Need Help Retaining Registry Settings

[gecko]

I keep losing a setting I have to make every time I re-boot.
I am using XP SP2.

Seems in WExplorer, that I can't view any folders and sub-folders
under Documents and Settings>{User}>Local Settings. When I do a search
for 'Local Settings'again in WExplorer, it finds it just fine, but
the attributes for that folder are 'hidden' and 'Read-only'.

So I uncheck those two boxes, and click OK, and for the rest of my day
I can view what I couldn't before. However, I do notice that the
'Read-only' box remains checked and I can't get an uncheck to work.

BUT - when I re-boot the next day, I have to do it all over again.
I have tried the suggested Registry mod shown in Kelly's Korner.
I didn't spot anything else related in Google.

What am I missing?

Thanks

-GECKO

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I keep losing a setting I have to make every time I re-boot.
I am using XP SP2.

Seems in WExplorer, that I can't view any folders and sub-folders
under Documents and Settings>{User}>Local Settings. When I do a search
for 'Local Settings'again in WExplorer, it finds it just fine, but
the attributes for that folder are 'hidden' and 'Read-only'.

So I uncheck those two boxes, and click OK, and for the rest of my day
I can view what I couldn't before. However, I do notice that the
'Read-only' box remains checked and I can't get an uncheck to work.

BUT - when I re-boot the next day, I have to do it all over again.
I have tried the suggested Registry mod shown in Kelly's Korner.
I didn't spot anything else related in Google.

What am I missing?

Thanks

-GECKO

What makes you think that you need to change the registry? From your post it
seems that something is changing your folder attributes, which is related to
the file system, not the registry.

I can think of two approaches:
a) Using a process of elimination, find the application that keeps changing
the attributes.
b) Walk around the problem by resetting the attributes automatically at
logon time.

Option b) involves this:
- Click Start / Run / notepad "%UserProfile%\Start
Menu\Programs\Startup\netlogon.bat"{OK}
- Allow notepad.exe to create a new file.
- Type these lines:
@echo off
attrib -r -h "%UserProfile%\Local Settings"
- Save and close the file.
From now on the attributes of the "Local Settings" folder will be reset each
time you log on.

While following the above instructions, use copy/paste instead of retyping
the long strings that I quoted.

 

[gecko]

What makes you think that you need to change the registry? From your post it
seems that something is changing your folder attributes, which is related to
the file system, not the registry.

I can think of two approaches:
a) Using a process of elimination, find the application that keeps changing
the attributes.
b) Walk around the problem by resetting the attributes automatically at
logon time.

Option b) involves this:
- Click Start / Run / notepad "%UserProfile%\Start
Menu\Programs\Startup\netlogon.bat"{OK}
- Allow notepad.exe to create a new file.
- Type these lines:
@echo off
attrib -r -h "%UserProfile%\Local Settings"
- Save and close the file.
From now on the attributes of the "Local Settings" folder will be reset each
time you log on.

This did not work for me.

While following the above instructions, use copy/paste instead of retyping
the long strings that I quoted.

I did

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

You need to run the file manually from the Command Prompt so that you can
see what's wrong:
- Click Start / Run / cmd{OK}
- Type this command:
""%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\netlogon.bat"{Enter}
(with the double quotes!)
- Report what you see

 

[gecko]

You need to run the file manually from the Command Prompt so that you can
see what's wrong:
- Click Start / Run / cmd{OK}
- Type this command:
""%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\netlogon.bat"{Enter}
(with the double quotes!)
- Report what you see

I see
'""c:\Documents' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
-GECKO

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

One or more options/settings in an ever-growing number of third-party
applications may be disallowing the change(s) from "sticking". These include
but are not limited to Ad-aware Pro's Ad-Watch, Spybot Tea Timer,
SpywareBlaster, SpySweeper, Spyware Doctor, CounterSpy, AVG Anti-Spyware,
Norton AntiVirus, McAfee VirusScan and/or Antispyware, NOD32, and Zone Alarm
(Free, Pro, & Security Suite).

