Common Registry Entries Used During Packaging

Here’s some reference information about the registry hives. (I like to keep lists like this close, because I never know when I need them.) Hopefully this info will be as helpful to you as it has been to me.

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT – This branch contains all of your file types as well as OLE information for all your OLE-aware applications.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER – This branch points to the part of HKEY_USERS appropriate for the current user.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE – This branch contains information about all of the hardware and software installed on your computer. Since you can specify multiple hardware configurations, the current hardware configuration is specified in HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG.

HKEY_USERS – This branch contains certain preferences (such as colors and control panel settings) for each of the users of the computer. In Windows 95/98/Me, the default branch here contains the currently-logged in user. In Windows 2000/XP, the default branch here contains a template to be used for newly-added users.

HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG – This branch points to the part of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE appropriate for the current hardware configuration.

HKEY_DYN_DATA (Windows 95/98/Me only) – This branch points to the part of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, for use with Windows’ Plug-&-Play subsystem.

1. Services — HKLMSYSTEMCurrentcontrolsetServices
2. Enable USB — HKLMSystemCurrentControlSetServicesUSBSTOR – 3
3. Disable USB — HKLMSystemCurrentControlSetServicesUSBSTOR – 4
4. Environment Variable — HKLMSystemCurrentControlSetControlSessionManagerEnvironment
5. Suite of Windows OS — HKLMSystemCurrentControlSetControlProductOptions [ ProductSuite ]
6. Type of workstation — HKLMSystemCurrentControlSetControlProductOptions [ ProductType ]
7. Driver & Printer info — HKLMSYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlPrint
8. Application Paths — HKLMSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionApp PathsProgramName.exe
9. Shared DLLs — HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionSharedDLLs
10. Namespaces — HKLMSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerDesktopNamespace
11. Uninstall — HKLMSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstall{product key}
12. System DSN — HKLMSoftwareODBCODBC.INI
13. Version of Internet Explorer — HKLMSoftwareMicrosoftInternet Explorer
14. Run key — HKLMSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
15. Service pack on Windows OS — HKLMSoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersion [CSDVersion]
16. AutoLogon — HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionWinlogon
17. Run Once Key — HKLMSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunOnce HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunOnce
18. Windows Explorer configuration — HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrrent VersionExplorer
19. Internet Explorer configuration — HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerToolbarExplorer
20. USER DSN — HKCUSoftwareODBCODBC.INI
21. COM registrations — HKCUSoftwareClasses
22. User Preferences for the printer — HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionWindows
23. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionTime Zones
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlTimeZoneInformation
24. Configure all Windows Installer installations to run with elevated privileges
    HKLMSOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsInstaller — AlwaysInstallElevated -1
    HKCUSoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftWindowsInstaller — AlwyasInstallElevated -1
25. In Windows 95, 98, and Me, the Registry is contained in two hidden files in your Windows directory, called USER.DAT and SYSTEM.DAT.

Reference: http://www.symantec.com/connect/articles/common-registry-entries-used-during-packaging