I just rebuilt this PC and loaded 'Windows XP Pro upgrade' using my old
Windows 98 disk as the qualifying product for upgrade.

After I finished all updates (close to 100 now), loaded Windows Live OneCare
on as my antivirus, and installed a HP Photosmart 8150 printer, I noticed a
new key in the registry. The path is as follows:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\OptionalComponents\]

It contains 3 subkeys: IMAIL, MAPI and MSFS. All have values of
"Installed=1" and MAPI has the additional value "NoChange=1"

Since this Key appeared only after updating to the Microsoft website, or
installing a Microsoft product, I cannot help but feel the key was created by
one of these events. I do not believe the HP printer is responsible as I have
had it installed previously, and this key was not there.

Why is this key created? What is this key used for?

Any informed insight will be appreciated; Please do not respond if you are
merely guessing.

Google is your friend:
MAPI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAPI
IMAIL Intelligent Mail (trademark of the United States Postal Service)
MSFS Microsoft Fax and Windows Messaging (as in the file "msfs.cnt")

You probably installed the Fax optional Windows component.

"cateyedude" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:81D273D1-8328-4E1C-8DC3-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I just rebuilt this PC and loaded 'Windows XP Pro upgrade' using my old
> Windows 98 disk as the qualifying product for upgrade.
>
> After I finished all updates (close to 100 now), loaded Windows Live
> OneCare
> on as my antivirus, and installed a HP Photosmart 8150 printer, I noticed
> a
> new key in the registry. The path is as follows:
>
> [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\OptionalComponents\]
>
> It contains 3 subkeys: IMAIL, MAPI and MSFS. All have values of
> "Installed=1" and MAPI has the additional value "NoChange=1"
>
> Since this Key appeared only after updating to the Microsoft website, or
> installing a Microsoft product, I cannot help but feel the key was created
> by
> one of these events. I do not believe the HP printer is responsible as I
> have
> had it installed previously, and this key was not there.
>
> Why is this key created? What is this key used for?
>
> Any informed insight will be appreciated; Please do not respond if you are
> merely guessing.

>"Colin Barnhorst" wrote:
>
> You probably installed the Fax optional Windows component.
>

I checked; Windows fax components are not installed.

So why is this key created? What is this key used for?

Do you think they are causing something not to work right? If there is no
problem for heaven's sake don't "fix" it. It is probably related to Windows
components of some sort (having to do with mail and messenger perhaps).

"cateyedude" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:23E75EAB-321A-48E8-876D-(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>>"Colin Barnhorst" wrote:
>>
>> You probably installed the Fax optional Windows component.
>>
>
> I checked; Windows fax components are not installed.
>
> So why is this key created? What is this key used for?
>
>
>
>

If you do not know the answer to my questions please do not respond to my post.

cateyedude wrote:
>> "Colin Barnhorst" wrote:
>>
>> You probably installed the Fax optional Windows component.
>>
>
> I checked; Windows fax components are not installed.
>
> So why is this key created? What is this key used for?

There are two possibilities:

1. Windows is training the key to like wherever it's put.
2. Everything has to be somewhere.

Less likely is that some problems installing fax support are mitigated by
having the fax installer merely MODIFY a registery entry rather than ADD the
entry. We've seen AV programs that refuse to permit ADDING a registry entry
but permit changing one that's there.

Well to Hell with you too, cat-dude. This is a public newsgroup and we all
try to help each other. At least I tried to help. Nobody else was.

"cateyedude" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:3C048193-207F-4397-B307-(E-Mail Removed)...
> If you do not know the answer to my questions please do not respond to my
> post.

"Colin Barnhorst" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Well to Hell with you too, cat-dude. This is a public newsgroup and we all
>try to help each other. At least I tried to help. Nobody else was.

And since broomstick-up-the-butt cat-dude posted that, your reply is
the only one posted.

I suspect, other than this one, it will be the last.