Dear All,

I know, to manage XP Start Menu options I can use the regedit and set the
specific key values. For example to force classic start menu:
NoSimpleStartMenu = 1.

I already have a script to set this value on each machine, but my first demo
machine was already set the classic start menu! I checked the registry
settings and I didn't find the value NoSimpleStartMenu! Also not if I search
in all registry data base!

I checked also the Group Policy using editor gpedit.msc, but the item
'Disable the new simple Start Menu' doesn't exist too!

My question: How does Windows save the selection of classic start menu if I
cannot find it in the registry and also not in the group policy?

I found also a lot of other settings, which are set in Windows but no
registry keys are created!

Regards
les

"leslie eldrige" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:51C19F4A-69A4-4D1B-BA44-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Dear All,
>
> I know, to manage XP Start Menu options I can use the regedit and set the
> specific key values. For example to force classic start menu:
> NoSimpleStartMenu = 1.
>
> I already have a script to set this value on each machine, but my first
> demo
> machine was already set the classic start menu! I checked the registry
> settings and I didn't find the value NoSimpleStartMenu! Also not if I
> search
> in all registry data base!
>
> I checked also the Group Policy using editor gpedit.msc, but the item
> 'Disable the new simple Start Menu' doesn't exist too!
>
> My question: How does Windows save the selection of classic start menu if
> I
> cannot find it in the registry and also not in the group policy?
>
> I found also a lot of other settings, which are set in Windows but no
> registry keys are created!
>
> Regards
> les
>


In the Group Policy console check User Configuration -> Administrative
Templates -> Start Menu and Taskbar. Look in the right hand pane for "Force
classic Start Menu".

Note: This policy setting is stored in this registry key with
NoSimpleStartMenu set to 1.
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Good luck

Nepatsfan

Thanks Nepatsfan, but ...

"Force classic Start Menu"
=>exists and is set to NOT CONFIGURED

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoSimpleStartMenu
=>doesn't exist in the registry!

In either case I can set the classic start menu manually using right mouse
click on the task => PROPERTIES => START MENU => enable CLASSIC START MENU
radio button.

It would be logical now, that windows creates the registry value
NoSimpleStartMenu and set it to 1 if I set the CLASSIC START MENU by
manually! But neither registry nor policy will be create or set!

My question is, where is the setting saved in Windows if not in registry or
policy? How does Windows manage the setting changes and why doesn't Windows
use the registry to save changes of settings?

Hope you understand now my question.

Regardsy
les

leslie eldrige laid this down on his screen :
> I know, to manage XP Start Menu options I can use the regedit and set the
> specific key values. For example to force classic start menu:
> NoSimpleStartMenu = 1.
>
> I already have a script to set this value on each machine, but my first demo
> machine was already set the classic start menu! I checked the registry
> settings and I didn't find the value NoSimpleStartMenu! Also not if I search
> in all registry data base!

To roll out a specific desktop setup, why not customize your own
default user profile?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/319974

As mentioned in the article, this can be specified for a local
computer, but can also be copied to a domain controller so that all
domain users logging onto a domain computer for the first time will get
the specified desktop instead of the default XP candy colors.

This will, of course, be applied only to new user profiles being
created, and not to the existing if this is what you are after.

--
/klaus

Hi Klaus,

Thanks for the answer.

It's no problem to change settings directly in the registry using a VBScript
(or VB.NET program). It works fine, but the questions are:
- is this the right way to change windows settings (all google results for
changing windows settings are often based on the registry change)?
- why doesn't window save the settings also in the registry if you change it
using windows GUI (e.g. PROPERTIES => START MENU => CLASSIC START MENU
enable radio button)? Where are saved the settings if not in the registry
(does Windows has an own data base out of registry)?

I want to create a program, which can be used to configure all machines (new
and existing), and I must be sure that it works correctly! For example if the
windows setting (e.g. classic start menu) is set but registry value doesn't
exist, then it should be correct if my application create the registry key
and set it to defined value!

PS: I see that I have also an another problem. If I change windows setting
using the GUI, then in the most cases I don't need a restart to see changes.
Bat If I set the same setting in the registry, then I need a restart to see
the changes on the machine! It would be nice to change all windows setting on
the same way as windows does it (whitout using the registry)! But how manage
Windows the settings?

Thanks
les