REG_SZ vs REG_EXPAND_SZ data types for %SystemRoot% in registry

F

FUBARinSFO

Hi folks:

In the course of tracking down the cause of external commands not
executing in command windows, I fixed the problem by changing the data
type of the PATH environment variable in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM
\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment from REG_SZ to
REG_EXPAND_SZ (thank you Bill Stewart at http://internet.cybermesa.com/~bstewart/cmdprompt.html#6
and Wesley Vogel here)

However, it turns out on further inspection that there are some,
perhaps many (4 in one system, 637 in another) registry entries
containing the string '%SystemRoot%' or other expansion environment
variable in its with data type REG_SZ. I've inluded smoe of the data
below in this note.

1. Should all the entries with data type REG_SZ data be changed to
REG_EXPAND_SZ?

2. In the cases where therer are hundreds, is there any tool to do
this with?

3. Does anybody have any idea how this might have come about?

Thank you in advance for your help.

-- Roy Zider

working on systemroot problem
5:29 PM 6/21/2007 lsz

Key name

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID
\{540D8A8B-1C3F-4E32-8132-530F6A502090}
Name (Default)
Type REG_SZ
Data Lauguage bar

Name MenuTextPUI
Type REG_SZ
Data @%SystemRoot%\System32\msutb.dll,-325

Above key as exported (file K7NFULL1.TXT, ANSI now not Unicode)
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID
\{540D8A8B-1C3F-4E32-8132-530F6A502090}
@="Language bar"
"MenuTextPUI"="@%SystemRoot%\\System32\\msutb.dll,-325"

Searching K7N registry....
Using exported file K7NFULL1.TXT

Search term: %;
Found 1 hit:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\HTMLHelp\1.x]
"EnforcedDirectories"="%WINDIR%;%ProgramFiles%\\Movie Maker"

Search term: %\\\
No hits

Search term: %\\
4 hits:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID
\{540D8A8B-1C3F-4E32-8132-530F6A502090
@="Language bar"
"MenuTextPUI"="@%SystemRoot%\\System32\\msutb.dll,-325"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\rtsp\DefaultIcon]
@="%SystemRoot%\\system32\\url.dll,0"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\HTMLHelp\1.x]
"EnforcedDirectories"="%WINDIR%;%ProgramFiles%\\Movie Maker"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Intelligent Search\RNL\1.0]
"LoggingWanted"=dword:00000000
"LoggingPath"="%TEMP%\\rnl_log.txt"

Check out the four keys for data type -- all are REG_SZ.


Now search current TOOT registry ...
Use file regfull.txt

Search term: %;

Found 1 hit:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\HTMLHelp\1.x]
"EnforcedDirectories"="%WINDIR%;%ProgramFiles%\\Movie Maker"

Search term: %\\\
No hits

Search term: %\\
637 hits:
Showing first ten only:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Applications\WINWORD.EXE
\TaskbarExceptionsIcon

s\explorer.exe,16]
@="%ProgramFiles%\\Microsoft Office\\Office10\\OUTLOOK.EXE"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID
\{540D8A8B-1C3F-4E32-8132-530F6A502090}]
@="Language bar"
"MenuTextPUI"="@%SystemRoot%\\System32\\msutb.dll,-325"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\rtsp\DefaultIcon]
@="%SystemRoot%\\system32\\url.dll,0"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\HTMLHelp\1.x]
"EnforcedDirectories"="%WINDIR%;%ProgramFiles%\\Movie Maker"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet

Explorer\Extensions\{e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583}]
"CLSID"="{1FBA04EE-3024-11d2-8F1F-0000F87ABD16}"
"Exec"="%windir%\\Network Diagnostic\\xpnetdiag.exe"
"MenuText"="@xpsp3res.dll,-20001"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Control

Panel\Extended Properties\{305CA226-D286-468e-B848-2B2E8E697B74} 2]
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\Firewall.cpl"="3,10"
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\wscui.cpl"=dword:ffffffff
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\NetSetup.cpl"=dword:00000003
"C:\\Program Files\\Common Files\\Microsoft

