Can't modify registry key even after changing permissions

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

  1. pjfarr
    Posts : 78
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       New #1

    Can't modify registry key even after changing permissions


    I'm trying to modify the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\InternetShortcut\shell key in the registry to add a "Open with Chrome" entry so that I can right-click a shortcut and choose whether to open it in IE (default) or Chrome.

    I know how to create and write this type of key/command, I've done it successfully with other file types, but RegEdit keeps telling me I don't have the required permission to create a new subkey in this particular key.

    I've changed the permissions to give administrators full control of this key but it still throws me the same error. I changed the permissions likewise on the parent key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\InternetShortcut and can create a new subkey directly under that key but the same settings don't work on the shell subkey.

    Help...?
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  3. Callender
    Posts : 4,776
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       New #2

    Modify Registry Key


    Well you can try this if you like. It's the method that I use to modify protected registry keys.

    Note: It is wise to back up (export) the registry key before messing about with it.

    Try downloading this and run as administrator:

    RegOwnershipEx

    Since you've been screwing up permissions on that registry key I'd suggest making use of system restore to return things to how they were before you start.

    Run the program:

    In the program's folder you'll find a Windows 7 sub-folder. Open it and then open the X86 folder for 32bit windows. Right click RegOwnershipEx.exe and choose run as administrator.

    From the GUI browse to the registry key:

    Can't modify registry key even after changing permissions-regownershipex.jpg

    Then Take Ownership

    Then run Regedit and make your modifications and exit Regedit

    Then go back to your open RegOwnershipEx window and Restore Ownership.

    Reboot.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  4. Ztruker
    Posts : 6,285
    Windows 10 Pro X64
       New #3

    Very slick little program and no install needed. Thanks.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  6. pjfarr
    Posts : 78
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       New #4

    Callender, thanks for your input and for the link. Looks like a cool utility, I'm curious about it. I'll give it a shot over the weekend and report back.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  7. pjfarr
    Posts : 78
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    Callender, tried RegOwnershipEx and still getting the same error ("Cannot create key. Error writing to the registry.") when trying to create a new subkey under InternetShortcut\shell

    I've been keeping track of the changes I'm making and if something doesn't work I change it back, so I hope I haven't been screwing anything up.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  8. Callender
    Posts : 4,776
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       New #6

    Registry Key Modification


    Would you export the key and attach it to your next post?

    I have no problems creating new keys or subkeys here: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\InternetShortcut\shell

    Perhaps you have installed some security software that prevents changes to certain registry keys?

    Run RegOwnershipEx and browse to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\InternetShortcut\shell and take a screenshot of the current owner. This is what it should look like:

    Can't modify registry key even after changing permissions-regownershipex-1.0.0.jpg

    Edit:

    Would you also try:

    Start> Run

    Then type

    netplwiz

    Press Enter.

    Post a screenshot of the results. Thanks.
    Last edited by Callender; 28 Sep 2014 at 15:29. Reason: add info
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  10. pjfarr
    Posts : 78
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       New #7

    Callender, the full registry key under "InternetShortcut\shell".

    As you can see, I was able to add an "Open with Firefox" item several years back and had no permissions issues then, and it still works. (I'm trying to add one for Chrome now).
    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\InternetShortcut\shell]
    "CLSID"="{FBF23B40-E3F0-101B-8488-00AA003E56F8}"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\InternetShortcut\shell\Open]
    "CLSID"="{FBF23B40-E3F0-101B-8488-00AA003E56F8}"
    "Icon"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Internet Explorer\\iexplore.exe,0"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\InternetShortcut\shell\Open\Command]
    @="\"C:\\Windows\\System32\\rundll32.exe\" \"C:\\Windows\\System32\\ieframe.dll\",OpenURL %l"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\InternetShortcut\shell\OpenwithFirefox]
    @="Open with Firefox"
    "Icon"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Mozilla\\Firefox\\firefox.exe,0"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\InternetShortcut\shell\OpenwithFirefox\command]
    @="\"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Mozilla\\Firefox\\firefox.exe\" \"%1\""

