What is origin of power options for new users on WinXP?

[Pat Coghlan]

I had thought that the registry settings \HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control
Panel\PowerCfg\... were used to initialize the power settings when a
user logs on for the first time under WinXP.

After trying a few experiments, it appears that new users do not inherit
their power settings in this manner. I noticed the following:

1) The setting of CurrentPowerPolicy for .DEFAULT seems to have no
effect on existing or new users; and
2) If I customize my own power scheme and rename it, the name is
visible in the power options control panel and I can find it in the
registry under \CURRENT USER\ and \S-1-5-21-xxxxx\ when logged on as
myself, but it disappears from the registry when I'm logged on under
another account.

So the $64K question is, where are these setting stored when not logged
on and what template is used to initialize them for new users?

 

[Haggis]

I had thought that the registry settings \HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control
Panel\PowerCfg\... were used to initialize the power settings when a user
logs on for the first time under WinXP.

After trying a few experiments, it appears that new users do not inherit
their power settings in this manner. I noticed the following:

1) The setting of CurrentPowerPolicy for .DEFAULT seems to have no effect
on existing or new users; and
2) If I customize my own power scheme and rename it, the name is visible
in the power options control panel and I can find it in the registry under
\CURRENT USER\ and \S-1-5-21-xxxxx\ when logged on as myself, but it
disappears from the registry when I'm logged on under another account.

So the $64K question is, where are these setting stored when not logged on
and what template is used to initialize them for new users?

I think this is what you are looking for...

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/customprofile.htm

 

[Pat Coghlan]

I think this is what you are looking for...

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/customprofile.htm

I can't believe I've been working with Windows for years and never
realized that the contents of \Default User\ were used to "seed" the
user folder & settings following initial login! I always thought this
was what \HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\ was for.

If I could send you a beer, I would

Much obliged! After reading dozens of messages related to fiddling with
the registry, yours was the most useful!

-Pat

 

[Haggis]

Glad to help!

I can't believe I've been working with Windows for years and never
realized that the contents of \Default User\ were used to "seed" the user
folder & settings following initial login! I always thought this was what
\HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\ was for.

If I could send you a beer, I would

Much obliged! After reading dozens of messages related to fiddling with
the registry, yours was the most useful!

-Pat