asked on

Search for Values in a registry key and delete them

I am trying to create a powershell script that will delete all entries where the word apple is.

I can get to the HK users using example:

$null = New-PSDrive -Name HKU -PSProvider Registry -Root Registry::HKEY_USERS 
Get-ChildItem HKU:'\S-1-5-20\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Devices'

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However how do I loop throgh those values and delete the ones that say "apple"???

I am starting to think that it isn't possible.

if it can't be done 'cleanly', can a script output to a text file then another script use taht file to delete the entries? I would prefer if it could be done with a single script but I am starting to give up....

chrismerritt

Try this one, will delete all sub key properties that contain the word "Apple".

$RemovalArray = @()

New-PSDrive -Name HKU -PSProvider Registry -Root Registry::HKEY_USERS
Set-Location HKU:
$RegPathContent = Get-Item "HKU:\S-1-5-20\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Devices"

for ($i = 0 ; $i -lt $RegPathContent.ValueCount ; $i++)
{
	$CurrentProperty = $RegPathContent.Property[$i]
	if ($CurrentProperty -match "Apple")
	{
		Write-Host "found match: $CurrentProperty"
		
		$TempArray = @()
		$TempArray = "" | Select KeyPath, PropertyName
		
		[string]$TempArray.KeyPath = "HKU:\S-1-5-20\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Devices"
		[string]$TempArray.PropertyName = $CurrentProperty
		
		$RemovalArray += $TempArray
	}
}

if ($RemovalArray.Count -gt 0)
{
	foreach ($Item in $RemovalArray)
	{
		Remove-ItemProperty $Item.KeyPath $Item.PropertyName
	}
}

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brittonv

ASKER

This is beyond awesome, thanks!

One more question, is it possible to convert something like this in to a function such that I could run:
delkey -key "HKU:\S-1-5-20\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Devices" -value "apples"

I understand that I would have to mount HKU first.

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chrismerritt

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brittonv

ASKER

Awesome, thanks!!!