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Q198248: Some SPI_SET Settings Are Treated As Read-Only Attributes

Article: Q198248
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): WinNT:4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbWinNT400sp4fix
Last Modified: 10-AUG-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition 
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SYMPTOMS
========

You can call the SystemParametersInfo API to set and get all the settings
controlled by the Windows Control Panel. Normally a user would have to select
the Windows Control Panel to view or change system settings such as granularity,
wallpaper, or icon title wrap. Instead of forcing the user to set things
manually using Control Panel, you can have your program call the
SystemParametersInfo API to set them automatically.

The SystemParametersInfo function queries or sets system-wide parameters. These
API functions can also update the user profile while setting a parameter
(SPI_SET). Your custom application may have problems defining system settings
because certain functions are treated as read-only in the SystemParametersInfo,
thus limiting the ability to define a system's settings. These functions are:
SPI_SETDRAGFULLWINDOWS, SPI_SETDRAGWIDTH, SPI_SETDRAGHEIGHT, SPI_SETCURSORS, SPI
_SETICONS, and SPI_SETLANGTOGGLE.

RESOLUTION
==========

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or
Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. For additional information,
please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack


STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows NT
Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. This problem was first corrected in Windows
NT 4.0 Service Pack 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition
Service Pack 4.

MORE INFORMATION
================

SPI_SETDRAGFULLWINDOWS: Sets dragging of full windows either on or off. The
uiParam parameter specifies TRUE for on or FALSE for off.

SPI_SETDRAGWIDTH: Sets the width, in pixels, of the rectangle used to detect the
start of a drag operation.

SPI_SETDRAGHEIGHT: Sets the height, in pixels, of the rectangle used to detect
the start of a drag operation.

SPI_SETCURSORS: Reloads the system cursors. Set the uiParam parameter to zero and
the pvParam parameter to NULL.

SPI _SETICONS: Reloads the system icons. Set the uiParam parameter to zero and
the pvParam parameter to NULL.

SPI_SETLANGTOGGLE: Sets the hot key set for switching between input languages.
The uiParam and pvParam parameters are not used. The value sets the shortcut
keys in the keyboard property sheets by reading the registry again. The registry
must be set before this flag is used. the path in the registry is
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\keyboard layout\toggle. Valid values are "1" = ALT+SHIFT, "2"
= CTRL+SHIFT, and "3" = none.

Syntax:

  BOOL SystemParametersInfo(

    UINT uiAction, // system parameter to query or set
    UINT uiParam,  // depends on action to be taken
    PVOID pvParam, // depends on action to be taken
    UINT fWinIni   // user profile update flag);

For additional information on these and other API functions, please refer to
MSDN.

For additional information on the C2 Evaluation and Certification process, please
see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q93362 C2 Evaluation and Certification for Windows NT

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbWinNT400sp4fix 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbNTTermServ400 kbNTTermServSearch
Version           : WinNT:4.0
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

=============================================================================

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