A Closer Look at HKEY_CURRENT_USER

HKEY_CURRENT_USER contains the same information as that listed by the security identifier in HKEY_USERS, as shown in Figure H.1. Any change made to HKEY_CURRENT_USER is immediately made to HKEY_USERS also. The opposite is also true.

NOTE: All of the settings in HKEY_CURRENT_USER are the same in both Windows NT and Windows 95. There is a minor difference in location, but the actual keys are the same. For that reason, only the Windows NT information will be shown, and the descriptions of all the keys are the same for Windows 95.

Figure H.1. HKEY_CURRENT_USER and the currently logged-on user in HKEY_USERS are both mapped from NTUSER.DAT.

All of the settings in this chapter appear in the following format:

Key Name

Full path=Handle Key\Keyname

Description, specific information, values

Second-Level Key Name

Full path=Handle 

Key\Keyname\Keyname

Description, specific information, values

Third-Level Key Name

Full path=Handle 

Key\Keyname\Keyname\Keyname

Description, specific information, values

Additional Level Key Names

Full path=Handle 

Key\Keyname\Keyname\Keyname\Keyname(\Keyname)

Description, specific information, values

AppEvents

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents

This key lists the event labels, descriptions, and sounds for system functions.

EventLabels

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\EventLabels

This key lists strings and corresponding full descriptions for the following Windows functions. In the operating system, the string is used and then translated with the data in the Registry to make it more readable. The different event labels are shown in the following list:

AppGPFault

Close

EmptyRecycleBin

Maximize

MenuCommand

MenuPopup

Minimize

Open

RestoreDown

RestoreUp

SystemAsterisk

SystemDefault

SystemExclamation

SystemExit

SystemHand

SystemQuestion

SystemStart

Schemes

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes

The default and current sound schemes are listed in this key and its subkeys. The system plays whatever sound is listed at the time of the event.

Apps

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes\Apps

This key lists the sounds and descriptions of default Windows NT functions, plus the settings for Explorer, Media Player, and Sound Recorder.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes\Apps\.Default

The default and current sound settings are listed for each of the following Windows NT events. These settings, as shown in the following list, could be changed here, but normally they are changed in Control Panel:

AppGPFault

Close

EmptyRecycleBin

Maximize

MenuCommand

MenuPopup

Minimize

Open

RestoreDown

RestoreUp

SystemAsterisk

SystemDefault

SystemExclamation

SystemExit

SystemHand

SystemQuestion

SystemStart

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes\Apps\Explorer

The sound settings for Explorer are set in this key. The only item listed for the user is the setting for EmptyRecycleBin.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes\Apps\MPlay32

This key contains the default and current sound settings for the opening and closing of Media Player.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes\Apps\SndRec32

This key contains the current sound settings for the opening and closing of Sound Recorder.

Names

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes\Names

This key holds the descriptions for two strings: .Default and .None. When the operating system sees these strings in relation to sounds, it replaces them on-screen with NT Default and No Sounds, respectively.

Console

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Console

This key holds the options, layout, screen color, and font settings for MS-DOS windows.

Control Panel

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel

All the settings that are made in the Control Panel are held in this key and its subkeys.

Accessibility

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control 

Panel\Accessibility

This key holds all the settings for the Accessibility applet in the Control Panel. These are normally set in the Control Panel, not in a Registry editor. The following lists the Registry keys corresponding to the accessibility options:

Keyboard Response

MouseKeys

ShowSounds

SoundSentry

StickyKeys

TimeOut

ToggleKeys

Appearance

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Appearance

This key holds all the settings for the Appearance tab in the Display applet in the Control Panel. These are normally set in the Control Panel, not in a Registry editor.

Schemes

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Appearance\Schemes

This key lists the schemes available by default, plus any created by the user, and what each scheme includes as colors and fonts.

Colors

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Colors

This key holds the settings for each default color in Windows NT. Each value (the color name) is listed as an RGB (Red, Green, Blue) value. For example, Black is 0 0 0, which means the red value is set to 0, the green value is set to 0, and the blue value is set to 0. White is on the opposite end of the spectrum at 255 255 255. Every other color is a combination of those RGB values. This setting also holds colors created by the user.

Current

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Current

This key holds the setting for the current color scheme for the current user.

Cursors

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Cursors

This key holds the cursor schemes available to the system by default, plus any that have been added by the user.

Schemes

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Cursors\Schemes

This key holds the file locations and names that make up the cursor schemes. The following schemes are in the key:

3D-Bronze

3D-White

Conductor

Dinosaur

Hands 1

Hands 2

Magnified

Old Fashioned

Variations

Windows Animated

Windows Default

Custom Colors

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Custom Colors

This key holds the settings for up to 16 custom colors that can be created in Control Panel. The colors are created in the Display | Appearance with Other Colors.

