[lpool1]

Hi All,

Can any1 help me on writing a batch file for Windows XP which will amend the following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\SafeMode\Components\DeskHtmlVersion

I have never written a batch file before, however I have had a try and it doesn't work. The details of my file are below:

REM -----Fix Active Desktop-----
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
regedit.exe /s "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\Keith.reg"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\Components]
"DeskHtmlVersion"=dword:00000000
"DeskHtmlMinorVersion"=dword:00000005
"Settings"=dword:00000001
"GeneralFlags"=dword:00000001

I need to change the value data in the key from Decimal 272 to 0.

Thanks,
lpool1

[andythepandy]

Hi,
The Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 part is only needed if you are making a .reg file.
Try this instead:

REM -----Fix Active Desktop-----

reg add HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\Components /v DeskHtmlVersion /t REG_DWORD /d "WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CHANGE IT TO"

That will ask for confirmation to overwrite existing values, to skip that add /f to the end of reg add line.

Andy

[lpool1]

Hi Andy,

I tried this and it said there are too many command line parameters . Any other suggestions?

Thanks,
Lpool1

[andythepandy]

Sorry, I completely forgot: The path to the registry key has to be in quotes if it has spaces

Andy

[lpool1]

Thanks Andy,

This time it said the operation was completed successfully, however when I go into regedit and check the value, it still says 272. I think maybe the best thing is to test this on a PC which has the active desktop message.

[andythepandy]

Don't know if this will be the problem, but the code I wrote in my last post changed the value of DeskHtmlVersion in:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\Components\

where you said you wanted to change it in:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\SafeMode\Components\

Change the path file in the bat file to that and it may do the trick
Just a thought

[lpool1]

No the first one was actually correct. It just doesn't change the value .

[andythepandy]

Have you refreshed the regedit window with F5?

[lpool1]

yep, tried that. still the same. It is definately doing something cos it says operation successful. I just dont know what exactly.

[andythepandy]

What happens if you go into command prompt(Start>Run>cmd.exe) and type:

reg query "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\Components"

What is the value for DeskHtmlVersion?

[lpool1]

The following appeared:

! REG.EXE VERSION 3.0
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\Components
DeskHtmlVersion REG_DWORD 0x110
DeskHtmlMinorVersion REG_DWORD 0x5
Settings REG_DWORD 0x1
GeneralFlags REG_DWORD 0x1
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\Components\0

[andythepandy]

Then I really don't have a clue what's happening and can't think of anything else to try!
Sorry!

[TheOutcaste]

If you misplaced the end quote, or left it off, it won't change the value, but will instead add a new key
This will not work:

Reg Add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\Components /V DeskHtmlVersion /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F"

If you use that, it will add a new key named Components /V DeskHtmlVersion /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F

It has to be like this:

Reg Add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\Components" /V DeskHtmlVersion /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F

Let's see if that's what happened.
Copy the text in the following code block into Notepad.
Save it on the desktop as Query.cmd. Be sure to change the Save as Type: box to All Files when saving.

Set _file=%userprofile%\Desktop\Query.txt
 >"%_file%" Echo.[CODE]
>>"%_file%" 2>&1 Reg Query "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop" /S
>>"%_file%" Echo.[/CODE]
Start Notepad "%_file%"
Exit

Double click the file to run it. It will create a file named Query.txt on the Desktop and open it in Notepad. Copy and paste the text into your next reply.

[lpool1]

I got the following:

! REG.EXE VERSION 3.0
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\Components
    DeskHtmlVersion REG_DWORD 0x110
    DeskHtmlMinorVersion REG_DWORD 0x5
    Settings REG_DWORD 0x1
    GeneralFlags REG_DWORD 0x1
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\Components\0
    Source REG_SZ About:Home
    SubscribedURL REG_SZ About:Home
    FriendlyName REG_SZ My Current Home Page
    Flags REG_DWORD 0x2
    Position REG_BINARY 2C0000002C01000000000000D4030000A2030000000000000100000001000000010000000000000000000000
    CurrentState REG_DWORD 0x40000004
    OriginalStateInfo REG_BINARY 18000000FFFF0000FFFF0000FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF04000000
    RestoredStateInfo REG_BINARY 18000000D00300001F000000200100001601000001000000
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\Components /v DeskHtmlVersion /t REG_DWORD /d 0
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\Components /v DeskHtmlVersion /t REG_DWORD /d 0x00000000
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\General
    BackupWallpaper REG_EXPAND_SZ 
    ComponentsPositioned REG_DWORD 0x1
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\Old WorkAreas
    NoOfOldWorkAreas REG_DWORD 0x1
    OldWorkAreaRects REG_BINARY 000000000000000000050000A2030000
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\SafeMode
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\SafeMode\General
    Wallpaper REG_EXPAND_SZ %SystemRoot%\Web\SafeMode.htt
    VisitGallery REG_DWORD 0x0
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\Scheme
    Edit REG_SZ 
    Display REG_SZ

[andythepandy]

That's whats happened isn't it! What the OutCaste said

reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\Components" /v DeskHtmlVersion /t REG_DWORD /d "0"

You want the closing quote mark where it is above, not at the very end of the line