Regedit - Enable or Disable

How to Enable or Disable Regedit in Vista and Windows 7​

   Information

This will allow you to enable or disable Registry Editor (aka: regedit) for all users in Windows 7 and Vista.

By default, regedit.exe is enabled.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

   Note

Even if you disable access to registry editor, you can still use registry editor in silent mode by using the /s switch. For example, if you type regedit /s filename.reg at the command prompt, you can import the filename.reg registry file into the registry, even though the Prevent access to registry editing tools policy is enabled. In order to prevent this, make sure you select Yes for Disable regedit from running silently? (See step below).

   Tip

The Registry Editor EXE file is located at: C:\Windows\regedit.exe

   Warning

If you did not disable regedit.exe, then it may have been done by some kind of malware or spyware. You should do a complete scan of your computer for a virus and other malware to be safe.

EXAMPLE: Error Message
NOTE: You get this when you try to run Regedit.exe or a REG file when set to disabled.

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OPTION ONE

Enable or Disable Regedit Using a VBS File Download

NOTE: This VBS script will toggle Registry Editor to be enabled or disabled when runned. If regedit was disabled before running the VBS script, then it will be enabled automatically. If regedit was enabled before running the VBS script, then it will be disabled automatically

1. Click on the Download button below to download the .vbs file below.​

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Enable-Disable_regedit.vbs​

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2. Click on Save, and save the .vbs file to your desktop.​

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3. Open an elevated command prompt.​

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4. In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below and press Enter. (see screenshot below)​

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cd /d %userprofile%\desktop​

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5. In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below and press Enter. (see screenshot above)​

wscript.exe Enable-Disable_regedit.vbs​

6. Click on OK. (see screenshots below)​

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7. Close the elevated command prompt window.​

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OPTION TWO

To Disable Regedit Using a REG File Download

WARNING: Once you disable regedit, you will not be able to enable regedit again through the registry or from a REG file. See OPTION ONE or OPTION FOUR to be able to enable regedit again.

Disable regedit from running silently?​

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1. To Disable Regedit and Allow Silent Mode ​

NOTE: See NOTE at the top about Silent Mode.​

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A) Click the download button below to download the file below.​

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Disable_Registry_No_Silently.reg​

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B) Go to step 3.​

2. To Disable Regedit and Prevent Silent Mode​

NOTE: See NOTE at the top about Silent Mode.​

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A) Click the download button below to download the file below.​

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Disable_Registry_Yes_Silently.reg​

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3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.​

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4. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.​

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5. Click on Run, Continue (UAC-Vista) or Yes (UAC-Windows 7), Yes, and then OK when prompted.​

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6. When done, you can delete the .reg file (on Desktop).​

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OPTION THREE

To Manually Disable Regedit Using Registry Editor

WARNING: Once you disable regedit and close the registry, you will not be able to enable regedit again through the registry or from a REG file. See OPTION ONE or OPTION FOUR to be able to enable regedit again.

1. Open the Start Menu, then type regedit and press Enter.​

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2. If prompted by UAC, click on Continue (Vista)or Yes (Windows 7).​

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3. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (See screenshot below step 5)​

NOTE: If you do not have System, right click on Polices, click on New and Key, then type System and press Enter.​

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HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System​

4. To Disable Regedit ​

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A) In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value. Type DisableRegistryTools and press Enter. (See screenshot below step 4)​

5. Right click on DisableRegistryTools and click on Modify. (See screenshot below)​

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Disable regedit from running silently?​

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6. To Disable Regedit and Allow Silent Mode ​

NOTE: See NOTE at the top about Silent Mode.​

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A) Type 1 and click on OK. (See screenshot below step 7A)​

7. To Disable Regedit and Prevent Silent Mode ​

NOTE: See NOTE at the top about Silent Mode.​

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A) Type 2 and click on OK.​

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8. Close regedit.​

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OPTION FOUR

Enable or Disable Regedit Using Local Group Policy Editor

1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.​

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2. In the left pane, click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, and System. (See screenshot below)​

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3. In the right pane, right click on Prevent access to registry editing tools and click on Properties. (See screenshot above)​

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4. To Enable Registry Editor​

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A) Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured and click on OK. (See screenshot below 5D)​

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B) Go to step 6.​

5. To Disable Regestry Editor​

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A) Select (dot) Enabled. (See screenshot below 5D)​

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Disable regedit from running silently?​

NOTE: See NOTE at the top about Silent Mode.​

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B) To Allow Silent Mode - Select No. (See screenshot below 5D)​

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C) To Prevent Silent Mode - Select Yes. (See screenshot below 5D)​

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D) Click on OK. (See screenshot below)​

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6. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window. Your done​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Fix a Slow Scan in a Registry Cleaner Program in 64 bit Vista
• How to Add or Remove Registry Editor from the Vista Control Panel
• How to Use the Registry Editor in Vista and other Techniques
• How to Find Text in the Vista Registry Editor - Regedit
• How to Backup and Restore the Registry in Windows 7 and Vista
• How to Enable or Disable the Command Prompt in Vista and Windows 7

 

[Brink]

Hello TChak, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Well, since you do not have Vista Ultimate, you can't enable the command prompt through Group Policy either.

