether the system will beep on errors.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Environment
This key holds the environment settings, specifically the temporary file locations.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Keyboard Layout
The keyboard layout settings are set for the standard U.S. English QWERTY layout. If you choose to use an alternative layout, such as Dvorak, the number listed is different.
WARNING: Do not change the Keyboard Layout setting in the Registry Editor. It will make your keyboard respond incorrectly. Use only the Keyboard Control Panel applet to make keyboard changes.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
Software settings for installed applications are held in this setting. The current user has the settings for Microsoft NT applications, plus any other applications added to the system.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft
The settings for the Microsoft Windows NT and Windows 95 applications (32-bit) are set in this key, and shown in the following list. If other Microsoft applications are installed, they update the specific user's Microsoft key. The Microsoft items that are controlled by default are listed next:
Clock
Command Processor
File Manager
Internet Explorer
NetDDE
Ntbackup
RegEdt32
Schedule+
Windows
Windows Help
Windows NT
On my system, CompuServe 3.0 has been added, so a subkey was created for it. Every 32-bit application creates a subkey here.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows
The Windows key holds settings that are independent of Windows NT, but that are related to Windows. These settings are the same as in Windows 95, using the same drivers and functions.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
This key holds settings for the following items:
Explorer
GrpConv
Internet Settings
Multimedia
Policies
Telephony
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT
The Windows NT settings in this key are based on NT functions. Windows NT could not function without these settings, which establish the environment and the procedures for networking, user access, printers, fonts, and much more.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
This key holds specific information for the control of the Windows NT 4.0 functions. Inside this key, the subkeys listed next hold the settings for NT and its properties:
Devices
Extensions
Network
PrinterPorts
Program Manager
Shutdown
TaskManager
TrueType
Windows
Winlogon
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Network
This key determines whether settings made on the network are saved for the following items: Event Viewer
Persistent Connections
Server Manager
User Manager
User Manager for Domains
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Program Manager
This key holds the settings for several items for the 32-bit Program Manager included with Windows NT. The subkeys under Program Manager are listed next:
Common Groups
Restrictions
Settings
Unicode Groups
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
This setting controls the logon functions specific to this user for Windows NT.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\UNICODE Program Groups
The Unicode program groups are available only when using Program Manager. Explorer does not use them.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER allows programmers and developers easy access to the currently logged-on user's settings. By establishing this key, Microsoft made it very easy to make changes, additions, and settings without concern for the user's SID.
Each handle key has a purpose. The more you understand their contents, the better you can understand how NT works, how applications and hardware interface with the operating system, and how you can troubleshoot and fix problems that happen on your systems.
© Copyright, Macmillan Computer Publishing. All rights reserved.
