Re: Cannot Delete Registry Key

From: Wesley Vogel (123WVogel955_at_comcast.net)
Date: 08/18/05 

Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 18:12:47 -0600

Reboot and try again. <shrug>

When something won't work the first time, I always try rebooting. 

-- 
Hope this helps.  Let us know.
Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
In news:1124323657.218189.96270@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com,
Brian Pritts <capn.elwood@gmail.com> hunted and pecked:
> Thanks for the response.
>
> Unfortunately, I have done all of the prescribed steps.  I have
> assigned full control permissions on the invalid key, and have also
> tried to take ownership of the key.  For some reason, it will not allow
> me to delete it.  I am an administrator on this machine, and according
> to the permissions on the bad key, I have full control.  Any other
> suggestions?
>
> Thanks,
> Brian
>
> Wesley Vogel wrote:
>> Forget regedt32, use regedit.
>>
>> [[Regedt32.exe
>> In Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, Regedt32.exe is a small
>> program that just runs Regedit.exe. ]]
>> Differences Between Regedit.exe and Regedt32.exe
>> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;141377
>>
>> Caution
>> [[Incorrectly editing the registry may severely damage your system.
>> Before making changes to the registry, you should back up any valued
>> data on your computer. ]]
>>
>> Try this...
>> Reset the registry permissions
>> As soon as you have found the registry subkey that has the incorrect
>> permissions, update the permissions for that subkey.
>>
>> To update the permissions of the registry subkey, follow these steps:
>> a.  Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK to start
>>      Registry Editor.
>> b.  Locate and right-click the registry subkey:
>>      and then click Permissions.
>> c.  Under Group or user names, click Administrators.
>> d.  Under Permissions for Administrators, make sure that the Allow check
>>      box for the following entries is selected:
>>      · Full Control
>>      · Read
>> e.  Click Apply, and then click OK.
>> f.  On the File menu, click Exit to quit Registry Editor.
>>
>> Open the Registry Editor again and see if you can delete the key now.
>>
>> If not, try this...
>> Start | Run | Type:    regedit    | OK |
>> Navigate to >>>
>> the  said key
>> Right click the key in the left hand pane | Permissions...  | Advanced
>> button | Owner tab | click the new owner and then click OK.
>>
>> [[You can take ownership of a registry key if you are logged on as an
>> administrator or if you have been specifically assigned the permission to
>> take ownership of the registry key by the current owner. ]]
>>
>> See permissions, registry in Registry Editor HELP.
>>
>> To assign permissions to a registry key
>>
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/regedit_permit_key.mspx
>>
>> To assign special access to a registry key
>>
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/regedit_assign_specacc.mspx
>>
>> To grant Full Control of a registry key
>>
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/regedit_yield_own.mspx
>>
>> To add users or groups to the audit list
>>
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/regedit_audit_key_adduser.mspx
>>
>> To add users or groups to the Permissions list
>>
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/regedit_permit_key_adduser.mspx
>>
>> To remove a user or group from the Permissions list
>>
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/regedit_permit_key_remove.mspx
>>
>> To take ownership of a registry key
>>
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/regedit_take_own.mspx
>>
>>
>> --
>> Hope this helps.  Let us know.
>>
>> Wes
>> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
>>
>> In news:1124322456.709020.264370@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com,
>> Brian Pritts <capn.elwood@gmail.com> hunted and pecked:
>>> Hello, I am in the process of cleaning spyware off of a computer and
>>> have almost completely cleaned it.  However, one registry key remains
>>> that just will not go away.  The key is
>>> HKLM\Software\ShudderLTD\PSGuard.  I have tried to use regedt32 and
>>> take ownership of this key, and I am logged in as an administrator of
>>> this machine.  I continually get a cannot delete registry key error.
>>> Also, this is the only problem that is found in Spybot, and spybot will
>>> not "fix" the problem either.
>>>
>>> I have done all the major spyware and virus sweeps in safe mode, and
>>> have followed normal best practices for removing spyware.  This one key
>>> eludes me.  Can anyone help?
>>>
>>> Thanks.
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