Removing a rogue registry key

I have a registry key that I cannot delete. If I try to click on or delete the key, I get the error "An error is preventing this key from being opened. Details: The system cannot find the file specified." If I try to delete the branch, I get a generic "error while deleting key"

The key is HKEY_USERS\...\Software\Adobe\Common\10\Sites\Software\SecuROM\License information

Bckground: In trying to move DreamWeaver site information over from a dead box, I inadvertently imported the entire Software registry branch from the old box into the DreamWeaver branch on the new W7 box. I was able to remove all the extraneous information except for this key. This key seems to be stopping me from retaining site information in DW, as any sites I create are lost when I close DW.

I've tried taking ownership of the key and branch in regedit but just get the same error that it doesn't exist. I've contacted Securom tech support and they suggested using RegDelNull (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897448.aspx), but that was also unsuccessful). Any other ideas for aggessively removing the rogue key?

Thanks

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Answer

Funky D

Sorry to dig up this thread, but I had the same question as OP and this topic was one of the first on a google search that brought up very little info. After some more searching, I was finally able to find a solution in this KB article:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2021860

I figured I'd post the solution here for others who are googling for an answer and got frustrated when they found this thread didn't really lead anywhere.

You'll want to download RegDelNull from here:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897448

Extract to a location that is easy to get to, i.e. C:\Temp

Open a command prompt as administrator (All Programs --> Accessories --> Shift-Click on "Command Prompt", Run As Administrator)

Navigate to the directory where you saved RegDelNull (i.e. type cd \ <enter>, cd temp <enter>)

In the OP question, where the SecuROM key is in the HKEY_USERS, you'll want to type regdelnull hku -s <enter>. You should then get a prompt to delete the key. Press Y and the key will be deleted.

If the above doesn't work, you may need to load Windows in Safe Mode and log into the administrator account. If the reg key is in your local account (HKCU), you may need to load the NTUSER.DAT hive and run regdelnull against hkcu instead. I'm not going to get into that, but hopefully I provided enough if needed.

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Removing a rogue registry key

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Question Info

Removing a rogue registry key

Replies (14) 

Question Info

Replies (14)