Current User reg file causing problems

[WadeV1589]

If I apply the following registry changes at the T-13 stage so they become global Installshield applications in Windows (once setup is complete) seems to fail. It took me ages to work out what was causing it, I separated my registry files and in the end it was applying this registry file that causes the problem.

Just to clarify, if these settings are applied at the T-13 stage Installshield installations tend to fail (most notably in VMware, you can't install the tools, you get "Invalid command line parameters").

Anyone know what could possibly be causing this?

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Pathfinder]
"AutoClose"=dword:00000000
"ExcludeBots"=dword:00000001
"IncludeEmptyServers"=dword:00000000
"Speed"=dword:00000004

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\BrowseNewProcess]
"BrowseNewProcess"="yes"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\CleanupWiz]
"NoRun"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
"AllowWindowReuse"=dword:00000000
"Anchor Underline"="hover"
"Friendly http errors"="no"
"NotifyDownloadComplete"="no"
"Show image placeholders"=dword:00000001
"ShowGoButton"="no"
"Use FormSuggest"="yes"
"Use Search Asst"="no"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\WebView\BarricadedFolders]
"shell:ControlPanelFolder"=dword:00000000
"shell:ProgramFiles"=dword:00000000
"shell:System"=dword:00000000
"shell:SystemDriveRootFolder"=dword:00000000
"shell:Windows"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"Hidden"=dword:00000001
"ShowCompColor"=dword:00000001
"HideFileExt"=dword:00000000
"DontPrettyPath"=dword:00000000
"ShowInfoTip"=dword:00000001
"HideIcons"=dword:00000000
"MapNetDrvBtn"=dword:00000000
"WebView"=dword:00000001
"Filter"=dword:00000000
"SuperHidden"=dword:00000000
"SeparateProcess"=dword:00000000
"ListviewAlphaSelect"=dword:00000001
"ListviewShadow"=dword:00000001
"ListviewWatermark"=dword:00000001
"TaskbarAnimations"=dword:00000001
"StartMenuInit"=dword:00000002
"StartButtonBalloonTip"=dword:00000002
"NoNetCrawling"=dword:00000001
"FolderContentsInfoTip"=dword:00000001
"FriendlyTree"=dword:00000000
"WebViewBarricade"=dword:00000000
"DisableThumbnailCache"=dword:00000000
"ShowSuperHidden"=dword:00000000
"ClassicViewState"=dword:00000000
"PersistBrowsers"=dword:00000000
"Start_ShowNetConn"=dword:00000002
"Start_LargeMFUIcons"=dword:00000000
"Start_MinMFU"=dword:00000000
"Start_ShowControlPanel"=dword:00000002
"Start_EnableDragDrop"=dword:00000001
"StartMenuFavorites"=dword:00000000
"Start_ShowHelp"=dword:00000000
"Start_ShowMyComputer"=dword:00000002
"Start_ShowMyDocs"=dword:00000002
"Start_ShowMyMusic"=dword:00000002
"Start_ShowMyPics"=dword:00000000
"Start_ShowPrinters"=dword:00000001
"Start_ShowRun"=dword:00000001
"Start_ScrollPrograms"=dword:00000000
"Start_ShowSearch"=dword:00000001
"Start_ShowRecentDocs"=dword:00000000
"Start_AutoCascade"=dword:00000001
"Start_NotifyNewApps"=dword:00000000
"Start_AdminToolsRoot"=dword:00000000
"StartMenuAdminTools"=dword:00000000
"TaskbarSizeMove"=dword:00000001
"TaskbarGlomming"=dword:00000001
"CascadeNetworkConnections"="YES"
"EnableBalloonTips"=dword:00000000
"Start_ShowNetPlaces_ShouldShow"=dword:00000041
"ServerAdminUI"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]
"{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}"=dword:00000000
"{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}"=dword:00000000
"{450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}"=dword:00000000
"{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}"=dword:00000000
"{871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D}"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\AnimateMinMax]
"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\ComboBoxAnimation]
"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\CursorShadow]
"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\DragFullWindows]
"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\DropShadow]
"DefaultValue"=dword:00000001
"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\FontSmoothing]
"DefaultValue"=dword:00000001
"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\ListBoxSmoothScrolling]
"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\ListviewAlphaSelect]
"DefaultValue"=dword:00000001
"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\ListviewShadow]
"DefaultValue"=dword:00000001
"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\ListviewWatermark]
"DefaultValue"=dword:00000001
"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\MenuAnimation]
"DefaultValue"=dword:00000001
"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\SelectionFade]
"DefaultValue"=dword:00000001
"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\TaskbarAnimations]
"DefaultValue"=dword:00000001
"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\Themes]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\TooltipAnimation]
"DefaultValue"=dword:00000001
"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\WebView]
"DefaultApplied"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DontShowMeThisDialogAgain]
"WarnBeforeCloseBand"="no"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoRecentDocsMenu"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell]
"BagMRU Size"=dword:00001F40
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam]
"BagMRU Size"=dword:00001F40
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoSaveSettings"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings]
"MaxConnectionsPerServer"=dword:00000005