Desktop

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control 

Panel\Desktop

This key holds all the settings for the desktop, its appearance, and how the windows and menus will react to user input.

WindowMetrics

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics

Specifics about the windows that appear onscreen are held in this key. It includes sizes and border widths and minimize/maximize properties.

International

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\International

The Control Panel options for International settings are held in this key. These are normally set in the Control Panel, not in a Registry editor.

Keyboard

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Keyboard

This key controls the keyboard options for lock activation, repeat delay, and repeat speed.

MMCPL

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\MMCPL

This is a nonfunctional key relating to the Multimedia Control Panel applet.

Mouse

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Mouse

This key holds the mouse settings in the corresponding Control Panel applet.

Patterns

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Patterns

This key holds the default and custom pattern settings from Control Panel | Display |
Background | Pattern.

Screen Saver.3DFlyingObj

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Screen Saver.3DFlyingObj

This key holds the settings for the 3D Flying Objects screen saver as set in Control Panel | Screen Saver | Settings.

Screen Saver.3Dpipes

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Screen 

Saver.3Dpipes

This key holds the settings for the 3D Pipes screen saver as set in Control Panel | Screen Saver | Settings.

Screen Saver.Bezier

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Screen Saver.Bezier

This key holds the settings for the Bezier screen saver as set in Control Panel | Screen Saver | Settings.

Screen Saver.Marquee

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Screen Saver.Marquee

This key holds the settings for the Marquee screen saver as set in Control Panel | Screen Saver | Settings.

Screen Saver.Mystify

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Screen Saver.Mystify

This key holds the settings for the Mystify screen saver as set in Control Panel | Screen Saver | Settings.

Screen Saver.Stars

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Screen Saver.Stars

This key holds the settings for the Stars screen saver as set in Control Panel | Screen Saver | Settings.

Sound

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Sound

This key determines whether the system will beep on errors.

Environment

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Environment

This key holds the environment settings, specifically the temporary file locations.

Keyboard Layout

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Keyboard Layout

The keyboard layout settings are set for the standard U.S. English QWERTY layout. If you choose to use an alternative layout, such as Dvorak, the number listed is different.

WARNING: Do not change the Keyboard Layout setting in the Registry Editor. It will make your keyboard respond incorrectly. Use only the Keyboard Control Panel applet to make keyboard changes.

Software

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software

Software settings for installed applications are held in this setting. The current user has the settings for Microsoft NT applications, plus any other applications added to the system.

Microsoft

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft

The settings for the Microsoft Windows NT and Windows 95 applications (32-bit) are set in this key, and shown in the following list. If other Microsoft applications are installed, they update the specific user's Microsoft key. The Microsoft items that are controlled by default are listed next:

Clock

Command Processor

File Manager

Internet Explorer

NetDDE

Ntbackup

RegEdt32

Schedule+

Windows

Windows Help

Windows NT

On my system, CompuServe 3.0 has been added, so a subkey was created for it. Every 32-bit application creates a subkey here.

Windows

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows

The Windows key holds settings that are independent of Windows NT, but that are related to Windows. These settings are the same as in Windows 95, using the same drivers and functions.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion

This key holds settings for the following items:

Explorer

GrpConv

Internet Settings

Multimedia

Policies

Telephony

Windows NT

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT

The Windows NT settings in this key are based on NT functions. Windows NT could not function without these settings, which establish the environment and the procedures for networking, user access, printers, fonts, and much more.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

This key holds specific information for the control of the Windows NT 4.0 functions. Inside this key, the subkeys listed next hold the settings for NT and its properties:

Devices

Extensions

Network

PrinterPorts

Program Manager

Shutdown

TaskManager

TrueType

Windows

Winlogon

Network

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Network

This key determines whether settings made on the network are saved for the following items: Event Viewer

Persistent Connections

Server Manager

User Manager

User Manager for Domains

Program Manager

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Program Manager

This key holds the settings for several items for the 32-bit Program Manager included with Windows NT. The subkeys under Program Manager are listed next:

Common Groups

Restrictions

Settings

Unicode Groups

Winlogon

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

This setting controls the logon functions specific to this user for Windows NT.

Unicode Program Groups

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\UNICODE Program Groups

The Unicode program groups are available only when using Program Manager. Explorer does not use them.

Summary

HKEY_CURRENT_USER allows programmers and developers easy access to the currently logged-on user's settings. By establishing this key, Microsoft made it very easy to make changes, additions, and settings without concern for the user's SID.

Each handle key has a purpose. The more you understand their contents, the better you can understand how NT works, how applications and hardware interface with the operating system, and how you can troubleshoot and fix problems that happen on your systems.