Shared\\Speech\\sapi.cpl"=dword:00000004
"%SystemRoot%\\System32\\wuaucpl.cpl"=dword:0000000a
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\appwiz.cpl"=dword:00000008
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\access.cpl"=dword:00000007
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\bthprops.cpl"="2,3"
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\desk.cpl"=dword:00000001
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\hdwwiz.cpl"=dword:ffffffff
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\inetcpl.cpl"="3,10"
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\intl.cpl"=dword:00000006
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\irprops.cpl"=dword:00000002
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\joy.cpl"=dword:00000002
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\main.cpl"=dword:00000002
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\mmsys.cpl"=dword:00000004
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\ncpa.cpl"=dword:00000003
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\nwc.cpl"=dword:00000000
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\nusrmgr.cpl"=dword:00000009
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\odbccp32.cpl"=dword:00000000
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\powercfg.cpl"=dword:00000005
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\sysdm.cpl"="5"
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\telephon.cpl"=dword:00000002
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\timedate.cpl"=dword:00000006

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
\AutoplayHand

lers\Handlers\MSCDBurningOnArrival]
"DefaultIcon"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,
00,52,00,6f,00,6f,\
00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,
00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,\
53,00,48,00,45,00,4c,00,4c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,
00,2d,\
00,35,00,00,00
"Action"="@%SystemRoot%\\system32\\SHELL32.dll,-17169"
"Provider"="@%SystemRoot%\\system32\\SHELL32.dll,-17170"
"InvokeProgID"="Folder"
"InvokeVerb"="open"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
\AutoplayHand

lers\Handlers\MSOpenFolder]
"DefaultIcon"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,
00,52,00,6f,00,6f,\
00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,
00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,\
53,00,48,00,45,00,4c,00,4c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,
00,2d,\
00,35,00,00,00
"Action"="@%SystemRoot%\\system32\\SHELL32.dll,-17154"
"Provider"="@%SystemRoot%\\system32\\SHELL32.dll,-17155"
"InvokeProgID"="Folder"
"InvokeVerb"="open"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
\AutoplayHand

lers\Handlers\MSPrintPicturesOnArrival]
"DefaultIcon"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,
00,52,00,6f,00,6f,\
00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,
00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,\
53,00,48,00,45,00,4c,00,4c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,
00,2d,\
00,31,00,37,00,00,00
"Action"="@%SystemRoot%\\system32\\SHELL32.dll,-17158"
"Provider"="@%SystemRoot%\\system32\\SHELL32.dll,-17159"
"InvokeProgID"="Applications\\shimgvw.dll"
"InvokeVerb"="print"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
\AutoplayHand

lers\Handlers\MSSHAudioDevHandler]
@=""
"Action"="@%SystemRoot%\\system32\\audiodev.dll,-500"
"Provider"="@%SystemRoot%\\system32\\audiodev.dll,-501"
"DefaultIcon"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,
00,52,00,6f,00,6f,\
00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,
00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,\
61,00,75,00,64,00,69,00,6f,00,64,00,65,00,76,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,
00,2c,\
00,2d,00,35,00,30,00,00,00
"ProgID"="Shell.HWEventHandlerShellExecute"
"InitCmdLine"="::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\\::
{640167b4-59b0-47a6-b335

-a6b3c0695aea}"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
\AutoplayHand

lers\Handlers\MSShowPicturesOnArrival]
"DefaultIcon"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,
00,52,00,6f,00,6f,\
00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,
00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,\
53,00,48,00,45,00,4c,00,4c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,
00,2d,\
00,32,00,34,00,39,00,00,00
"Action"="@%SystemRoot%\\system32\\SHELL32.dll,-17156"
"Provider"="@%SystemRoot%\\system32\\SHELL32.dll,-17157"
"InvokeProgID"="Shell.AutoplayForSlideShow.1"
"InvokeVerb"="open"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
\AutoplayHand

lers\Handlers\MSTakeNoAction]
"DefaultIcon"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,
00,52,00,6f,00,6f,\
00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,
00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,\
53,00,48,00,45,00,4c,00,4c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,
00,2d,\
00,33,00,33,00,38,00,00,00
"Action"="@%SystemRoot%\\system32\\SHELL32.dll,-17168"
"Provider"="<TakeNoAction>"
"ProgID"="Shell.AutoplaySpecial"
 
