code: def _parse_path(self, path):
          
          handle, path = self._split_path(path)
          if self._machine is not None:
              handle = self._connect_hive(handle)
          return handle, path
docs: Parses a Registry path and returns the hive and key.
  
          @type  path: str
          @param path: Registry path.
  
          @rtype:  tuple( int, str )
          @return: Tuple containing the hive handle and the subkey path.
              For a local Registry, the hive handle is an integer.
              For a remote Registry, the hive handle is a L{RegistryKeyHandle}.