What for is that HKEY_USERS-section?

[my2001]

Hi!

If you import registry settings at T-12 state (e.g. using cmdlines.txt), the HKEY_CURRENT_USER-keys are imported into the default user's profile and therefore will later be available in all user profiles. Okay up to now.

My question: can I achieve the same by editing a msi-file/mst-file and writing down the desired keys in the "HKEY_USERS"-section of the msi editing tools? Is that HKEY_USERS section also imported into the defaults user's profile later on?

For example: can I add the Alcohol-registration-data to the HKEY_USERS-section and will it be available later on in every XP-user profile?

thx

[neophyte]

HKEY_USERS and HKEY_CURRENT_USER, as far as I'm aware, are essentially the same registry hives.

[wolfshade]

I made some reg tweaks with InstallRite and i always noticed the regs for one settings are changed in HKEY_USERS as well as in current user as well the difference is simple firts is for all users second is for curent user only. I dunnow what difference it would make cuz i dunnow wht the T-x setup stages are and wish i had a map and description of those.

I guess if u add it to HKEY_USERS it will be available for all (u too but make sure u install that soft before u add the reg so the soft wont overide the reg tweak but viceversa.

[Alanoll]

HKEY_USERS and the Default User profile are not the same.

The Default User (along with all other users) are in the HKEY_USERS hive, except under their SID. Look in regedit, you'll see what I mean.

During logon, it's the HKEY_USER hive that's active and controls its settings

[my2001]

i dunnow wht the T-x setup stages are and wish i had a map and description of those

Look there: Windows XP Setup Timeline

T-12 (like a countdown) means the stage when the WinXP setup routine indicates that there are 12 minutes left to install.

HKEY_USERS and the Default User profile are not the same.

The Default User (along with all other users) are in the HKEY_USERS hive, except under their SID. Look in regedit, you'll see what I mean.

During logon, it's the HKEY_USER hive that's active and controls its settings

Hhm, I don't see how this reply could answer my question, maybe I mixed up some technical terms. I'll try again: Some software packages store the registration key and other stuff on a per-user basis. So I thought I could use/edit the "HKEY_USER"-section in the msi-packages and save the per-user registry settings there just one time. (Like what must be happening in T-12 stage) My intention is the following: after WinXP is fully installed and I log on a user account the first time, the data from the HKEY_USERS-hive is imported in the current user profile and doesn't has to be entered for that specific user-account manually. Is this right?

[Alanoll]

sorry, I was telling someone else.....tyring to clarify their understanding.

as for yours.....

I still don't think it will work. But I'm not sure....worth a try. I'll look some, and if I find anything I'll post back.

[wolfshade]

U can put it in GuiRunOnce or RunEx anyway till u get a solution and get read of t-x stage problems

And 10x for the link i dunnow how did i overlooked it

[/\/\o\/\/]

@my2001,

You need to save those settings to the default user, so every NEW profile will get these settings.

the "default user" profile gets only "merged" the first time a user logs on.

the Users-key just keeps the hives for all users that did logon already (and the Default user) hence isn't usable for "All users Profile"-settings

gr /\/\o\/\/

[my2001]

You need to save those settings to the default user, so every NEW profile will get these settings.

But how can I achieve that, i.e. saving _registry_ settins to the "default user" so that those setting will be applied whenever a new user profile is created?

In the meantime I think this is only possible when importing registry files (.reg) during T-12 stage, according to Importing HKEY_CURRENT_USER Registry Tweaks. I've tested it and created a new key in the HKEY_USERS/.Default-section, but it wasn't imported to a newly created user account.

Moreover it seems that the HKEY-USERS/.Default-section in registry is only(?) used when there is no user logged on, i.e. when you see the logon screen.

But thanks for all ya help. I'm gonna use the advantages of T-12 stage to achieve my aim and cease wrestling with that msi-registry-sections.

[ThommiM]

I realize this is late but I think this is what you may be looking for.

http://www.dx21.com/HOME/ARTICLES/P2P/ARTICLE.ASP?CID=49

Cheers,

ThommiM