problem with running .reg files

[beholder]

When I run .reg files I choose to run them as administrator. I get an information saying that the information was succesfully added to the registry. However, when I open the registry I see that those keys weren't added at all. What's wrong?

 

[Qdos]

And following reboot?

 

[MilesAhead]

You can download my free program called UpdateEnv from this page:
Faves Downloads

The registry is kept in memory but sometimes if you run UpdateEnv 6 or 8 times you can get the shell to write changes or let go of files. It's just a utility that sometimes can save logging off, then back on, to get the shell to save.

If that doesn't work, try logging off, then back on. As last resort, reboot.

 

[Brink]

Hello Beholder,

In addition to restarting the computer, are you merging the reg files while logged on a administrator account? Depending on the registry location, some will not merge no matter what if logged on to a standard account.

 

[beholder]

Thanks for all your replys. The reboot doesn't change anything. Brink, what do you mean by 'merging the reg files'?

 

[Brink]

Merging the .reg file is the same as running it, or right clicking on it and clicking on Merge. That's all.

Could you upload (paperclip icon) the .reg file for us to take a look at it to see if there may something wrong with it?

 

[Dwarf]

What are the registry files? Depending on the location in the registry, you can either merge them under a standard account or an account with administrative privileges

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT Administrative Privileges required

HKEY_CURRENT_USER Both (see note)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Administrative Privileges required

note: the current user is either the standard user OR the elevated user.

 

[MilesAhead]

If it's a permissions thing, shouldn't he get an error instead of "successfully added" msg?

 

[beholder]

Here's the upload

 

[Dwarf]

OK. For information to others, here is the text equivalent of the file.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\RP\Data]
"OutputDir"="D:\\Output"
"DataPath"="D:\\CurrentBuild\\Data"

Using the information from this Tutorial Registry Editing - Vista Forums

@ECHO OFF
REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\RP\Data" /v "OutputDir" /t REG_SZ /d "D:\\Output" /f
REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\RP\Data" /v "DataPath" /t REG_SZ /d "D:\\CurrentBuild\\Data" /f

Save the above as a batch file (with a .bat extension). Right click on it and select Run as administrator.

 

[beholder]

It worked. Thanks for help. Why didn't the regular reg file work?

 

[Dwarf]

Even if you log in as an Administrator, you are still running with a token that grants you standard privileges. To actually run in administrative mode, you need to elevate so that you are running with the administrative token.

This can lead to problems with registry files as you cannot elevate when you try to merge these files into the registry. By following my Tutorial Registry Editing - Vista Forums you can compile the files into batch files which can be run with administrative credentials, i.e. Run as administrator. If run from a standard account, then you will need to provide the name and password of an administrator account. If run from an administrator account, you will just need to confirm that you want to run in elevated mode.