Admin vs Other accounts (XP)

[Micus]

Hi All,

I've created a software package. I can install it (for everyone) in the
administrator account and it works great. I then switch to another
non-administrator account and open the application but the program fails to
read any values in the registry. I'm storing the value in the
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE. Can all users access this registry key? If not,
what root key should I put these values in? This is happening on a Win XP
machine, although I will need to have it install on a 2000 machine as well.

For those who are c++ Win32 savvy, here is the function:

double CRegistry::ReadString(cString strName, double fDefault)
{
HKEY m_hRootKey = HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE;
cString m_strCurrentPath = "Software\\MyApp\\Settings";
HKEY hKey;
DWORD dwType = REG_SZ;

if :RegOpenKeyEx(m_hRootKey, LPCTSTR(m_strCurrentPath.c_str()), 0,
KEY_READ, &hKey) != ERROR_SUCCESS) return fDefault;

if :RegQueryValueEx(hKey, LPCTSTR(strName.c_str()), NULL,
&dwType, (LPBYTE)&d, &dwSize) != ERROR_SUCCESS) d = fDefault;

return fDefault;
}

Thank you - Micus

 

[NewScience]

Most users cannot access that key unless Security Permissions are set for
Everyone to READ (at least).
If you want users to be able to copntrol their own environment, READ/WRITE
from HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MyApp\Settings

 

[Dave Patrick]

Try setting up failure auditing on the local machine hive. Run regedt32.exe
then browse to HKLM, then
Edit|Permissions|Advanced|Auditing|Add|"everyone"|OK then check the "Failed"
box on Full Control, Set Value, Create Subkey, Enumerate Subkey, Delete,
Create Link

Then try again logged on as a normal user. Then check the Event log security
for errors.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

 

[Micus]

Thanks for both of your responses. You've given me a starting point to
finding a solution. I've posted a similar question in the vc.language news
group and the response pointed to using HKEY_CURRENT_USER as well. I wish
there was a 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Everyone\Software' key...

Thanks again - Micus

 

[Dave Patrick]

You're welcome.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

 

[Micus]

If anyone's interested,

There were two problems and they weren't easy to find while switching
between accounts and trying to debug code. Opening a key in HKLM, as
implemented in my class using KEY_ALL_ACCESS, will fail when the app is
installed by the admin the called by a non-admin account. Solved this by
adding a GetAccessRights() method which finds the access allowed by the
user. All other registry interaction except the product key was placed in
HKCU. Everything seems to be humming along for now.

Regards,
M

You're welcome.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

Thanks for both of your responses. You've given me a starting point to
finding a solution. I've posted a similar question in the vc.language news
group and the response pointed to using HKEY_CURRENT_USER as well. I wish
there was a 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Everyone\Software' key...

Thanks again - Micus


fails
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