Diff HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Directory\ vs. .....\folder\?

pstein · 18 Jun 2023

As I found out there are two similar (same?) registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Directory\

and

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Folder\

Whats the difference?

As far as I can see folders are NOT referenced in

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\AllfilesystemsObjects\

So folders are NOT a File system object in this sense?

Correct?

mngerhold · 18 Jun 2023

I had to test this again to check, because the behaviour in W10 may not be the same as XP (where I started playing with the context menu. The 'directory' class includes drive letters as well as folders, the folder class excludes drives.

das10 · 18 Jun 2023

It is difficult to give a 'concise' explanation in lay terms, but have a look at the following pages. They show how Windows manages NameSpaces, and that Folders can include virtual objects which group items like Network printers, Control Panel applications, etc. Directories are one type of folder.

https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldne...16-00/?p=11473
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/wi...amespace-intro

pepanee · 18 Jun 2023

I just checked my regedit...

I apparently don't have:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Folder\
nor
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\AllfilesystemsObjects\

Yet, I do have:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Directory\
$Diff HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Directory\ vs. .....\folder\?-image.png$
[But every single subfolder is empty... with only the: (Default) REG_SZ values.]

Paul Black · 18 Jun 2023

I just checked my regedit . . .

The FIRST I have the Folder:

$Diff HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Directory\ vs. .....\folder\?-image.png$

The SECOND I do NOT have the Folder:

$Diff HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Directory\ vs. .....\folder\?-image.png$

I hope this helps.