all programs empty

[Guest]

Hi,
I have several new machines that have XP Sp2 that I have set
up to log into our network. The problem is when I login as the
administrator the All Programs list is populated.
As soon as I login as any user, the registry is changed for EVERYONE
including the admin. The Common Start Menu is changed to
%SYSTEMROOT%\Documents and Settings\Allusers\Start Menu from
%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Documents and Settings\ALLUSERS\Start Menu.
I then have to edit the registry again to get it back.
I am as frustrated as can be and CAN'T figure out why this happens.

I have tried the http://windowsxp.mvps.org/allprograms.htm
and this has no affect.

Thanks, Larry

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Somehow your environment variables are messed up.

This is incorrect...
%SYSTEMROOT%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu

%SYSTEMROOT% is usually
C:\WINDOWS
or
%SystemDrive%\WINDOWS

%SystemDrive% is usually C:\ but can be any drive letter.

That equates to
C:\WINDOWS\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu
which is incorrect.

Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu is usually
%allusersprofile%\Start Menu
or
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu
or
%SystemDrive%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu

This is also incorrect...
%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Documents and Settings\ALLUSERS\Start Menu

%ALLUSERSPROFILE% is usually C:\Documents and Settings\All Users
or
%SystemDrive%\Documents and Settings\All Users

%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Documents and Settings\ALLUSERS\Start Menu
is like
%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu
which certainly is not correct.

You need to verify some things.

Open a command prompt...
Start | Run | Type: cmd | Click OK |
Type: set in the command prompt and hit Enter.

Look at:
ALLUSERSPROFILE=
APPDATA=
CommonProgramFiles=
HOMEDRIVE=
HOMEPATH=
ProgramFiles=
SystemDrive=
SystemRoot=
TEMP=
TMP=
USERPROFILE=
windir=

You can also paste these environment variables into Start | Run and see what
opens...
%ALLUSERSPROFILE% usually C:\Documents and Settings\All Users
%APPDATA% usually C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here\Application Data
%CommonProgramFiles% usually C:\Program Files\Common Files
%HOMEDRIVE% usually C:\
%HOMEPATH% usually C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here
%ProgramFiles% usually C:\Program Files
%SystemDrive% usually C:\
%SystemRoot% usually C:\WINDOWS or C:\WINNT
%TEMP% usually C:\DOCUME~1\Your Name\LOCALS~1\Temp
%TMP% usually C:\DOCUME~1\Your Name\LOCALS~1\Temp
%USERPROFILE% usually C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here
%windir% usually C:\WINDOWS

Also, when you right click the Start button and click Open,
C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here\Start Menu
should open.

Also, when you right click the Start button and click Open All Users,
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu
should open.

Open the Registry Editor...
Start | Run | Type: regedit | Click OK |
Navigate to >>>
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Explorer\User Shell Folders

1. Right click on User Shell Folders in the left hand pane and click on
Export.
2. Export Registry File dialog should open.
3. Click on the Desktop icon on the Places Bar (the left hand pane).
4. Type: User Shell Folders in the File name box.
5. Click On the Save as type V button.
6. Select Text Files (*.txt).
7. Click the Save button.
8. Close the Registry Editor.
9. Locate User Shell Folders.txt on your Desktop and double click it.
10. Hit Ctrl + A to select all of the text.
11. Hit Ctrl + C to copy all of the text.
12. Paste that text into a message and post back.

If somehow User Shell Folders got saved as User Shell Folders.reg, right
click it and rename it
to User Shell Folders.txt and click YES to the prompt that pops up.

Do the same for >>>
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

Call the file Shell Folders.

Copy and paste the contents of both User Shell Folders & Shell Folders in a
message and post back.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Guest]

Thanks for Reply.