R

Ramesh, MS-MVP

Hi FUBARinSFO,

Technically, they should be REG_EXPAND_SZ. However, it depends on the program that reads the value data. Programs can automatically expand the environment strings and use it internally. The point is, if you don't face any problems (apart from the PATH issue), you may leave those registry values as they are.

--
Regards,

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


Hi folks:

In the course of tracking down the cause of external commands not
executing in command windows, I fixed the problem by changing the data
type of the PATH environment variable in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM
\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment from REG_SZ to
REG_EXPAND_SZ (thank you Bill Stewart at http://internet.cybermesa.com/~bstewart/cmdprompt.html#6
and Wesley Vogel here)

However, it turns out on further inspection that there are some,
perhaps many (4 in one system, 637 in another) registry entries
containing the string '%SystemRoot%' or other expansion environment
variable in its with data type REG_SZ. I've inluded smoe of the data
below in this note.

1. Should all the entries with data type REG_SZ data be changed to
REG_EXPAND_SZ?

2. In the cases where therer are hundreds, is there any tool to do
this with?

3. Does anybody have any idea how this might have come about?

Thank you in advance for your help.

-- Roy Zider

working on systemroot problem
5:29 PM 6/21/2007 lsz

Key name

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID
\{540D8A8B-1C3F-4E32-8132-530F6A502090}
Name (Default)
Type REG_SZ
Data Lauguage bar

Name MenuTextPUI
Type REG_SZ
Data @%SystemRoot%\System32\msutb.dll,-325

Above key as exported (file K7NFULL1.TXT, ANSI now not Unicode)
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID
\{540D8A8B-1C3F-4E32-8132-530F6A502090}
@="Language bar"
"MenuTextPUI"="@%SystemRoot%\\System32\\msutb.dll,-325"

Searching K7N registry....
Using exported file K7NFULL1.TXT

Search term: %;
Found 1 hit:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\HTMLHelp\1.x]
"EnforcedDirectories"="%WINDIR%;%ProgramFiles%\\Movie Maker"

Search term: %\\\
No hits

Search term: %\\
4 hits:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID
\{540D8A8B-1C3F-4E32-8132-530F6A502090
@="Language bar"
"MenuTextPUI"="@%SystemRoot%\\System32\\msutb.dll,-325"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\rtsp\DefaultIcon]
@="%SystemRoot%\\system32\\url.dll,0"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\HTMLHelp\1.x]
"EnforcedDirectories"="%WINDIR%;%ProgramFiles%\\Movie Maker"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Intelligent Search\RNL\1.0]
"LoggingWanted"=dword:00000000
"LoggingPath"="%TEMP%\\rnl_log.txt"

Check out the four keys for data type -- all are REG_SZ.


Now search current TOOT registry ...
Use file regfull.txt

Search term: %;

Found 1 hit:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\HTMLHelp\1.x]
"EnforcedDirectories"="%WINDIR%;%ProgramFiles%\\Movie Maker"

Search term: %\\\
No hits

Search term: %\\
637 hits:
Showing first ten only:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Applications\WINWORD.EXE
\TaskbarExceptionsIcon

s\explorer.exe,16]
@="%ProgramFiles%\\Microsoft Office\\Office10\\OUTLOOK.EXE"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID
\{540D8A8B-1C3F-4E32-8132-530F6A502090}]
@="Language bar"
"MenuTextPUI"="@%SystemRoot%\\System32\\msutb.dll,-325"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\rtsp\DefaultIcon]
@="%SystemRoot%\\system32\\url.dll,0"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\HTMLHelp\1.x]
"EnforcedDirectories"="%WINDIR%;%ProgramFiles%\\Movie Maker"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet

