Resolved XP registry setting for advanced power settings

I'm trying to find the registry setting that sets the action of the power button to "Ask" from "Shut Down ". I've tried taking a copy of the registry before and after changing the setting from the Control Panel, but I've still been unable to find the right key.
I believe it should be under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Controls Folder\PowerCfg\ but I can't seem to find it. I'd appreciate if someone more familiar with the registry could help. Thanks.

 

Are you just trying to change the action of the power button? If so, you should be able to do that in the power options applet. Control Panel>Power Options>Advanced.

If you need to get at the key for some other reason, post back. Maybe I can can track it down for you or somebody else may know where it is.

 

Yeah, this setting has to be applied to 1400 PC's, so using the power options applet is out of the question. Thanks.

 

FWIW, when I monitor the Registry for changes while resetting that applet, I get changes to 6 different keys:

HKU\S-1-5-21-2857422465-927890586-840360825-1003\Control Panel\PowerCfg\GlobalPowerPolicy\Policies

HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Power\DcPolicy

HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Power\AcPolicy

HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Control\Session Manager\Power\DcPolicy

HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Control\Session Manager\Power\AcPolicy

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Cryptography\RNG\Seed

I would assume that you could combine the duplicates and reduce the required changes to four keys:

HKU\S-1-5-21-2857422465-927890586-840360825-1003\Control Panel\PowerCfg\GlobalPowerPolicy

HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Power

HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Control\Session Manager\Power

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Cryptography\RNG

I doubt the RNG key is needed but you'll want to test that idea by trying the other three without it.

 

Thanks, surferdude. I tried those keys you posted and as I was testing, I was able to switch the setting, but for some reason, only once. I mean, when I switched the setting back to "Shut Down" I was unable to switch it back to "Ask ". Anyway, now I know which keys are the right ones, so thanks!