 

[gecko]

One or more options/settings in an ever-growing number of third-party
applications may be disallowing the change(s) from "sticking". These include
but are not limited to Ad-aware Pro's Ad-Watch, Spybot Tea Timer,
SpywareBlaster, SpySweeper, Spyware Doctor, CounterSpy, AVG Anti-Spyware,
Norton AntiVirus, McAfee VirusScan and/or Antispyware, NOD32, and Zone Alarm
(Free, Pro, & Security Suite).

Oh wow!

I'll just have to live with it I guess for now. I can at least do the
klutzy steps I outlined earlier to get access to the folders involved.
Also CCLEANER is a new program I have added, and it seems to clear the
folders I was concerned about.

Thanks
-GECKO

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

I'll just have to live with it I guess for now.

Or you could ascertain which of these applications is disallowing the change
and disable that function.

 

[gecko]

Or you could ascertain which of these applications is disallowing the change
and disable that function.

Actually, the only app in your list that I come close to is AVG Free.
-GECKO

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

The behavior could be caused by "leftovers" from an earlier install of,
e.g., a Norton or McAfee application, or uninstalling, e.g., Spybot without
having first fully disabled Spybot Tea Timer. All sorts of possibilities
here...

 

[gecko]

The behavior could be caused by "leftovers" from an earlier install of,
e.g., a Norton or McAfee application, or uninstalling, e.g., Spybot without
having first fully disabled Spybot Tea Timer. All sorts of possibilities
here...

That open's a wide door for sure. I wonder if wondrous CCleaner ls
the culprit?

Thanks

-GECKO

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Dunno.

Think your Registry needs "cleaning" or "repairing"? Read
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=28099 and draw your own conclusions.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Sorry, clumsy fingers, one double quote too many. Here is the correct
command:
"%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\netlogon.bat"{Enter}

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

[What's with all the Re:'s here?]

Sorry, clumsy fingers, one double quote too many. Here is the correct
command:
"%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\netlogon.bat"{Enter}

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

[What's with all the Re:'s here?]

It's a case of "re"-petitious references . . . best to ask the OP - he
generates them.

 

[gecko]

Sorry, clumsy fingers, one double quote too many. Here is the correct
command:
"%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\netlogon.bat"{Enter}

Well, first it told me that the system could not find the path
specified.

So I created a folder c:\Socuments and Settings\{user}\Start
Menu\Programs\Startup because that folder did not exist.

Of course since that folder is empty and devoid of any netlogon.bat,
then it said command not recognized. No surprise I guess.

I searched entire drive for a batch file 'netlogon.bat' to no avail. I
searched the entire drive on two other machines I have going - still
no file found. Unless the file is hidden and protected from view, I
don't have it.

What next?

Thanks

-GECKO

 

[gecko]

[What's with all the Re:'s here?]

It's a case of "re"-petitious references . . . best to ask the OP - he
generates them.

OK I will try to eliminate all but one for this string of responses.
-GECKO

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Well, first it told me that the system could not find the path
specified.

So I created a folder c:\Socuments and Settings\{user}\Start
Menu\Programs\Startup because that folder did not exist.

Of course since that folder is empty and devoid of any netlogon.bat,
then it said command not recognized. No surprise I guess.

I searched entire drive for a batch file 'netlogon.bat' to no avail. I
searched the entire drive on two other machines I have going - still
no file found. Unless the file is hidden and protected from view, I
don't have it.

What next?

Thanks

-GECKO

You generated the file yourself if you followed my first reply. Here it is
again:
Option b) involves this:
- Click Start / Run / notepad "%UserProfile%\Start
Menu\Programs\Startup\netlogon.bat"{OK}
- Allow notepad.exe to create a new file.
- Type these lines:
@echo off
attrib -r -h "%UserProfile%\Local Settings"
- Save and close the file.

Perhaps I need to break down these steps further:
- Click Start
- Click Run
- Type this:
notepad "%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\netlogon.bat"
- Click OK
- Allow notepad.exe to create a new file.
- Type these lines:
@echo off
attrib -r -h "%UserProfile%\Local Settings"
- Save and close the file.

If you follow these instructions literally then you will have a file called
"netlogon.bat", residing in the Startup folder.