Can't modify registry key even after changing permissions

[pjfarr]

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...?

 

[Callender]

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:



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.

 

[Ztruker]

Very slick little program and no install needed. Thanks.

 

[pjfarr]

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.

 

[pjfarr]

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.

 

[Callender]

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:



Edit:

Would you also try:

Start> Run

Then type

netplwiz

Press Enter.

Post a screenshot of the results. Thanks.

 

[pjfarr]

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\""

​

 

[pjfarr]

Here's the other screenshots you asked for...

 

[Callender]

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:



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.



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?

 

[pjfarr]

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.

 

[pjfarr]

Hey, I think I had a breakthrough!

I exported a backup of the shell subkey then attempted to delete it from the registry to try and rebuild it from scratch manually. I got an error "Cannot delete shell: Error while deleting key" but the Firefox entries I'd made under that key vanished anyway while leaving the default entries (Open, Print, etc.).

I then attempted to re-import the regfile I exported earlier and got an error "Error accessing the registry" but the Firefox entries from the regfile still reappeared.

But now I'm able to create the new "Open with Chrome" subkey under the shell key, following the same structure I used for "Open with Firefox". However, right-clicking on an URL shortcut and choosing "Open with Chrome", while it does open Chrome, it displays the "Properties" of the shortcut itself instead of the webpage of the URL. "Open with Firefox" still works properly.

 

[Callender]

Chrome shortcut

The Restore Ownership box will be blank if you closed the program after taking ownership. It needs to be left running when you make modifications.

Well done for getting things mostly sorted out. As far as I can work out the shortcut problem could be related to default file associations.



How many shortcuts do you wish to create? There might be other ways to create shortcuts that work.

 

[pjfarr]

Nevermind, it looks like it's an issue with Chrome itself:

https://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=114871

But the original issue with the registry permissions has been worked out, so thanks so much for the time you put into this, I really appreciate it!

 

[Callender]

Chrome shortcuts

Thanks for the feedback and for tracking down that issue. I was just asking about the number of shortcuts required as it's possible to add then in the desktop right click context menu to open in any browser that's installed. If you only need a few regular shortcuts you can modify the instructions in this post:

http://www.sevenforums.com/customization/321233-add-sevenforums-shortcut-context-menu.html

 

[Callender]

More info

If you like to keep a clean desktop you can add shotcuts to open in any browser using an application launcher.

Here's an example of what I use:

Desktop remains clear until a hotkey combination is pressed and that brings up a menu.

Here's the menu along with a shortcut that will open in a non default browser.



Here's the menu editor.

 

[pjfarr]

Thanks for all the cool tweaking info! I actually am an avid tweaker, but have been trying to curb my compulsive urge to tweak. Sometimes things go wrong under the radar and I don't realize it until weeks later when I notice something is suddenly buggy and then I have no idea what tweaking may have caused it. That's probably how that reg key got f'ed up in the first place, lol.