Restore the registry editor to its default state?

If you are having computer problems you can restore your computer to a pervious restore point. That will take the registry back as well.

What do you mean by default? Do you mean for the editor to always open in the same manner each time without remembering the last key that was open (as is the default)?

If you mean that you want the editor to open in its original state, just as though you had opened it for the first time, then this can be achieved by editing Permissions.

Open the Registry Editor and browse to the following key.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrenVersion\Applets\Regedit

In the left-hand panel, right click on Regedit and click Permissions...

In the dialogue panel that appears, click on the user that you require. There will be a box that has the title Permissions for <UserName> with a list of options together with Allow and Deny checkboxes. Click on the top two Deny checkboxes (Full Control and Read) to put a tick in them as shown in the image below.



Click OK and then close the Registry Editor. When you next re-open it, it will no longer remember the last key that you had opened and will open as shown below.

   Note

If you want this for all users, then you will have to log into each user in turn and set the permissions as detailed above.

You can reverse this procedure by following the above instructions, this time click on the checkboxes to remove the ticks.

This also applies to Vista as well as Windows 7.

   Warning

Only do this for users. Do not change permissions for RESTRICTED, SYSTEM, or Administrators.

Dwarf said:

What do you mean by default? Do you mean for the editor to always open in the same manner each time without remembering the last key that was open (as is the default)?

Great catch...you are right, does the OP mean the Registry Editor or the Registry. I have used your Registry Editor deny patch as well as just deleting the key. Deleting the key will not prevent the Registry Remembering were you were the next time but it is great for leaving it at default for imaging or cloning systems.