Explorer\Extensions\{e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583}]
"CLSID"="{1FBA04EE-3024-11d2-8F1F-0000F87ABD16}"
"Exec"="%windir%\\Network Diagnostic\\xpnetdiag.exe"
"MenuText"="@xpsp3res.dll,-20001"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Control

Panel\Extended Properties\{305CA226-D286-468e-B848-2B2E8E697B74} 2]
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\Firewall.cpl"="3,10"
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\wscui.cpl"=dword:ffffffff
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\NetSetup.cpl"=dword:00000003
"C:\\Program Files\\Common Files\\Microsoft

Shared\\Speech\\sapi.cpl"=dword:00000004
"%SystemRoot%\\System32\\wuaucpl.cpl"=dword:0000000a
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\appwiz.cpl"=dword:00000008
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\access.cpl"=dword:00000007
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\bthprops.cpl"="2,3"
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\desk.cpl"=dword:00000001
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\hdwwiz.cpl"=dword:ffffffff
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\inetcpl.cpl"="3,10"
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\intl.cpl"=dword:00000006
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\irprops.cpl"=dword:00000002
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\joy.cpl"=dword:00000002
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\main.cpl"=dword:00000002
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\mmsys.cpl"=dword:00000004
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\ncpa.cpl"=dword:00000003
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\nwc.cpl"=dword:00000000
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\nusrmgr.cpl"=dword:00000009
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\odbccp32.cpl"=dword:00000000
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\powercfg.cpl"=dword:00000005
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\sysdm.cpl"="5"
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\telephon.cpl"=dword:00000002
"%SystemRoot%\\system32\\timedate.cpl"=dword:00000006

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
\AutoplayHand

lers\Handlers\MSCDBurningOnArrival]
"DefaultIcon"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,
00,52,00,6f,00,6f,\
00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,
00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,\
53,00,48,00,45,00,4c,00,4c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,
00,2d,\
00,35,00,00,00
"Action"="@%SystemRoot%\\system32\\SHELL32.dll,-17169"
"Provider"="@%SystemRoot%\\system32\\SHELL32.dll,-17170"
"InvokeProgID"="Folder"
"InvokeVerb"="open"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
\AutoplayHand

lers\Handlers\MSOpenFolder]
"DefaultIcon"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,
00,52,00,6f,00,6f,\
00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,
00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,\
53,00,48,00,45,00,4c,00,4c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,
00,2d,\
00,35,00,00,00
"Action"="@%SystemRoot%\\system32\\SHELL32.dll,-17154"
"Provider"="@%SystemRoot%\\system32\\SHELL32.dll,-17155"
"InvokeProgID"="Folder"
"InvokeVerb"="open"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
\AutoplayHand

lers\Handlers\MSPrintPicturesOnArrival]
"DefaultIcon"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,
00,52,00,6f,00,6f,\
00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,
00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,\
53,00,48,00,45,00,4c,00,4c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,
00,2d,\
00,31,00,37,00,00,00
"Action"="@%SystemRoot%\\system32\\SHELL32.dll,-17158"
"Provider"="@%SystemRoot%\\system32\\SHELL32.dll,-17159"
"InvokeProgID"="Applications\\shimgvw.dll"
"InvokeVerb"="print"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
\AutoplayHand

lers\Handlers\MSSHAudioDevHandler]
@=""
"Action"="@%SystemRoot%\\system32\\audiodev.dll,-500"
"Provider"="@%SystemRoot%\\system32\\audiodev.dll,-501"
"DefaultIcon"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,
00,52,00,6f,00,6f,\
00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,
00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,\
61,00,75,00,64,00,69,00,6f,00,64,00,65,00,76,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,
00,2c,\
00,2d,00,35,00,30,00,00,00
"ProgID"="Shell.HWEventHandlerShellExecute"
"InitCmdLine"="::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\\::
{640167b4-59b0-47a6-b335

