Is This Registry Change "innocuos"?

[NewW7User]

I have a program that won't run after an update. Vendor replied to make change in registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Windows

1. Navigate to ErrorMode in the right panel.
   
2. Double click on it and change the value data from 0 to 2.
   
3. Then change the Base from “Hexadecimal” to “Decimal”.
   

I'm reluctant to do anything in registry for fear of my changing something a wrong way that would then make Windows fail. Is this change innocuous enough that it's not a risk (even for me)?

 

[Brink]

Hello,

This is for changing the hard error popup handling in Windows.

Windows allows the user to change the handling of hard error popups that result from application and system errors. Such errors include no disk in the drive and general protection (GP) faults.

These events cause a hard error popup to be displayed, which requires user intervention to dispatch. This behavior can be modified so that such errors are logged to the Windows event log. When the error is logged to the event log, no user intervention is necessary, and the system provides a default handler for the hard error. The user can examine the event log to determine the cause of the hard error.

The following are valid values for ErrorMode:

Mode 0

This is the default operating mode that serializes the errors and waits for a response.

Mode 1

If the error doesn't come from the system, this is the normal operating mode. If the error comes from the system, this logs the error to the event log and returns OK to the hard error. No intervention is required and the popup isn't seen.

Mode 2

This always logs the error to the event log and returns OK to the hard error. Popups aren't seen.


Reference: Change hard error popup handling - Application Developer | Microsoft Learn

Basically, setting this value to 2 will hide the error, and doesn't actually fix the cause. If it doesn't help or causes other issues, you can just set it back to "0" to undo the change.

 

[NewW7User]

Thanks Brinks - I appreciate your very clear and full explanation that I could follow. I would prefer the vendor fix the program's bug that is causing the error message, especially as I paid for the license to use it (wasn't expensive). At this point I can either try the registry change or try to find a different program. A quick search didn't turn up something equivalent with a good review so I guess I'll make the registry change.

 

[Brink]

I hope it works for you until theirs a fix.

 

[file3456]

The problem with changing that value is that it's universal. While it'll work to get you past that error popup, if other programs or the OS its self has issues and presents a popup, that popup will now be suppressed and thus you won't know if there was an error or not.

What is the name of the program you're using? Maybe I can find an alternative. Or even help fix what ever error it is. For that I need your event viewer log. I can provide a batch file on that latter if needed.

- - - Updated - - -

I've created two registry files for you. One is called Turn_off_error_handling and the other Turn_on_error_handling.


They do exactly as indicated. Right now you have error handling on as what is default. So if you want to change these values on the fly just double click on the appropriate file. They are safe and can be viewed with a text editor. Just don't change the text unless you know what you're doing.


Any time you need to monkey with the registry you should do two things:

1) Go to File in the registry and export the whole lot. Make sure you select "Computer" at the top prior to export otherwise you won't have the whole thing. It'll take a bit to export. Save to a backup somewhere. Preferably NOT on the computer its self.


2) Create a system restore point.

Both are kinda redundant, but I like redundancy. Especially since system restore can't always be trusted. Only full 1:1 disk clones that have been tested can be ~80% trusted...

 

[NewW7User]

Thank you F22 Simpilot for the information. The program is 4K Video Downloader. from Open Media. It's now gotten weird. Sunday I went to a back release of the program that I had saved and it worked. Today, the back release is failing the same way as the current release.

The error is that it gives an error message that there isn't a disk in the drive.

 

[file3456]

That program looks laced with a lot of shenanigans. I would not trust it.

If you just need YouTube videos, then give this program a try. It's all I use for my personal archival needs. Scroll down a bit and click "Stable release". Now download the Zip file. Extract the Zip file somewhere and double click on YoutubeDownloader.exe

You can right click on YoutubeDownloader.exe and use Copy from the context menu. Then right click your desktop and select Paste as shortcut.

For other media there is probably a purpose built add-on for your browser. What browser do you use? I know Firefox has several. Just keep in mind even add-ons can be loaded with shenanigans like telemetry and whatnot.

 

[NewW7User]

Thank you F22 Simpilot. I appreciate your concern about the program, perhaps because of from where it's coming. But I did research on it and there are a number of reviews highly recommending it. Thank you also for your registry files (I expect I just open the registry and run each one).
And while I also appreciate your suggesting the other program "YOUTUBEDOWNLOADER" to use instead, I do not like when politics is brought into software and included in the Terms Of Use. I wouldn't care if his website pointed to a separate, unrelated page where he expressed his viewpoints. I'm not commenting for or against his position; it's simply that politics has no place in the software programs arena and so I won't use his.

 

[file3456]

Despite the ToS it is a really good program and gets the job done. Or just try this: DamnVid Portable (video downloader/converter) | PortableApps.com

Note: You said many recommend the program you have now? Well, many like McDonalds and may recommend it, but the food is garbage (rubbish).