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JSI Tip 2520. How can I customize registry settings prior to installing Windows 2000?


Normally, you must modify the registry or use a GUI to modify settings for all users of computer, after you install Windows 2000.

If you install from a distribution share, you can make the modifications prior to installation.

There are five (5) .inf files in the \i386 folder that are used to create the registry hives for the installation:

Hivecls.inf creates Classes in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE.

Hivedef.inf creates HKEY_USER\.DEFAULT and the Ntuser.dat for the default user.

Hivesft.inf creates HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE.

Hivesys.inf creates HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM.

Hiveusd.inf does not create accessible hives.

If you wanted to implement some of the settings in tip 2517, you would add the following to Hivedef.inf:


HKCU,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced","CascadeControlPanel",0,"YES"
HKCU,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced","CascadeNetworkConnections",0,"YES"
HKCU,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced","CascadePrinters",0,"YES"
HKCU,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced","StartMenuAdminTools",0,"YES"
HKCU,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced","StartMenuLogoff",65537,1
HKCU,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced","StartMenuScrollPrograms",0,"YES"
All users who log on will have the following configured:
Expand Control Panel 
Expand Network and Dial-Up Connections 
Expand Printers 
Display Administrative Tools 
Display Logoff 
Scroll the Programs Menu
You can also change the values of default entries in these .inf files.

The easiest way to get these entries is to start with a clean install. Then:

1. Run SYSDIFF /SNAP on the computer.

2. Make the changes you want through the GUI interface and/or registry.

3. Run SYSDIFF /DIFF.

4. Run SYSDIFF /INF /M to record the registry changes to an .inf file. Copy these to the .inf file(s), in the logical order. Place HKLM,"X\Y\Z" after HKLM,"X\Y".


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