User Shell Folders

Key Name:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders
Class Name: <NO CLASS>
Last Write Time: 10/24/2006 - 1:52 AM
Value 0
Name: AppData
Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ
Data: %USERPROFILE%\Application Data

Value 1
Name: Desktop
Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ
Data: %USERPROFILE%\Desktop

Value 2
Name: Favorites
Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ
Data: %USERPROFILE%\Favorites

Value 3
Name: NetHood
Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ
Data: %USERPROFILE%\NetHood

Value 4
Name: Personal
Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ
Data: %USERPROFILE%\My Documents

Value 5
Name: PrintHood
Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ
Data: %USERPROFILE%\PrintHood

Value 6
Name: Programs
Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ
Data: %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs

Value 7
Name: Recent
Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ
Data: %USERPROFILE%\Recent

Value 8
Name: SendTo
Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ
Data: %USERPROFILE%\SendTo

Value 9
Name: Start Menu
Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ
Data: %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu

Value 10
Name: Startup
Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ
Data: %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

Value 11
Name: Templates
Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ
Data: %USERPROFILE%\Templates

Value 12
Name: My Pictures
Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ
Data: %USERPROFILE%\My Documents\My Pictures

Value 13
Name: Local Settings
Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ
Data: %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings

Value 14
Name: Local AppData
Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ
Data: %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data

Value 15
Name: Cache
Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ
Data: %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files

Value 16
Name: Cookies
Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ
Data: %USERPROFILE%\Cookies

Value 17
Name: History
Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ
Data: %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\History


SHELL FOLDERS


Key Name:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell
Folders
Class Name: <NO CLASS>
Last Write Time: 3/1/2007 - 1:43 PM
Value 0
Name: Common AppData
Type: REG_SZ
Data: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data

Value 1
Name: Common Programs
Type: REG_SZ
Data: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs

Value 2
Name: Common Documents
Type: REG_SZ
Data: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents

Value 3
Name: Common Desktop
Type: REG_SZ
Data: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop

Value 4
Name: CommonPictures
Type: REG_SZ
Data: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Pictures

Value 5
Name: CommonMusic
Type: REG_SZ
Data: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Music

Value 6
Name: CommonVideo
Type: REG_SZ
Data: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Videos

Value 7
Name: Common Favorites
Type: REG_SZ
Data: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Favorites

Value 8
Name: Common Startup
Type: REG_SZ
Data: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start
Menu\Programs\Startup

Value 9
Name: Common Templates
Type: REG_SZ
Data: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Templates

Value 10
Name: Common Administrative Tools
Type: REG_SZ
Data: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start
Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools

Value 11
Name: Personal
Type: REG_SZ
Data: C:\Documents and Settings\tu\My Documents\

Value 12
Name: Common Start Menu
Type: REG_SZ
Data:



I noticed that the LOCAL MACHINE Common Start Menu is blank and I can
not save any changes to it.

Thanks, Larry

 

[Ayush]

LKret wrote ::

Value 12
Name: Common Start Menu
Type: REG_SZ
Data:



I noticed that the LOCAL MACHINE Common Start Menu is blank and I can
not save any changes to it.

Thanks, Larry

Change it here :
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders



Good Luck, Ayush.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the reply.

The User Shell Folders is already set here to %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Documents
and Settings\All Users\Start Menu

It's the Shell Folders Common Start Menu that is blank and will not save
any changes. I edit it and exit but when I go back into regedit the change is
not saved. I don't understand.

LKret wrote ::

Value 12
Name: Common Start Menu
Type: REG_SZ
Data:



I noticed that the LOCAL MACHINE Common Start Menu is blank and I can
not save any changes to it.

Thanks, Larry

Change it here :
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders



Good Luck, Ayush.

 

[Guest]

I apologize for a second post but I have a question. I only have this problem
with the 15 new machines that I'm installing XP on. I don't have this problem
with other XP machines in the building already. Is there any reason why
logging into a network as a normal user would change a registry setting?

Thanks again, Larry

LKret wrote ::

Value 12
Name: Common Start Menu
Type: REG_SZ
Data:



I noticed that the LOCAL MACHINE Common Start Menu is blank and I can
not save any changes to it.

Thanks, Larry

Change it here :
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders



Good Luck, Ayush.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Hi LKret,

The above in an invalid path. Set the "Common Start Menu" value as follows:

%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu

in the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

See also:

Reset the Shell Folders paths to defaults:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/usershellfolders.htm

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Thanks for the reply.

The User Shell Folders is already set here to %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Documents
and Settings\All Users\Start Menu

It's the Shell Folders Common Start Menu that is blank and will not save
any changes. I edit it and exit but when I go back into regedit the change is
not saved. I don't understand.

LKret wrote ::

Value 12
Name: Common Start Menu
Type: REG_SZ
Data:



I noticed that the LOCAL MACHINE Common Start Menu is blank and I can
not save any changes to it.

Thanks, Larry

Change it here :
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders



Good Luck, Ayush.

