Can't Delete Registry Key

[JackPalmBay]

I have a problem with Adobe Premier Elements. It can only support one DVD burner. I have two on my computer. I worked with them to determine what we think is the cause of the problem. I disconnected the second burner, but the key still exists in the registry. I used this forum to figure out how to set permissions but when I try to delete

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\IDE\CdRom.......

I get an error "Cannot delete CdRom.... :Error while deleting key."

It is strange that I get a couple of ______________ in the drive name in the error message. Any ideas would be appreciated!

Thanks,

Jack

 

[mansrm81]

You need to uninstall the drivers for it cause the drivers are still on the computer. Also you need the drive hooked backup to the computer to do it. Just find the the drive in the device manager and right click and uninstall.

 

[JackPalmBay]

Hooked drive back up, uninstalled it. Shut down, disconnected it, started up. Still could not delete from the registry.

Any other suggestions?

 

[mansrm81]

Try running regedit as run as admin.

 

[JackPalmBay]

Running regedit as administrator did not work either/

 

[mansrm81]

Try deleting the key in safe mode.

 

[ThetaSigma]

You will need to take ownership of the key before Vista will allow you delete it. The ownership of registry keys work exactly as they do with files and directories...

Start RegEdit -> Right-click -> 'Permissions' -> 'Advanced' button -> 'Owner' tab -> click your user name -> check the box 'Replace owner on sub-containers and objects' -> click 'Apply' -> close the open window -> and in the smaller window, give 'Full Control' to the 'Users' group -> click Apply -> close the Permissions window and delete the key

You can delete just about any key in the registry using this method, regardless of whether or not it is in use...but be extremely careful of which keys you take ownership of.

 

[Dwarf]

Hi Jack,

If you have more than one optical drive in your system (and I see from your first post that you have), there will be multiple keys under the key you specified. You need to select the individual key you require. For example, on my system if I wanted to delete the registry entries for my slave optical drive (both drives on my system are identical), the key that I would need to delete would be as follows (key copied directly from registry using the right-click and selecting 'Copy Key Name' function on the key in question):

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\IDE\CdRomLITE-ON_DVDRW_LH-20A1P__________________KL0G____\5&2d5e04ee&0&0.1.0

You can use a command line function, 'REG DELETE', to delete this key as shown below. Please note that this example is for the key value shown above. You will, of course, have to substitute the correct value you obtain from your own registry.

REG DELETE "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\IDE\CdRomLITE-ON_DVDRW_LH-20A1P__________________KL0G____\5&2d5e04ee&0&0.1.0" /f

In order to eliminate possible errors when using this command, I strongly recommend that you use the above method for copying the key name. Also, notice how the initial part of the key name, 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE', is replaced by 'HKLM' and how all of the key name is enclosed in quotes ("").

 

[Flavius]

@JackPalmBay

I think you have trouble with permissions but there aren't normall missing permissions which usually happens.For example if trying to open this key in regedit (of course running with administrative previlliges)



regedit return this error,I can't even to display properties tab!When I try to remove a higher key,regedit return me the same errors what you have.But there is way to resolve it.

Download PsTools: PsTools
and unpack file psexec.exe and place it in C:\Windows\System32

Run cmd.exe with administrative previlliges (right click on it as a administrator if you are using UAC) ,then in cmd.exe type:

psexec -s -i -d regedit.exe

Above command allow you to run regedit from a SYSTEM account,navigate to key which was problem:





Now I have no problem to open key,displaying properties,permisions and of course with removing if you want,but remember:because regedit work now on a SYSTEM account,neccesary to remove any keys are:the owner of this key and subkeys should be SYSTEM (not you or Administrators group) and full control for SYSTEM account for this key and his subkeys.Probably you have it (it is natural permissions for these subkeys in this part of registry) but make sure if really is.

 

[JackPalmBay]

Thank you for all of your help, but still no success.

I have tried safe mode
Running regedit as administrator
Deleting from the command line
Using Psexec.exe

I have taken ownership of permissions starting at HKLM and going down through the entire tree to the drive.

Nothing works for me!

 

[Dwarf]

Hi Jack,

Can you post a screen shot of your registry, showing the exact key that you are trying to delete?

 

[JackPalmBay]

I could not paste the regedit screen into this window. It is in the attachment. I am trying to delete the first key below IDE. Again, thanks to all who have tried to help!

 

[Dwarf]

Hi Jack,

After uninstalling the drive in device manager, disconnect the interface cable and power supply cable from the drive in question (do this with your machine switched off and disconnected from the mains).
Having done that, I don't see why my method wouldn't work, other than you might need to be using a command prompt with administrative credentials: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/181765-elevated-command-prompt.html
As mentioned in my earlier post, highlight the key that you want to delete and select 'Copy Key Name'. Remember to change 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE' to 'HKLM'.
Before you delete this key, check to make sure that it is the one that you need to delete and not one of the others.

 

[JackPalmBay]

Hi Dwarf,

Still getting an error, screen shot attached. Did I miss something??????

Thanks,

Jack

 

[Dwarf]

Hi Jack,

Have you tried the same method, this time adding the '/f' switch as shown in my earlier example? That switch forces the command to be carried out without further prompts.

 

[JackPalmBay]

/f yielded the same unsuccesful result!

 

[Flavius]

Try delete these keys remotly see:Load a hive into the registry: Core Services

Boot DVD Vista>>Choose language>>Repair Computer>>Command Prompt



Hives you can see now only comes from your DVD not from hard disk.Click on HKLM hive or HKU hive...

and will be active option load hive



Go to C:\Windows\System32\config to load SYSTEM

,load this hive as example REM_SYSTEM to HKLM hive

so your key you can see locally as HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control...
will be see remotly as HKLM\REM_SYSTEM\ControlSet00X\Control...

edit key for all X (yo can have few,CurrentControlSet normally iseeing as one of ControlSet00X,mostly for X=1 but not always,edit keys for all ControlSet00X which you have

 

[JackPalmBay]

Thanks Flavius. I will give the solution a try. I like to know what I am doing before I try it and I have never seen the term "hive" before. I am not sure what a "hive" is but will give it a try and let you know.

Jack

 

[JackPalmBay]

Flavius,

I tried to procedure you outlined. When I booted from the Vista DVD, I could not see the drive I wanted to remove. When I went back and booted from the hard drive, it appeared again.

Jack

 

[Flavius]

I tried to procedure you outlined. When I booted from the Vista DVD, I could not see the drive I wanted to remove. When I went back and booted from the hard drive, it appeared again.

Probably due to my bit mistake in path in registry.I was hurry when I wrote my post 17-from this my mistake.I've just corrected my post 17 + additional figure:



When you load SYSTEM file (from C: )under HKLM as name REM_SYSTEM
of course hive which is seeing locally as a HKLM\SYSTEM remotly will be seeing of course as a HKLM\REM_SYSTEM

so your wanted key will be seieing as

HKLM\REM_SYSTEM\ControlSet00X\Enum\IDE...

if you want to navigate HKLM\REM_SYSTEM\Select which show you exactly which subkey is loaded by the system as a CurrentControlSet,for example if you have phrase Default set to 1 this means ControlSet001 is loaded as a CurrentControlSet if Default set to 2 ->ControlSet002 is loaded as a CurrentControlSet and so later,but of course I suggest do it for all ControlSet00X