Question

Windows XP registry

Asked by: baal32

Explain what the .DEFAULT in HKEY_USERS is  and how it is applied to new users versus the ntuser.dat located in sysdrive:\Documents and Settings\Default User\  

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Asked On
2005-10-18 at 15:10:08ID21599572
Tags

registry

,

xp

Topic

Operating Systems Miscellaneous

Participating Experts
3
Points
125
Comments
8

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Answers

 

by: onsitezPosted on 2005-10-18 at 15:32:30ID: 15112152

What do you want explained,,,,you just did.   It is what is used if you create a new user

 

by: giltjrPosted on 2005-10-18 at 19:33:47ID: 15113111

The registry is nothing but files that are handled as input to a program, the registry.  The file ntuser.dat is file where HKCU gets loaded from.

The ntuser.dat file in the sysdrive:\Documents and Settings\Default User\ directory is whst is used to create the ntuser.dat file for new users and thus is the

Just like the ntuser.dat file in your directory is what is loaded for your HKCU.  This is merged with the ntuser.data file in the All Users directory to come up with your HKCU.

 

by: baal32Posted on 2005-10-18 at 20:44:45ID: 15113312

What's the .DEFAULT key in the HKEY_USERS hive in the registry?  It isn't the same as the ntuser.dat file in the Default User folder so I was wondering how and when it gets used, if at all.

 

by: kbraeckmansPosted on 2005-10-19 at 00:12:33ID: 15113874

.DEFAULT contains the per−user settings that Windows XP uses to display the desktop before any user logs on to the computer. This isn't the same thing as a default user profile, which Windows XP uses to create settings for users the first time they log on to the computer.

 

by: baal32Posted on 2005-10-19 at 10:23:47ID: 15117894

Hi Kbraeckmans - how does .DEFAULT contain per-user settings prior to anyone logging in?  And what makes changes (if anyting) to .DEFAULT?  Application installs?

 

by: kbraeckmansPosted on 2005-10-20 at 01:21:35ID: 15122499

The [.DEFAULT] key actually governs the state of the computer when no user is logged in. If you want a certain background bitmap to appear behind the Ctrl + Alt + Delete screen, set the Wallpaper value in [HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop].
In the .DEFAULT you can i.e. change logon keyboard layout, logon screen saver, etc.

 

by: baal32Posted on 2005-10-20 at 09:37:41ID: 15125960

Cool!  So just to clarify - 1) .DEFAULT doesn't have any relation to new users, and 2) What, if anything, would write to that hive?

 

by: kbraeckmansPosted on 2005-10-20 at 11:13:22ID: 15126774

I do not know of applications that use the .DEFAULT.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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