From:	Richard Dawe <richdawe AT bigfoot DOT com>
Newsgroups:	comp.os.msdos.djgpp,comp.os.msdos.programmer
Subject:	Re: Detecting Windows and Windows directory from DOS
Date:	Mon, 20 Mar 2000 20:04:27 +0000
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To:	djgpp AT delorie DOT com
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Reply-To:	djgpp AT delorie DOT com

Hello.

Eli Zaretskii wrote:
> The way to access the registry from DOS programs is known and well
> documented.
> There's a book called "Inside the Windows 95 Registry" which tells the
> story and shows code.

From what I can recall, this book does not contain enough information for
programs working in 32-bit protected mode. Something to do with the value
of the SS & BP registers before and after calls, although that's just a
hazy recollection.

> There's a library compatible with DJGPP (called regdos or something)
> which can do that.  Look it up.

Regdos seems to have vanished, reappeared and then vanished again - or
rather, the author's home page has disappeared. Anyway, I just discovered
that I put a copy of it here:

http://www.phekda.freeserve.co.uk/richdawe/mysoft.html#homeless

Eli, it might be a good idea to add this to the DJGPP FAQ. ;) I had
honestly completely forgotten that I had it on my web page! I only
discovered it when I was making some mods to that page.

> > Why doesn't it just store its registry as text like GNU/Linux does?
>
> Because Microsoft never meant for applications to access this
> information.

They broke their own rules quickly then!

FWIW this registry code is reliable. libsocket uses it to get all sorts of
TCP/IP information from the registry. I don't recommend this method to
anyone. It's pretty broken. If you can avoid using the registry, use some
other method.

Bye,

-- 
Richard Dawe
richdawe AT bigfoot DOT com ICQ 47595498 http://www.bigfoot.com/~richdawe/

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