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\InternetShortcut\shell\print]
    "Icon"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,\
    00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,57,00,6f,00,77,00,36,00,34,00,5c,00,73,00,\
    68,00,65,00,6c,00,6c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,31,00,36,\
    00,00,00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\InternetShortcut\shell\print\command]
    @="\"C:\\Windows\\System32\\rundll32.exe\" \"C:\\Windows\\System32\\mshtml.dll\",PrintHTML \"%1\""

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\InternetShortcut\shell\printto]

    [\printto\command]
    @="\"C:\\Windows\\System32\\rundll32.exe\" \"C:\\Windows\\System32\\mshtml.dll\",PrintHTML \"%1\" \"%2\" \"%3\" \"%4\""
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  11. pjfarr
    Posts : 78
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       New #8

    Here's the other screenshots you asked for...
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Can't modify registry key even after changing permissions-regown.jpg   Can't modify registry key even after changing permissions-accounts.jpg  
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  12. Callender
    Posts : 4,776
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       New #9

    Something to try


    Everything looks okay = I see you're using an account with admin rights. Your permissions as shown in your screenshot:



    They're not the default permissions. The permissions shown is what you get when you take ownership. The default is Trusted Installer.

    So I've done some experimenting. I backed up my own HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\InternetShortcut key and tried to import yours. I get the following error:

    Can't modify registry key even after changing permissions-error-creating-key.jpg

    I tried in Safe Mode - same result.

    Using TakeOwnershipEx I am able to recreate your

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\InternetShortcut\shell\OpenwithFirefox]
    @="Open with Firefox"
    "Icon"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Mozilla\\Firefox\\firefox.exe,0"

    registry key. However it did require an additional step rather than what I suggested before.

    Can't modify registry key even after changing permissions-take-ownership-29_9_14.jpg

    The additional step needed was to take ownership of:

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\InternetShortcut

    and

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\InternetShortcut\shell

    then restore ownership for both one modifications are complete. If you can't restore ownership to Trusted Installer for any reason there's an article that explains how to here:

    [Guide] How to Restore “TrustedInstaller” as Default Owner of a File, Folder or Registry Key in Windows?
    Last edited by Callender; 29 Sep 2014 at 13:22. Reason: add info
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  13. pjfarr
    Posts : 78
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       New #10

    Callender

    I changed ownership to Administrators on both the parent InternetShortcut key and the shell subkey when I first got the error. It was originally Trusted Installer. And I can create new keys directly under InternetShortcut.

    Looks like you're getting a different error than I am. You get "Cannot create key: you do not have the requisite permissions, etc..." and I get "Cannot create key: Error writing to the registry."

    Also, the "Restore Ownership" button opens a blank window (no keys listed, like in your example).

    BTW, thanks for all the time you're putting into this. I do appreciate it.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

 
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

  Related Discussions
In installing and re-installing Office 365 Home (64-bit install on Win 7 Pro 64-bit), I get approx. 137 Warnings in Event Viewer like the following: Product: Office 16 Click-to-Run Extensibility Component. The application tried to modify a protected Windows registry key ...
Which partition should be active? The one with OS installed? I have already tried but still get BSOD. I have only one disk. I have 3 partitions (500 MB, 6000 MB, 925 GB). 1 and 3 are primary and 2 is recovery. Which one should I select? If I select partition 3 and make others inactive I...
Hello! I need to be able to give permissions back to the users to edit the registry which has been disable by GPO. I am trying this: set KEY="HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment" Icacls %KEY% /t /c /grant:r "USERS":f I get: "The system cannot find the path...
Using Win 7 Pro x64. Even though I am listed as an Owner in all of the Registry keys, I do not have permissions in all of those same keys. I have Admin rights. This is causing problems installing software. Most recently, I can't install Ghost 15. The install almost completes and then I get...
Registry Permissions
in General Discussion

I'm Administrator in my PC, but when i try to give me permission of a key in the registry, it appears an error message. It doesn't happen with any other key.Any ideas? Thz^^
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

 © Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:50.
Find Us