Vista - Regedit - Enable or Disable

Information

This will allow you to enable or disable Registry Editing Tools or regedit.exe from running for all users on the computer. By default, regedit.exe is enabled.

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.

• 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 Vista Registry

NOTE

This method is only available for the Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions. See METHOD TWO and METHOD THREE below for the Vista Basic and Home Premium editions.

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

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

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

4. To Enable Regedit -

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

B) Go to step 6.

5. To Disable Regedit -

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

Disable regedit from running silently?
NOTE: See NOTE at the top about Silent Mode.

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

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

D) Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

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

NOTE

This will work for all Vista versions.

Through a Download:
WARNING: Once you disable regedit, you will not be able to enable regedit again through the registry or from a REG file. See METHOD THREE below to enable regedit again.

Disable regedit from running silently?

1. To Disable Regedit and Allow Silent Mode -
NOTE: See NOTE at the top about Silent Mode.

A) Click the download button below to download the
Disable_Registry_No_Silently.reg file.

B) Go to step 3.

2. To Disable Regedit and Prevent Silent Mode -
NOTE: See NOTE at the top about Silent Mode.

A) Click the download button below to download the
Disable_Registry_Yes_Silently.reg file.

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

4. Right click on the .reg file (on Desktop) and click on Merge.

5. Click on the Run button in the Security Warning pop-up.

6. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.

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

The Manual Way:
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 METHOD THREE below to enable regedit again.

1. Open the Start Menu.

2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.

3. If prompted by UAC, click on Continue.

4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below step 6)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
NOTE: If you do not have System, then right click on Polices and click on New and Key. Type System and press Enter.

5. To Disable Regedit -

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 6)

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

Disable regedit from running silently?

7. To Disable Regedit and Allow Silent Mode -
NOTE: See NOTE at the top about Silent Mode.

A) Type 1 and click on OK. (See screenshot below step 8A)

8. To Disable Regedit and Prevent Silent Mode -
NOTE: See NOTE at the top about Silent Mode.

A) Type 2 and click on OK.

9. Close regedit.

NOTE

This method will work for all Vista versions.

1. Download the reg_enable.vbs file in Attachments at the end of the web site's article below, and save it to the Desktop.
NOTE: See this site to download the file under attachments: Winhelponline.com: Error "Registry editing has been disabled by your administrator" when you open the Registry Editor in Windows Vista

2. Open a Elevated Command Prompt.

3. If prompted, click on Continue in the UAC prompt.

4. In the elevated command prompt, type cd /d %userprofile%\desktop and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

5. In the elevated command prompt, type wscript.exe reg_enable.vbs and press Enter. (See screenshot above)

6. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

7. Close the elevated command prompt.

8. Regedit.exe should now be enable so you can open it again.