 

[Guest]

Thanks,

I reset as you said and I have it back for the Admin user.
But I still have a problem when I log out and then log in as a user.
Nothing pops up for All Programs.
The Local Machine Common Start Menu is set to
%SystemRoot%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu
and will stay that way when I log out as then log back in as the Admin
again. Now as the Admin the All Programs again is not popping up.
How is it that this one registry setting is being changed just because I
log on
as any normal user?

Thanks again, Larry

Hi LKret,

The above in an invalid path. Set the "Common Start Menu" value as follows:

%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu

in the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

See also:

Reset the Shell Folders paths to defaults:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/usershellfolders.htm

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Thanks for the reply.

The User Shell Folders is already set here to %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Documents
and Settings\All Users\Start Menu

It's the Shell Folders Common Start Menu that is blank and will not save
any changes. I edit it and exit but when I go back into regedit the change is
not saved. I don't understand.

LKret wrote ::

Value 12
Name: Common Start Menu
Type: REG_SZ
Data:



I noticed that the LOCAL MACHINE Common Start Menu is blank and I can
not save any changes to it.

Thanks, Larry

Change it here :
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders



Good Luck, Ayush.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Hi,

Tried the procedure written by Wesley?

<quote>

You need to verify some things.

Open a command prompt...
Start | Run | Type: cmd | Click OK |
Type: set in the command prompt and hit Enter.

Look at:
ALLUSERSPROFILE=
APPDATA=
CommonProgramFiles=
HOMEDRIVE=
HOMEPATH=
ProgramFiles=
SystemDrive=
SystemRoot=
TEMP=
TMP=
USERPROFILE=
windir=

You can also paste these environment variables into Start | Run and see what
opens...
%ALLUSERSPROFILE% usually C:\Documents and Settings\All Users
%APPDATA% usually C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here\Application Data
%CommonProgramFiles% usually C:\Program Files\Common Files
%HOMEDRIVE% usually C:\
%HOMEPATH% usually C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here
%ProgramFiles% usually C:\Program Files
%SystemDrive% usually C:\
%SystemRoot% usually C:\WINDOWS or C:\WINNT
%TEMP% usually C:\DOCUME~1\Your Name\LOCALS~1\Temp
%TMP% usually C:\DOCUME~1\Your Name\LOCALS~1\Temp
%USERPROFILE% usually C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here
%windir% usually C:\WINDOWS

Also, when you right click the Start button and click Open,
C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here\Start Menu
should open.

Also, when you right click the Start button and click Open All Users,
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu
should open.

</quote>

That would help us determine if this is a system variables problem or not.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Thanks,

I reset as you said and I have it back for the Admin user.
But I still have a problem when I log out and then log in as a user.
Nothing pops up for All Programs.
The Local Machine Common Start Menu is set to
%SystemRoot%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu
and will stay that way when I log out as then log back in as the Admin
again. Now as the Admin the All Programs again is not popping up.
How is it that this one registry setting is being changed just because I
log on
as any normal user?

Thanks again, Larry

Hi LKret,

The above in an invalid path. Set the "Common Start Menu" value as follows:

%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu

in the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

See also:

Reset the Shell Folders paths to defaults:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/usershellfolders.htm

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Thanks for the reply.

The User Shell Folders is already set here to %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Documents
and Settings\All Users\Start Menu

It's the Shell Folders Common Start Menu that is blank and will not save
any changes. I edit it and exit but when I go back into regedit the change is
not saved. I don't understand.

LKret wrote ::

Value 12
Name: Common Start Menu
Type: REG_SZ
Data:



I noticed that the LOCAL MACHINE Common Start Menu is blank and I can
not save any changes to it.

Thanks, Larry

Change it here :
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders



Good Luck, Ayush.

 

[Guest]

Yes. I checked all the Variables and they are set correctly as stated.
The problem seems to be that when I login as a normal user,
the registry setting for the LOCAL MACHINE User Shell Folders Common
Start Menu
gets changed from %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu to
%SystemRoot%\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Start Menu
which we know is incorrect and Equates to
C:\WINDOWS\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Start Menu

When I log off as the user and log back in as the Admin, the registry is
still incorrect
then and I have to manually chang it back.

Why would this happen?

Larry

Hi,

Tried the procedure written by Wesley?

<quote>

You need to verify some things.

Open a command prompt...
Start | Run | Type: cmd | Click OK |
Type: set in the command prompt and hit Enter.

