code: def _split_path(self, path):
          
          if '\\' in path:
              p = path.find('\\')
              hive = path[:p]
              path = path[p+1:]
          else:
              hive = path
              path = None
          handle = self._hives_by_name[ hive.upper() ]
          return handle, path
docs: Splits 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.
              The hive handle is always one of the following integer constants:
               - L{win32.HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT}
               - L{win32.HKEY_CURRENT_USER}
               - L{win32.HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE}
               - L{win32.HKEY_USERS}
               - L{win32.HKEY_PERFORMANCE_DATA}
               - L{win32.HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG}