Writing to registry as Limited User account on XP

[WarrenW]

I have been learning more on the limited user type in XP and would like to know if there is any way to write to the registry as a Limited Account user on Windows XP? I am trying to replace a value in a key under Local_Machine. If not, any other solutions? Can I use an INI file in the same folder? Or is there a better solution?

Thanks!

[techyspecy]

Writing to registry is discouraged in the 2000,xp versions of windows. Though you can do that.

You can use SaveSettings and DeleteSettings functions of VB to write to registry.

Using a INI file is not a bad solution either.

[chicocouk]

Why is writing to the registry discouraged? I've never heard that before ...

[TPR25]

Back in 1995 when Windows 95 was released, Microsoft's recommended programming practice was to write data to the registry. However, since the Registry only can store a finite number of keys, this data space was quickly becoming cluttered. As such, after Windows 98, Microsoft's recommended programming practice was shifted back to using local designated files to store most application information -- saving registry entries for critical application data storage (like AppPaths, expiration keys, etc.)

BTW, in answer to your question, no, as a Limited user, you cannot modify the registry in Win 2K or XP. Moreover, it Windows or an application is retrieving a value from the registry (and you'd like to change it to modify the behavior), forget about it. Unless the program specifically checks and ini file for a particular value before or after checking the registry, it won't matter.

[JoshT]

You should be able to write to the HKCU part of the registry, or to the User Profile folder. The whole point of a limited user is to prevent that user from having access to the more critical parts of the OS.

[TPR25]

But the question was modifying a value in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.

[alex_read]

[smug mode]
Check this link out ...
[/smug mode]

You can't directly write to the registry with the local permissions if the user is restricted, what you can do is sweet talk your network admins to create you a new user, then "borrow" permissions!

[TPR25]

That's actually an interesting idea

You can't directly write to the registry with the local permissions if the user is restricted, what you can do is sweet talk your network admins to create you a new user, then "borrow" permissions!

But I would hazard to guess that most admins probably wouldn't set this up for you. I know that on our organizational network, if someone was to ask me this question, I'd tell them no. A Windows network is hard enough to keep secure without introducing holes into the system.

But just my opinion.

[alex_read]

Well, I just say that as a guide. I was lucky with that one - our network guru approached me asking for an app to modify everyones registry that I could send via e-mail. Loadza reading on it later I found those few api calls - sweet!

Most developers have a load of rights locally on their network as they write to the registry from their apps, he might be able to pass his own id & password in anyways, just an idea.