Look at:
ALLUSERSPROFILE=
APPDATA=
CommonProgramFiles=
HOMEDRIVE=
HOMEPATH=
ProgramFiles=
SystemDrive=
SystemRoot=
TEMP=
TMP=
USERPROFILE=
windir=

You can also paste these environment variables into Start | Run and see what
opens...
%ALLUSERSPROFILE% usually C:\Documents and Settings\All Users
%APPDATA% usually C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here\Application Data
%CommonProgramFiles% usually C:\Program Files\Common Files
%HOMEDRIVE% usually C:\
%HOMEPATH% usually C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here
%ProgramFiles% usually C:\Program Files
%SystemDrive% usually C:\
%SystemRoot% usually C:\WINDOWS or C:\WINNT
%TEMP% usually C:\DOCUME~1\Your Name\LOCALS~1\Temp
%TMP% usually C:\DOCUME~1\Your Name\LOCALS~1\Temp
%USERPROFILE% usually C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here
%windir% usually C:\WINDOWS

Also, when you right click the Start button and click Open,
C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here\Start Menu
should open.

Also, when you right click the Start button and click Open All Users,
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu
should open.

</quote>

That would help us determine if this is a system variables problem or not.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Thanks,

I reset as you said and I have it back for the Admin user.
But I still have a problem when I log out and then log in as a user.
Nothing pops up for All Programs.
The Local Machine Common Start Menu is set to
%SystemRoot%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu
and will stay that way when I log out as then log back in as the Admin
again. Now as the Admin the All Programs again is not popping up.
How is it that this one registry setting is being changed just because I
log on
as any normal user?

Thanks again, Larry

Hi LKret,

%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu

The above in an invalid path. Set the "Common Start Menu" value as follows:

%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu

in the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

See also:

Reset the Shell Folders paths to defaults:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/usershellfolders.htm

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Thanks for the reply.

The User Shell Folders is already set here to %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Documents
and Settings\All Users\Start Menu

It's the Shell Folders Common Start Menu that is blank and will not save
any changes. I edit it and exit but when I go back into regedit the change is
not saved. I don't understand.

LKret wrote ::
Value 12
Name: Common Start Menu
Type: REG_SZ
Data:



I noticed that the LOCAL MACHINE Common Start Menu is blank and I can
not save any changes to it.

Thanks, Larry


Change it here :
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders



Good Luck, Ayush.

 

[Guest]

Any ideas?

Larry

Yes. I checked all the Variables and they are set correctly as stated.
The problem seems to be that when I login as a normal user,
the registry setting for the LOCAL MACHINE User Shell Folders Common
Start Menu
gets changed from %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu to
%SystemRoot%\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Start Menu
which we know is incorrect and Equates to
C:\WINDOWS\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Start Menu

When I log off as the user and log back in as the Admin, the registry is
still incorrect
then and I have to manually chang it back.

Why would this happen?

Larry

Hi,

Tried the procedure written by Wesley?

<quote>

You need to verify some things.

Open a command prompt...
Start | Run | Type: cmd | Click OK |
Type: set in the command prompt and hit Enter.

Look at:
ALLUSERSPROFILE=
APPDATA=
CommonProgramFiles=
HOMEDRIVE=
HOMEPATH=
ProgramFiles=
SystemDrive=
SystemRoot=
TEMP=
TMP=
USERPROFILE=
windir=

You can also paste these environment variables into Start | Run and see what
opens...
%ALLUSERSPROFILE% usually C:\Documents and Settings\All Users
%APPDATA% usually C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here\Application Data
%CommonProgramFiles% usually C:\Program Files\Common Files
%HOMEDRIVE% usually C:\
%HOMEPATH% usually C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here
%ProgramFiles% usually C:\Program Files
%SystemDrive% usually C:\
%SystemRoot% usually C:\WINDOWS or C:\WINNT
%TEMP% usually C:\DOCUME~1\Your Name\LOCALS~1\Temp
%TMP% usually C:\DOCUME~1\Your Name\LOCALS~1\Temp
%USERPROFILE% usually C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here
%windir% usually C:\WINDOWS

Also, when you right click the Start button and click Open,
C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here\Start Menu
should open.

Also, when you right click the Start button and click Open All Users,
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu
should open.

