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Cannot delete key in Registry

I use Windows 2000 Pro. Going to the Registry with regedit, I cannot delete certain keys of a corrupted program that I need to reinstall. Clicking on the keys, I get "Cannot delete key. Error while deleting key". This occurs ONLY with this precise program. I can delete other keys without problem.
Can you help?
Thank you,
dbessis

CrazyOne

Have you tried booting into savemode and then trying to delete it. I am assuming you have uninstalled the program through Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs. Have you checked for virus's? You may need log on using the builtin administrator account to do the delete.

The Crazy One

geoffryn

Also, you should check the permissions on the key. You may need to take ownership of the offending key.

dbessis

ASKER

I tried in Safe mode to no avail. I have no virus problem.
How do I check permission on a key? The program corresponding to the keys I want to delete has been completely uninstalled. I cannot reinstall it because it needs to delete the keys and cannot. I tried to delete the keys manually and cannot.
How do I take ownership on a key????
Thank you for your help,
dbessis

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

geoffryn

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CrazyOne

I think geoff has what you need to do. Although I can't figure out why the builtin admin account can't delete the key. Did you login using builtin admin account. I am not talking about an assinged admin but the one that was there when Win2000 was installed. Also see if opening a command prompt and using the REG command helps you to delete these keys.

Registry Console Tool For Windows 2000 - version 2.0
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corp. 1981-1999. All rights reserved

REG Operation [Parameter List]

Operation [ QUERY | ADD | DELETE | COPY |
SAVE | LOAD | UNLOAD | RESTORE |
COMPARE | EXPORT | IMPORT ]

Return Code: (Except of REG COMPARE)

0 - Succussful
1 - Failed

For help on a specific operation type:

REG Operation /?

Examples:

REG QUERY /?
REG ADD /?
REG DELETE /?
REG COPY /?
REG SAVE /?
REG RESTORE /?
REG LOAD /?
REG UNLOAD /?
REG COMPARE /?
REG EXPORT /?
REG IMPORT /?

dbessis

ASKER

I used geoffryn suggestion, changed the permissions and could delete the keys.
Thanks,
dbessis