Solved Enabling Registry Editor and Task Manager Help

Scizor · Oct 20, 2010

Okay, I read Brink's tutorials on how to enable to the Task Manager if it was disabled but found out that my Registry Edit was disabled as well. I realize this is probably due to a virus, but I have scanned my computer multiple times with McAfee Antivirus 2010 in the past few months and have found nothing.

However, I'm having a bit of trouble enabling the regedit. I tried every method listed and I keep getting errors. This is the main one:

Can anybody offer some help please?

Thanks in advance.

And I apologize if I'm posting this in the incorrect subforum.

Lorien · Oct 29, 2010

Hi Scizor,

Welcome to Vista Forums.

If at any point the error message changes in any way, stop and post a screenshot of the new error as a partial fix may have occurred and we may need to change procedures based on the new information.

First, go to Start / All Programs / Accessories / Command Prompt and right click on Command prompt and click run as Administrator and type regedit.exe and see if you are now allowed access without the error.

If that doesn't work, try Method Three in http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/116415-regedit-enable-disable.html to see if you can enable the registry that way (assuming you haven't done this already - but it seems it was run from the desktop and if run in an elevated prompt mode in a Command Prompt it might be more effective). Hopefully, that will do the trick (even if the Tutorial isn't really for this error but to fix a related issue - but it may work and is worth a shot). Once done, use the above method again to get to regedit.

If that doesn't work, then when did this problem start? Has it been recent enough that you have a System Restore point before it began? If so, try a System Restore to a point in time BEFORE the problem began. Here's the procedure: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76905-system-restore-how.html. Be sure to check the box to show more than 5 days of restore points. If the first attempt fails, then try an earlier point or two. NOTE: You will have to re-install any software and updates you installed between now and the restore point, but you can use Windows Update for the updates.

If that doesn't work (or isn't possible), then try downloading and running the following: Download Re-Enable Portable 2.0.1.0 Free - Re Enable regedit, command console "cmd", task manager, system restore and folder options after been disabled by a virus - Softpedia to see if that re-enables the registry. When done, reboot and first try the normal regedit command. If that doesn't work, try the one in the first paragraph above and see if that helps. Before doing this, I recommend you first create a new System Restore point AND backup the registry just to be on the safe side.

If that doesn't work, try enabling the built-in Administrator account http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67567-administrator-account.html and then reboot and login as that Administrator and see if you have any better luck.

If that doesn't work, then let's do a more thorough cleaning of your computer for viruses and malware. Try to run anti-malware programs (in safe mode with networking if necessary). To fix this problem (if it is a problem) download, install, and run the following two programs: http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php and http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html. You may also want to try the new, free Microsoft Security Essentials http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/Microsoft-Security-Essentials-Download-131683.html (with the caveat that only ONE AV program can be installed and running on your system at any one time). Use removal tools when appropriate http://www.raymond.cc/blog/archives/2009/05/05/comprehensive-list-of-uninstallers-or-removal-tools-for-antivirus-software/. You may also want to try the free Avira at: http://www.free-av.com/ and Avast at: http://www.avast.com/index. Reboot after completing all the scans. You may also want to try the free OneCare at http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/whatsnew.htm and let it run all the options (except the registry cleaner) because that’s good maintenance (it will take some time to complete but can be done in the background).

If that still doesn't work, go to Start / All Programs / Accessories / Command Prompt and right click on Command prompt and click run as Administrator and type sfc /scannow and enter. Hopefully it will complete with no corruption it could not repair (if there is such corruption post back here or try to analyze it to find the problem file(s) using http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928228.

I hope one of these procedures helps. If not, post back and we'll try some other options or have a malware removal expert take a look at the problem to help determine if it is the cause and see if it can be repaired.

Good luck!

Shadowjk · Oct 29, 2010

Scizor said:
Okay, I read Brink's tutorials on how to enable to the Task Manager if it was disabled but found out that my Registry Edit was disabled as well. I realize this is probably due to a virus, but I have scanned my computer multiple times with McAfee Antivirus 2010 in the past few months and have found nothing.

However, I'm having a bit of trouble enabling the regedit. I tried every method listed and I keep getting errors. This is the main one:

Can anybody offer some help please?