</quote>

That would help us determine if this is a system variables problem or not.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Thanks,

I reset as you said and I have it back for the Admin user.
But I still have a problem when I log out and then log in as a user.
Nothing pops up for All Programs.
The Local Machine Common Start Menu is set to
%SystemRoot%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu
and will stay that way when I log out as then log back in as the Admin
again. Now as the Admin the All Programs again is not popping up.
How is it that this one registry setting is being changed just because I
log on
as any normal user?

Thanks again, Larry

Hi LKret,

%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu

The above in an invalid path. Set the "Common Start Menu" value as follows:

%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu

in the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

See also:

Reset the Shell Folders paths to defaults:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/usershellfolders.htm

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Thanks for the reply.

The User Shell Folders is already set here to %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Documents
and Settings\All Users\Start Menu

It's the Shell Folders Common Start Menu that is blank and will not save
any changes. I edit it and exit but when I go back into regedit the change is
not saved. I don't understand.


:

LKret wrote ::
Value 12
Name: Common Start Menu
Type: REG_SZ
Data:



I noticed that the LOCAL MACHINE Common Start Menu is blank and I can
not save any changes to it.

Thanks, Larry


Change it here :
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders



Good Luck, Ayush.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Larry,

Standard users don't have Write access to the above key. Perhaps the "normal user" account you're referring to, is of type administrator?

Check the AllUsersProfile value in the registry.
See article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/214653

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Yes. I checked all the Variables and they are set correctly as stated.
The problem seems to be that when I login as a normal user,
the registry setting for the LOCAL MACHINE User Shell Folders Common
Start Menu
gets changed from %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu to
%SystemRoot%\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Start Menu
which we know is incorrect and Equates to
C:\WINDOWS\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Start Menu

When I log off as the user and log back in as the Admin, the registry is
still incorrect
then and I have to manually chang it back.

Why would this happen?

Larry

 

[Guest]

The AllUsersProfile value is set to "All Users".
The users accounts are also on a BSD server. They are not set up as
accounts on any XP machine and they are not set up as administrators
in BSD. I don't have this problem with Win2000 machines.
Either way, is there any way to not allow ANY changes to take place to the
registry setting for the LOCAL MACHINE User Shell Folders Common
Start Menu no matter who you are?

Thanks, Larry

Larry,

Standard users don't have Write access to the above key. Perhaps the "normal user" account you're referring to, is of type administrator?

Check the AllUsersProfile value in the registry.
See article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/214653

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Yes. I checked all the Variables and they are set correctly as stated.
The problem seems to be that when I login as a normal user,
the registry setting for the LOCAL MACHINE User Shell Folders Common
Start Menu
gets changed from %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu to
%SystemRoot%\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Start Menu
which we know is incorrect and Equates to
C:\WINDOWS\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Start Menu

When I log off as the user and log back in as the Admin, the registry is
still incorrect
then and I have to manually chang it back.

Why would this happen?

Larry

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

not allow ANY changes to take place to the registry setting for the LOCAL MACHINE User Shell Folders

Yes. You can give yourself "Read" access to a registry key, using Permissions. But finding the root cause is recommended. If you're using XP Pro, then you may set a registry audit to see if a third-party app is changing the values at every logon. See:

How to use Group Policy to configure auditing of Windows registry keys in XP Professional?:
http://www.winxptutor.com/auditreg.htm

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


The AllUsersProfile value is set to "All Users".
The users accounts are also on a BSD server. They are not set up as
accounts on any XP machine and they are not set up as administrators
in BSD. I don't have this problem with Win2000 machines.
Either way, is there any way to not allow ANY changes to take place to the
registry setting for the LOCAL MACHINE User Shell Folders Common
Start Menu no matter who you are?

Thanks, Larry

Larry,

Standard users don't have Write access to the above key. Perhaps the "normal user" account you're referring to, is of type administrator?

Check the AllUsersProfile value in the registry.
See article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/214653

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Yes. I checked all the Variables and they are set correctly as stated.
The problem seems to be that when I login as a normal user,
the registry setting for the LOCAL MACHINE User Shell Folders Common
Start Menu
gets changed from %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu to
%SystemRoot%\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Start Menu
which we know is incorrect and Equates to
C:\WINDOWS\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Start Menu

When I log off as the user and log back in as the Admin, the registry is
still incorrect
then and I have to manually chang it back.

Why would this happen?

Larry