-a6b3c0695aea}"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
\AutoplayHand

lers\Handlers\MSShowPicturesOnArrival]
"DefaultIcon"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,
00,52,00,6f,00,6f,\
00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,
00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,\
53,00,48,00,45,00,4c,00,4c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,
00,2d,\
00,32,00,34,00,39,00,00,00
"Action"="@%SystemRoot%\\system32\\SHELL32.dll,-17156"
"Provider"="@%SystemRoot%\\system32\\SHELL32.dll,-17157"
"InvokeProgID"="Shell.AutoplayForSlideShow.1"
"InvokeVerb"="open"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
\AutoplayHand

lers\Handlers\MSTakeNoAction]
"DefaultIcon"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,
00,52,00,6f,00,6f,\
00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,
00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,\
53,00,48,00,45,00,4c,00,4c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,
00,2d,\
00,33,00,33,00,38,00,00,00
"Action"="@%SystemRoot%\\system32\\SHELL32.dll,-17168"
"Provider"="<TakeNoAction>"
"ProgID"="Shell.AutoplaySpecial"
 
F

FUBARinSFO

Ramesh:

I understand your observation, that you can leave the REG_SZ entries
as-is unlsess you find you have problems. Unfortunately, this is not
a good policy for system or user administration. In a company with
hundreds of users, each one of these "discoveries" of something not
working will generate hundreds of calls to tech support.

I'm rolling back to some earlier images to try to identify the source
of these REG_SZ data types. Maybe they are all harmless, as you say,
or expandable by their applications. That's what I'm trying to pin
down.

-- Roy Zider
 
R

Ramesh, MS-MVP

Hi Roy,

That's a good point. What I was trying to say is that some of the system default "LocalizedString" and "MenuTextPUI" values are set as REG_SZ (but containing expandable strings!) in my systems as well. However, Windows is able to retrieve the string correctly irrespective of the value type assigned.

Good Luck! and keep us posted on the happenings.

--
Regards,

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


Ramesh:

I understand your observation, that you can leave the REG_SZ entries
as-is unlsess you find you have problems. Unfortunately, this is not
a good policy for system or user administration. In a company with
hundreds of users, each one of these "discoveries" of something not
working will generate hundreds of calls to tech support.

I'm rolling back to some earlier images to try to identify the source
of these REG_SZ data types. Maybe they are all harmless, as you say,
or expandable by their applications. That's what I'm trying to pin
down.

-- Roy Zider
 
F

FUBARinSFO

That's a good point. What I was trying to say is that some of the system default "LocalizedString" and "MenuTextPUI" values are set as REG_SZ (but containing expandable strings!) in my systems as well. However, Windows is able to retrieve the string correctly irrespective of the value type assigned.
Ramesh:

Yes, I do understand your point. I just have been unable to
distinguish those entries that are expandable by their install
programs from those that are not. And of course there's no way to
test if each and every one of them would be amenable to a
REG_EXPAND_SZ type instead of the REG_SZ type it was expecting --
otherwise I'd just change them all to REG_EXPAND_SZ.

At the moment, I've got to go back and capture a clean Windows XP
install and see if this is still the case. I doubt it is.

-- Roy
 
F

FUBARinSFO

MRRC, Multi Remote Registry change
Click to expand...

Holz:

I've spent some time today with MRRC, demo. Not workgroup-friendly,
really wants to work within in a domain. Greg has been helpful, but
still not able to log onto one of the Win XP computers in the group.
Also can't figure out how to wild-card search for certain keys, since
it requires filling out text boxes that you don't have the info for.
May be useful eventually.

-- Roy
 
F

FUBARinSFO

Just confirmed -- no wildcard search in Edit Keys search.

So the only way at the moment is to work with the exported registry as
a text file.
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Similar Threads

Why is my Windows time constantly slow by 27 seconds? 2
Missing XP SP2's Wireless Zero Configuration (WZC) 3
Registry Editor help please 20
Right-click New menu Windows Explorer lost txt file type 0
xp is all messed up help 6
Windows Mail vs. Vista 5
local group policy : snap-in failed 1
Vista - how do you restore default behaviour for Zip (other) file types? 1

Top