Thanks in advance.

And I apologize if I'm posting this in the incorrect subforum.

I see you tried to use the .VBS File or you have a Blank Key in your Registry

Have you tried to Take Full Control of that file first?

Many Thanks,
Josh

niemiro · Oct 29, 2010

Hello! Sorry we missed you!

Hmmmm. I think that may actually be a bug in the VBS. Let me investigate. However, in the meantime, please try the above suggestions, in particular MBAM from Lorien, but if all else fails, we can use a bootable Vista CD. How comfortable are you? If necessary, we can take away your registry, fix it up, and get you to replace your current one with this new one via a bootable CD, or you can fiddle with the registry yourself.

However, the best way to do this is through a bootable CD. Download one here: Windows Vista Recovery Disc Download — The NeoSmart Files It is a .torrent file, so it you have any problems, don't hesitate to ask!

Now select Repair my Computer, Command Prompt, regedit.exe. However, you have to import the hives first: regedit.exe > File > Import Hive

Then the hives are located at C:\Windows\System32\config
or %UserProfile%\ntuser.dat
For me, the above would be C:\Users\Richard\ntuser.dat

There is a problem. I don't know where regedit has been disabled. I think that it is most likely at [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\]

In this case, you would import SYSTEM file from the config folder, navigate to this location, and delete the DisableRegistryTools value.

If you are not confident with these bare bones instructions, please upload C:\Users\{Your User Name}\ntuser.dat and C:\Windows\System32\config\SYSTEM to rapid share. Copy both of these file to your Desktop, zip them up together (highlight them both > Right click > Send to > Compresses (zipped) archive), upload to RapidShare AG, Cham, Switzerland and post us a link here.

Thanks!

Richard

Scizor · Oct 29, 2010

Thank you for all your troubles guys.

At first when I followed Brink's tutorial on how to Enable Regedit with the VBS file, it gave me the error message every time. And I tried to repeat the same steps this time around as well, but continued to get the same error message. Brink's tutorial seemed to make the Command Prompt execute the file from the desktop, so I had to leave it there.

I was fiddling with it and opened the Command Prompt as Administrator and tried to type in regedit.exe. It didn't work. Got an error message saying it was disabled by the administrator. So I simply skipped the step where I had to type in cd /d %userprofile%\desktop and typed in wscript.exe reg_enable.vbs and it told me the file could not be found. I realized the Command Prompt was set to my system32 folder so I moved the .vbs file to that folder (hopefully without any repercussions) and typed in the command again and it didn't return any kind of error. So then I typed in regedit.exe and it opened up. I then knew what to do to enable my Task Manager (which is what I was initially intending to do).

Maybe one of you could tell me why I was getting the error message before as opposed to now when I moved the .vbs file to the system32 folder? I'm just curious. Anyhow, I appreciate the help from everyone. Thank god I didn't have to go through all of those other options. O_o Would've been hell I guarantee it.

Thanks again guys. :D

Shadowjk · Oct 29, 2010

Well When you enter a Command it will affect the Folder that is "Targeted" For example in your Case System32 was the Target and is set as the Default Target Folder when you run Command Prompt in Administrator

So It was trying to search the .vbs File in System32 but it couldn't find it after you moved it Command Prompt found the File allowing you to use it

Hope This Helps,
Josh

Lorien · Oct 29, 2010

You should have no repurcussions from moving the .vbs file there. I can't think of any problems whatsoever that would cause. It worked this time - just don't get into the habit of moving files there to make things work, because that won't always work and moving some files that way can be useless or even have unintended and unwanted consequences.

Congratulations on getting it to work! Well done! I hope task manager works just as easily.

Thanks for the update - it's good to know how things turned out and what worked. It may help the next person with that problem or help us consider this earlier when proposing options.

Good luck and best wishes!

niemiro · Oct 30, 2010

Well done on getting it fixed! I am still a bit confused by that script. It seems to be very temperamental. Every time I run it, I get a different error. Very strange. Anyway!

Scizor · Oct 31, 2010

Thanks again, all!

niemiro · Nov 1, 2010

Sure thing!

Solved Enabling Registry Editor and Task Manager Help

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