SUMMARY
This is the first of five articles on the User Preferences entries; for the
other entries, see "User Preferences Entries, Part 2," "User Preferences
Entries, Part 3," "User Preferences Entries, Part 4,"and "User Preferences
Entries, Part 5".
REGISTRY ENTRIES FOR USER PREFERENCES
Information about Registry entries for user preferences about the following
topics can be found in the following sections.
The information presented here is primarily for troubleshooting, showing
the default entry values and explaining the meaning of important entries.
There are no hidden values that you can set for user preferences. All of
these values can be set using the icons in Control Panel or the tools in
the Administrative Tools group, or other programs provided with Windows NT.
All Registry paths shown here are for HKEY_CURRENT_USER, to show how you
can view entries for the currently logged on user. However, most of these
entries also appear in HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT, where changing entries will
change values for the default user profile.
HIVE INFORMATION FOR USER PROFILES
Information about user profile files appears in the following keys:
- The HiveList subkey lists all hives that are active but not profiles
that are not active. (See its entry in "CurrentControlSet\Control
Subkeys," earlier in this chapter.)
- The ProfileList subkey lists all the profiles known on the computer,
whether or not the profiles are active, under the following Registry
path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\SID_#
Each installed user profile has its own subkey under the ProfileList
subkey, and that subkey contains the following entry:
ProfileImagePath REG_EXPAND_SZ Profile hive filename
--------------------------------------------------------
Default: %SystemRoot%\system32\config\hiveFilename
Sid REG_BINARY Number assigned by system
Specifies the path and filename for the hive for this user. The hive file
name that is the value for ProfileImagePath includes a portion of the
username associated with that SID_#, so that you can identify the user to
which it belongs.
CONSOLE ENTRIES FOR USERS
The Console key contains several subkeys that define screen size and buffer
size for character-based screens in Windows NT. These subkeys appear under
the following Registry path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Console\subkeyNames
The Command Prompt subkey does not appear unless the current user has
changed the screen colors or font for the command prompt and also checked
the Save Configuration options. Use the commands on the Control menu in the
command prompt to change these values.
Console subkey Default value entries
------------------------------------------
Command Prompt FontFamily=0x30
(All data types FontSize=0xc0008
are REG_DWORD) FullScreen=0x1
PopupColors=0xf5
QuickEdit=0
ScreenBufferSize=0x190050
ScreenColors=0x9f
WindowsPosition=0x150004
WindowSize=0x190050
Configuration CommandRecallBufferSize=50
(All data types FillAttr=0x07
are REG_SZ) ScreenBufferColumns=80
ScreenBufferRows=25
WindowColumns=80
WindowRows=25
Introducing FullScreen=0x1
Windows NT
Microsoft QBASIC FullScreen0x1
COLOR, PATTERN, AND SCREEN SAVER ENTRIES FOR USERS
This section describes the subkeys that contain settings for user
preferences related to the desktop.
Colors Entry Values
-------------------
The Colors subkey specifies the color as a series of three numbers for each
area of the Windows screen, in the following Registry path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Colors
Each entry has a REG_SZ data type. The following lists the defaults for
each entry under the Colors subkey:
ActiveBorder=192 192 192
ActiveTitle=0 0 128
AppWorkSpace=255 255 255
Background=255 255 255
ButtonFace=192 192 192
ButtonHilight=255 255 255
ButtonShadow=128 128 128
ButtonText=0 0 0
GrayText=128 128 128
Hilight=0 0 128
HilightText=255 255 255
InactiveBorder=192 192 192
InactiveTitle=192 192 192
InactiveTitleText=0 0 0
Menu=255 255 255
MenuText=0 0 0
Scrollbar=192 192 192
TitleText=255 255 255
Window=255 255 255
WindowFrame=0 0 0
WindowText=0 0 0
Color Schemes Entry Values
--------------------------
The entries in the Color Schemes subkey define the colors for each element
of specific color schemes, as set by choosing the Color icon in Control
Panel. These entries appear under the following Registry path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Color Schemes
The Current subkey specifies the current color scheme, based on those
listed in the Color Schemes subkey.
