why ntuser.dat file time stamp is not updated for over a y..

External Since: Apr 29, 2007 Posts: 28

Olof,
Thank you for the insight. I see I have not explained all
properly.
I do not use a hardcoded path.
What I do is:
In Windows registry I look up the path to 'Desktop'
HKEY_CURRENT_USER/"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell
Folders\"
From that key I extract path, then I add the current user name (returned
from API) and that is the way I create path to the ntuser.dat file.
What can be wrong with that approach?
Thanks,
Jack

"Olof Lagerkvist" <sorry DeleteThis @no.mail> wrote in message
news:u6$%23y8bvHHA.1104@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Jack wrote:
>
>> The API call I use is:
>> GetUserName()
>> http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms724432.aspx
>>
>> This is a recommended method by Microsoft to obtain the current user
>> name.
>
>
> That is the recommended way to get the current user name but NOT the
> recommended way to get the current user profile path. Please note that
> there is no guarantee that the the current user path is C:\Documents and
> Settings\<current user name>, if for example the ntuser.dat in the user
> profile is damaged in some way and cannot be loaded when the user logs on
> the user will get a new profile with a new path. Same goes if there is
> already another directory present with the name C:\Documents and
> Settings\<current user name> when the user logs on for the first time.
>
> Either do like "Pegasus" said, look at the
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\hivelist registry key
> for loaded hive files or use the GetUserProfileDirectory() API.
>
> --
> Olof Lagerkvist
> ICQ: 724451
> Web: http://here.is/olof

External Since: Oct 14, 2005 Posts: 2185

To remove any doubt about the location of this file, do this while
the user is logged on:
- Unhide it (this will work).
- Try to rename it to "ntuser.dat" (this won't work while the user is logged
on).

"Jack" <replyto@it> wrote in message
news:%23qq6geevHHA.4516@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>I have tried that key.
> On my computer the value is:
> \Device\HarddiskVolume1\Documents and Settings\Jacek\ntuser.dat
> How to translate that path to the generally accepted format?
> Jack
>
> "Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can.TakeThisOut@fly.com> wrote in message
> news:OORKcGbvHHA.536@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> You should have a look here to make sure you're looking at
>> the right profile folder:
>> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\hivelist\
>> \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-4233798886-620521722-3728218106-1004
>>
>> "Jack" <replyto@it> wrote in message
>> news:uJBSzCbvHHA.1164@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>> No.
>>> It is not me who is looking, but my code.
>>> And my code is looking at ntuser.dat located in the current user
>>> profile.
>>> "C:\Documents and Settings\<current user name>\ntuser.dat"
>>> <Current User Name> is determined by API call.
>>> It works 99.5% of the time but .remaining 05% is the reason I would like
>>> to find the answer.
>>> Jack
>>>
>>> "Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can.TakeThisOut@fly.com> wrote in message
>>> news:OkFOkFavHHA.1204@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>>
>>>> "Jack" <replyto@it> wrote in message
>>>> news:%23lBw4$ZvHHA.3444@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>>> Hello,
>>>>> I am trying to find out under what circuimstances
>>>>> ntuser.dat registry file will not be time stamped, even when user
>>>>> login into Windows daily and performs regular tasks such as running
>>>>> programs.
>>>>> I have checked on my 3 computers running Win XP and soon after I start
>>>>> Windows, few minutes later, ntuser.dat will update time stamp to the
>>>>> current date.
>>>>> However, over last few years I had few situations, when the persons
>>>>> using Windows XP had their usernt.dat file time stamp not updated for
>>>>> 500 or more days!
>>>>> How is that possible?
>>>>> Jack
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> You're probably looking in the wrong profile folder.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>