trying to delete stubborn registry entry

[jcalvert]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[jcalvert]

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]

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]

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]

Try it in Safe Mode?

What is the software package you are trying to install?

 

[jcalvert]

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