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"FontSmoothing"="2"
"FontSmoothingType"=dword:00000002
[HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop]
"FontSmoothingType"=dword:00000002
"FontSmoothing"="2"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MSNMessenger]
"AppSettings"=hex:02,02,01,00
"DisableTabs"=hex:01,00,00,00
"InstalledMSNCertificate"=dword:00000000
"RTCTuned"=dword:00000001
"ShowCustomEmoticons"=hex:01,00,00,00
"TaskListState"=hex:03,00,00,00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]
"IconUnderline"=hex:1C,00,00,00
"SearchSystemDirs"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\CTF\LangBar]
"ShowStatus"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\AutoComplete]
"Append Completion"="yes"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Ftp]
"Use Web Based FTP"="no"
"Use PASV"="yes"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CabinetState]
"FullPath"=dword:00000000
"FullPathAddress"=dword:00000001
"Use Search Asst"="no"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
"NeroFilterCheck"=-
"DownloadAccelerator"=-

[[BM]Crusher]

no idea

but i did copy a bunch of your reg tweaks into my own file hehe... now maybe i will get the same problems?

i was thinking it could be something to do with service pack 2 if you have it on your disk?

[WadeV1589]

I haven't put SP2 in yet, I'm waiting for the final, basically I've been getting this CD ready for when SP2 comes out then I'll do a complete wipe to start fresh then; my PC is getting more and more picky each day (read: explorer loves to crash).

[[BM]Crusher]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\BrowseNewProcess]

"BrowseNewProcess"="yes"

what does that do?

with that program you are talking about, what stage does it crash at?

[WadeV1589]

Launches folder windows in a separate process, uses more memory but if one crashes the rest don't.

And I think you crossed two things I said, if I apply those registry settings it seems to break most Installshield apps, they just refuse to install.

[[BM]Crusher]

if it is definitely a registry tweak it shouldn't be too hard to work it out...

use virtual pc, do a fresh install with NO reg tweaks... then split your reg tweak file up into a bunch of little reg tweak files... apply them one by one and test install-shield as you go...

[WadeV1589]

Except if I do that it works fine...I can apply this registry file once Windows is fully installed without problems, it's when it's applied at the T-13 stage - which it needs to be to affect all users.

[GreenMachine]

You are trying to debug too much: that's a lot of tweaks to define as guilty. Split the file in two, do two test installations. Take the bad install, split the file in two, do two installations. Take the bad install, split the file in two, do two installations. Take the bad install, split the file in two, do two installations. ...

I suspect it is only one of those tweaks causing problems. The B-Tree and trial and error will find the tweak in question, simply and surely.

[WadeV1589]

I've thought about that, but seen as each install takes 20 minutes and is repetative I thought I should post here first see if someone recognises the problem before I go spending a day re-installing Windows again!

[GreenMachine]

Sure, it takes time, but minimal user intervention is required. Something to do while watching Portugal ... It is the only way to know for sure.

[WadeV1589]

I hope to god you aren't suggesting I watch football!

[GreenMachine]

I find it slightly less boring than XP install screens ...

[WadeV1589]

Well I just did an install with the minimal HKCU changes and it still made it fail...so right now I'm going to apply totally inactive settings to HKCU and see if it causes it to fail, if it does I have a serious problem going on here!

[WadeV1589]

I'm not insane right? This code could not possibly cause this problem could it? As you can see it sets up a non Windows piece of software and MSN Messenger and I'm getting the problem!

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Pathfinder]
"AutoClose"=dword:00000000
"ExcludeBots"=dword:00000001
"IncludeEmptyServers"=dword:00000000
"Speed"=dword:00000004

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MSNMessenger]
"AppSettings"=hex:02,02,01,00
"DisableTabs"=hex:01,00,00,00
"InstalledMSNCertificate"=dword:00000000
"RTCTuned"=dword:00000001
"ShowCustomEmoticons"=hex:01,00,00,00
"TaskListState"=hex:03,00,00,00
"AlwaysOnTop"=hex:00,00,00,00
"CrossPromoRefreshLogon"=hex:01,00,00,00
"DSBkgndMode"=hex:01,00,00,00
"MobileFilter"=hex:01,00,00,00
"SharePassportCredentials"=hex:00,00,00,00
"ShowCustomEmoticons"=hex:01,00,00,00
"ShowEmoticons"=hex:01,00,00,00

It seems that the second I modify the HKCU stuff at T-13 it breaks something! I've had HKLM stuff going in before but added that in post-install and it failed then so I instantly got rid of that as a potential problem. I am totally lost now!

[GreenMachine]

I do plenty of HKCU stuff at T-13 with no problem. I doubt that MSN would be the cause (but it could be), but I do not know Pathfinder. Like I said, it could be anything, and you seem damned close to pinpointing it. Could also be a typo, invalid value, etc ...

And please, allow me a gratuity! The view from France right now is the XP Setup screens may not be less boring to UK fans than football! But it did give me the immense joy of watching my son jump up in extasy!