It seems that your only options is a repair install or clean install. If this was caused by a virus or other malware, then I would recommend a clean install instead.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[TChak]

Hi Shawn and thanks for your response,

But for XP, if you type the following in the Run dialog Regedit will be enabled:

REG add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v DisableRegistryTools /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

Using this, I'm avoiding the method of using the command prompt.

I was just wondering if there was something like this on vista.

Thanks

 

[Dwarf]

Sure thing. You will need to enable the http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/74788-run-command.html on the start menu, if it isn't already there.

 

[Brink]

Hi Shawn and thanks for your response,

But for XP, if you type the following in the Run dialog Regedit will be enabled:

REG add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v DisableRegistryTools /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

Using this, I'm avoiding the method of using the command prompt.

I was just wondering if there was something like this on vista.

Thanks

TChak,

I'll do you one better for you. I have redone METHOD THREE to allow enabling regedit with a simple BAT file download instead.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Dwarf]

Shawn,

You don't need Step 3 Run as administrator here because it is the HKCU branch of the registry. True, it can be run that way, but then the account that would be affected would be the account with administrative privileges, and not necessarily the account with the problem.

 

[Brink]

Dwarf,

I went back to the VBS and command prompt for now. I tried to run the BAT file with and without "Run as administrator" when REGEDIT was disabled, and it would not remove the DisableRegistryTools DWORD.

As a test I ran the BAT file from within a command prompt (elevated and not), and got the "regedit disabled by administrator" message.

This was done in Windows 7, but should be the same as in Vista.

 

[TChak]

Thanks a lot Shawn for the .bat file...

I also have a problem on my xp laptop and was wondering if you could help me out with it....

 

[Brink]

You're welcome TChak.

Sure, go ahead and post your question about your XP laptop in the Chillout Room, and I'm sure someone may be able to help with it.

 

[TChak]

Hi Shawn and sorry if this is too much to ask,

If you have the time, could you also try to provide .bat files for enabling command prompt and run?

Thanks

 

[Brink]

No problem TChak. I'll see what I can to try and add them sometime tonight.

 

[Brink]

TChak,

Unfortunately, you cannot use a BAT file to enable the command prompt again since using BAT files is disabled when the command prompt is as well.

Here's the BAT files for Run though.

Run Command - Enable or Disable - Windows 7 Forums

 

[TChak]

aah... my point exactly...

So, if both the command prompt and regedit are disabled, then there would be no way to re-enable regedit without doing so for command prompt, right?

 

[Brink]

You could use a command prompt at boot to enable regedit using METHOD THREE instead, but you would have to CD your way to the proper locations instead.

Usually if it's that bad, a clean install would be best though.

 

[TChak]

brink,

take a look at this:

if cmd, regedit, and task manager are disabled... They can be enabled by modding:

Freeware Hex Editor XVI32

 

[Brink]

Hell TChak,

I suppose so, but at that point it would probably be best to do a clean install to be safe.

 

[TChak]

Brink,

I have a question....

I used a library pc, and they disabled almost everything including regedit, taskmgr, and cmd... Also, when u click the start button, only My Computer and Printers and Faxes are present. Even if I want to copy a file from my flash disk onto the desktop, it won't let me. When I click my computer, the c drive isnt present!!

Take a look at these screens:

http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt84/tc1222/untitled-1.jpg

http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt84/tc1222/udntitled.jpg

How is that even possible?? Do you think they used a program? Any ideas that you get would be appreciated...

Thanks

 

[Brink]

TChak,

They most likely used the Local Group Policy Editor (not available in your edition of Vista) to disable all of those, and only have a Guest or Standard account running for the users to use. You will not be able to bypass these settings.

 

[adityasatpute]

I used method three to enable reg edit but I get the following error
Could not locate automation class named "WScript.Shell"
code is : 80020009
source : WScript.CreateObject

Please suggest a solution!

 

[Brink]

Hello Adityasatpute, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Double check to make sure that you saved the REG download to your desktop, and that you copied and pasted the command into the elevated command prompt and press entered. There may have been a mistake made if type instead.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[adityasatpute]

Hey Brink... the file is located on desktop, still I'm gettin this prob.