>So, how does the registry get properly updated for the vfp runtimes?

I don't think they have to.
You can without any problem copy a exe with the two runtime components to a computer (where it has not been installed) and everything works.
Otherwise the VFP installer couldn't work too. It uses the same DLL's and is also a VFP program.
Or it must have been changed since the last time i've seen it.
(I use InstallShield)