The Custom Colors subkey defines the custom colors in the color palette, as
set by choosing the Color icon in Control Panel. The entries are designated
ColorA through ColorP, and all have the value FFFFFF by default.
Each entry in these subkeys has a REG_SZ data type. The following list
shows the defaults for each color scheme.
Arizona=804000,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,0,FFFFFF,0,808040,C0C0C0,FFFFFF,4080FF,C0C0C0,
0,C0C0C0,C0C0C0,808080,0,808080,808000,FFFFFF,0,FFFFFF
Black Leather Jacket=0,C0C0C0,FFFFFF,0,C0C0C0,0,800040,808080,FFFFFF,
808080,808080,0,10E0E0E0,C0C0C0,808080,0,808080,0,FFFFFF,0,FFFFFF
Bordeaux=400080,C0C0C0,FFFFFF,0,FFFFFF,0,800080,C0C0C0,FFFFFF,FF0080,
C0C0C0,0,C0C0C0,C0C0C0,808080,0,808080,800080,FFFFFF,0,FFFFFF
Cinnamon=404080,C0C0C0,FFFFFF,0,FFFFFF,0,80,C0C0C0,FFFFFF,80,C0C0C0,0,
C0C0C0,C0C0C0,808080,0,808080,80,FFFFFF,0,FFFFFF
Designer=7C7C3F,C0C0C0,FFFFFF,0,FFFFFF,0,808000,C0C0C0,FFFFFF,C0C0C0,
C0C0C0,0,C0C0C0,C0C0C0,808080,0,C0C0C0,808000,0,0,FFFFFF
Emerald City=404000,C0C0C0,FFFFFF,0,C0C0C0,0,408000,808040,FFFFFF,408000,
808040,0,C0C0C0,C0C0C0,808080,0,808080,8000,FFFFFF,0,FFFFFF
Fluorescent=0,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,0,FF00,0,FF00FF,C0C0C0,0,FF80,C0C0C0,0,C0C0C0,
C0C0C0,808080,0,808080,0,FFFFFF,0,FFFFFF
Hotdog Stand=FFFF,FFFF,FF,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,0,0,FF,FFFFFF,FF,FF,0,C0C0C0,
C0C0C0,808080,0,808080,0,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,FFFFFF
LCD Default Screen Settings=808080,C0C0C0,C0C0C0,0,C0C0C0,0,800000,
C0C0C0,FFFFFF,800000,C0C0C0,
0,C0C0C0,C0C0C0,7F8080,0,808080,800000,FFFFFF,0,FFFFFF
LCD Reversed - Dark=0,80,80,FFFFFF,8080,0,8080,800000,0,8080,800000,
0,8080,C0C0C0,7F8080,0,C0C0C0,800000,FFFFFF,828282,FFFFFF
LCD Reversed - Light=800000,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,0,FFFFFF,0,808040,FFFFFF,0,
C0C0C0,C0C0C0,800000,C0C0C0,C0C0C0,7F8080,0,808040,800000,FFFFFF,0,
FFFFFF
Mahogany=404040,C0C0C0,FFFFFF,0,FFFFFF,0,40,C0C0C0,FFFFFF,C0C0C0,C0C0C0,
0,C0C0C0,C0C0C0,808080,0,C0C0C0,80,FFFFFF,0,FFFFFF
Monochrome=C0C0C0,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,0,FFFFFF,0,0,C0C0C0,FFFFFF,C0C0C0,C0C0C0,
0,808080,C0C0C0,808080,0,808080,0,FFFFFF,0,FFFFFF
Ocean=808000,408000,FFFFFF,0,FFFFFF,0,804000,C0C0C0,FFFFFF,C0C0C0,C0C0C0,
0,C0C0C0,C0C0C0,808080,0,0,808000,0,0,FFFFFF
Pastel=C0FF82,80FFFF,FFFFFF,0,FFFFFF,0,FFFF80,FFFFFF,0,C080FF,FFFFFF,
808080,C0C0C0,C0C0C0,808080,0,C0C0C0,FFFF00,0,0,FFFFFF
Patchwork=9544BB,C1FBFA,FFFFFF,0,FFFFFF,0,FFFF80,FFFFFF,0,64B14E,FFFFFF,0,
C0C0C0,C0C0C0,808080,0,808080,FFFF00,0,0,FFFFFF
Plasma Power Saver=0,FF0000,0,FFFFFF,FF00FF,0,800000,C0C0C0,0,80,FFFFFF,
C0C0C0,FF0000,C0C0C0,808080,0,C0C0C0,FFFFFF,0,0,FFFFFF
Rugby=C0C0C0,80FFFF,FFFFFF,0,FFFFFF,0,800000,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,80,FFFFFF,0,
C0C0C0,C0C0C0,808080,0,808080,800000,FFFFFF,0,FFFFFF
The Blues=804000,C0C0C0,FFFFFF,0,FFFFFF,0,800000,C0C0C0,FFFFFF,C0C0C0,
C0C0C0,0,C0C0C0,C0C0C0,808080,0,C0C0C0,800000,FFFFFF,0,FFFFFF
Tweed=6A619E,C0C0C0,FFFFFF,0,FFFFFF,0,408080,C0C0C0,FFFFFF,404080,C0C0C0,
0,10E0E0E0,C0C0C0,808080,0,C0C0C0,8080,0,0,FFFFFF
Valentine=C080FF,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,0,FFFFFF,0,8000FF,400080,FFFFFF,C080FF,
C080FF,0,C0C0C0,C0C0C0,808080,0,808080,FF00FF,0,FFFFFF,FFFFFF
Wingtips=408080,C0C0C0,FFFFFF,0,FFFFFF,0,808080,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,4080,FFFFFF,
0,808080,C0C0C0,808080,0,C0C0C0,808080,FFFFFF,0,FFFFFF
Patterns Entry Values
---------------------
The Patterns subkey contains entries that define the color values for the
bitmap patterns, as set by choosing the Desktop icon. Each value is a set
of eight numbers, corresponding to the colors in the eight basic elements
of the pattern.
Each entry has a REG_SZ data type. The following list shows the default
colors for the default patterns:
(None)=(None)
50% Gray=170 85 170 85 170 85 170 85
Boxes=127 65 65 65 65 65 127 0
Critters=0 80 114 32 0 5 39 2
Diamonds=32 80 136 80 32 0 0 0
Paisley=2 7 7 2 32 80 80 32
Pattern=224 128 142 136 234 10 14 0
Quilt=130 68 40 17 40 68 130 1
Scottie=64 192 200 120 120 72 0 0
Spinner=20 12 200 121 158 19 48 40
Thatches=248 116 34 71 143 23 34 113
Tulip=0 0 84 124 124 56 146 124
Waffle=0 0 0 0 128 128 128 240
Weave=136 84 34 69 136 21 34 81
Screen Saver Subkey Entry Values
--------------------------------
The various Screen Saver subkeys define user preferences for specific
screen savers. All entries have a REG_SZ data type. The following table
summarizes the default entries under the Screen Saver subkeys.
Screen Save subkey Default value entries
--------------------------------------------
Screen Saver.Bezier -----
Screen Saver.Marquee BackgroundColor=0 0 128
CharSet=0
Font=Times New Roman
Mode=1
Size=24
Speed=14
Text=Your text goes here.
TextColor=255 0 255
Screen Saver.Mystify Active1=1
Active2=2
Clear Screen=1
EndColor1=255 255 255
EndColor2=255 255 255
Lines1=7
Lines2=12
StartColor1=0 0 0
StartColor2=0 0 0
WalkRandom1=1
WalkRandom2=2
Screen Saver.Stars Density=50
WarpSpeed=10
Additional screen saver settings are defined in the Desktop subkey,
described later in this section.