trying to delete stubborn registry entry

jcalvert · Dec 16, 2009

Can someone give me a blow by blow method of deleting registry entries.
I am stuck and tried all "possible" combinations of editing permissions but nothing seems to work.
What is the secret formula to this?

The structure looks like this:
HKLM\Software\Classes\CLSID\{ very long key}\MiscStatus\1
MiscStatus has a single subkey called 1
It (ie 1 ) cannot be opened, permission is denied. If I could delete 1, I could then delete the entire thing up to CLSID.

I have tried running regedit.exe as Administrator but that does not help.

I am running Vista 64 SP2
Thanks
Jim Calvert

d3aths3rver · Dec 16, 2009

Hi Jim,
Make sure you login as the Administrator for a start, and if that doesnt work, login as the Admin in safe mode. If that doesnt work set the registry key as 0 and then try.
Hope I helped

jcalvert · Dec 16, 2009

Hi d3aths3rver,
Thanks for the suggestions. I am not sure what you mean by "set the registry key as 0 and then try".
How exactly is that done?

Thanks

d3aths3rver · Dec 16, 2009

when you are in regedit right click and click modify it should say 1 or something. set it to zero and try to delete

jcalvert · Dec 16, 2009

That's the point. "1" is not readable and can't be opened. I just need to delete it.
I have no idea what its contents are.

Cheers

d3aths3rver · Dec 16, 2009

why are you trying to delete this registry entry? perhaps try a registry cleaner in safe mode
Glary Utilities is free and fairly decent.

jcalvert · Dec 17, 2009

d3aths3rver,
Thanks very much for your suggestions, but unfortunately none including running regedit.exe as Administrator even in Safe mode does the trick.

I need to delete this to allow the reinstall of a software package.

Are there any other suggestions out there from anyone.

Thanks

d3aths3rver · Dec 17, 2009

RegASSASSIN Resets ACL Permissions and Deletes Stubborn Registry Keys Easily - The Winhelponline Blog

jcalvert · Dec 19, 2009

I just tried regASSASSIN and even it claims it cannot delete this key.

I really want to get rid of this. Does anyone have a suggestion?

Thanks

Timmah · Dec 19, 2009

Try opening elevated CMD ( Run as Admin ). Type in: Net user Administrator /active:yes

Log off of your account, Log into the Administrator Account, try to delete the key.

If it works/doesn't work you can re-hide the account by typing

Net user Administrator /active:no

jcalvert · Dec 19, 2009

Timmah,
Thanks for the suggestion. I did execute the Net command and logged on as Administrator. Unfortunately, still no luck.

Any other suggestions from anybody?

Thanks

Timmah · Dec 20, 2009

Try it in Safe Mode?

What is the software package you are trying to install?

jcalvert · Dec 20, 2009

I turns out that I have discovered a miracle method, and its really powerful so must be used with a great amount of caution. It deleted the stubborn key instantly.

Under Administrator execution of the Command prompt, enter:

psexec -s -i regedit

This will run regedit from the System account.

psexec can be found at:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/utilities/psexec.mspx

psexec's normal use is to remotely interface other systems but it just happens to be able to run things like regedit from the System account.

Cheers

trying to delete stubborn registry entry

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