C?\ In Registry Entries Instead Of C:\

[johnjinsf]

I am running XP on a Sony VAIO.

In the registry there are literally hundreds of entries in the
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\ area where the Data Values have C?\XXXX instead of C:\XXXX

I have searched the web to see if there is an explanation, but the only
posting I could find with the same details never had a follow up to it.

I thought the ? might be a placeholder similar to a % but I found nothing
about it.

Should I do a mass replace of ? with :

Thanks

--
johnjinsf

[Mark L. Ferguson]

290301 - Description of the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290301

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Mark L. Ferguson
..

"johnjinsf" > wrote in message
...
> I am running XP on a Sony VAIO.
>
> In the registry there are literally hundreds of entries in the
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\
> area where the Data Values have C?\XXXX instead of C:\XXXX
>
> I have searched the web to see if there is an explanation, but the only
> posting I could find with the same details never had a follow up to it.
>
> I thought the ? might be a placeholder similar to a % but I found nothing
> about it.
>
> Should I do a mass replace of ? with :
>
> Thanks
>
> --
> johnjinsf

[johnjinsf]

Hi Mark

Thank you for your reply - I appreciate your assistance.

I ran the Installer Clean Up (without deleting anything), and all of the
products
listed are valid and installed and functioning.

I am not familiar with the Installer Clean - does it only delete the bad
records for
a product?

FYI - in amongst all of the entries with the ? areall of the .Net files.
I also just noticed that there are some entries that do not have the
C?\.
instead they have numerics like the following :
02:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\XXXX
00:\TypeLib\{E64169B

Once again, thank you for your help

John
--

johnjinsf


"Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:

> 290301 - Description of the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility:
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290301
>
> --
> Was this helpful? Then click the Ratings button. Voting helps the web
> interface.
> http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales/help/help_en-us.htm#RateAPostAsAnswer
> Mark L. Ferguson
> .
>
> "johnjinsf" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I am running XP on a Sony VAIO.
> >
> > In the registry there are literally hundreds of entries in the
> > HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\
> > area where the Data Values have C?\XXXX instead of C:\XXXX
> >
> > I have searched the web to see if there is an explanation, but the only
> > posting I could find with the same details never had a follow up to it.
> >
> > I thought the ? might be a placeholder similar to a % but I found nothing
> > about it.
> >
> > Should I do a mass replace of ? with :
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > --
> > johnjinsf
>

[neil]

If it helps you at all I have the same entries so I wouldn't think it's a
problem. I'd leave well alone if I were you or you could screw up your
registry.

Neil
"johnjinsf" > wrote in message
...
>I am running XP on a Sony VAIO.
>
> In the registry there are literally hundreds of entries in the
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\
> area where the Data Values have C?\XXXX instead of C:\XXXX
>
> I have searched the web to see if there is an explanation, but the only
> posting I could find with the same details never had a follow up to it.
>
> I thought the ? might be a placeholder similar to a % but I found nothing
> about it.
>
> Should I do a mass replace of ? with :
>
> Thanks
>
> --
> johnjinsf