modify regedit.exe beginner Q

G

Guest

In a nutshell: I found a posted solution to my problem that the "Found New
Hardware Wizard" pops up every time the PC boots up. According to the fix, I
should delete an H_KEY in the registry using regedit.exe. However, I can't
delete the H_KEY.

The issue of the wizard popping up even when the printer is already
installed is described here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/298370/en-us#appliesto

The solution I want to follow is:
<! To use Registry Editor to remove the damaged registry key, follow these
steps:
1. Log on to your computer by using an administrator account.
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
4. Locate and click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\LPTENUM
5. Right-click the registry key, and then click Delete.
6. Under Confirm Key Delete, click Yes.
7. Close Registry Editor, and then restart your computer.
When Windows XP restarts, it will detect the printer and install support for
it. After the printer is installed, it will no longer be detected each time
you start Windows XP.-->

PROBLEM: I can get into regedit.exe through C;\WINDOWS\regedit.exe When I
try to delete HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\LPTENUM, I
get the small dialog box: "cannot delete LPTENUM: error while deleting key."


Also, I don't how to "Click Start, then Run" as i have seen in a thousand
posts since researching this issue. I did such a thing once a while ago, but
I can't remember how to get into that box where you type run for "sysconfig"
"regedit" etc. I must be doing something really basically inept. When I hit
the Start button, I get the normal large display of my recent programs used,
My Computer, My Documents, Control Panel, etc. What ai get is not the small
dialog box all the help articles are referring to where you type in "Run
XYZ".

I can't see if being administrator is any issue here. I'm the only account
on the PC. I'm in over my head. I just want to delete that registry key,
stop the annoying hardware wizard popping up needlessly, and not screw up my
registry.

Please advise.

system specs:
Win XP prof; CPU Intel Pentium 4 1.8 GHz; 1.79 GHz 512 MB RAM; Printer
Canon Pixma MP450 scan/copy/print; also Sony digital camera DSC-S600 6.0 Mpx;
5 1/2 yr old Panasonic digital camcorder; these devices are now working
fine, but I just replaced a defective Firewire (IEEE1394 cable) for the
camcorder.
 
G

Guest

Another failed try:
In addition, to the above attempt at killing that H_KEY, I also tried
unsuccessfully:

started up in safe mode with command prompt,
logged in as administrator
at prompt, typed "regedit"
regedit.exe began
located the H_KEY...\CurrentControlSet\Enum\LPTENUM
clicked delete, and confirmed delete
Response still is "cannot delete LPTENUM: error while deleting key."

Wass going on? Arrgh!
 
E

Elmo

Scamp said:
In a nutshell: I found a posted solution to my problem that the "Found New
Hardware Wizard" pops up every time the PC boots up. According to the fix, I
should delete an H_KEY in the registry using regedit.exe. However, I can't
delete the H_KEY.

The issue of the wizard popping up even when the printer is already
installed is described here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/298370/en-us#appliesto

The solution I want to follow is:
<! To use Registry Editor to remove the damaged registry key, follow these
steps:
1. Log on to your computer by using an administrator account.
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
4. Locate and click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\LPTENUM
5. Right-click the registry key, and then click Delete.
6. Under Confirm Key Delete, click Yes.
7. Close Registry Editor, and then restart your computer.
When Windows XP restarts, it will detect the printer and install support for
it. After the printer is installed, it will no longer be detected each time
you start Windows XP.-->

PROBLEM: I can get into regedit.exe through C;\WINDOWS\regedit.exe When I
try to delete HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\LPTENUM, I
get the small dialog box: "cannot delete LPTENUM: error while deleting key."


Also, I don't how to "Click Start, then Run" as i have seen in a thousand
posts since researching this issue. I did such a thing once a while ago, but
I can't remember how to get into that box where you type run for "sysconfig"
"regedit" etc. I must be doing something really basically inept. When I hit
the Start button, I get the normal large display of my recent programs used,
My Computer, My Documents, Control Panel, etc. What ai get is not the small
dialog box all the help articles are referring to where you type in "Run
XYZ".

I can't see if being administrator is any issue here. I'm the only account
on the PC. I'm in over my head. I just want to delete that registry key,
stop the annoying hardware wizard popping up needlessly, and not screw up my
registry.

Please advise.

system specs:
Win XP prof; CPU Intel Pentium 4 1.8 GHz; 1.79 GHz 512 MB RAM; Printer
Canon Pixma MP450 scan/copy/print; also Sony digital camera DSC-S600 6.0 Mpx;
5 1/2 yr old Panasonic digital camcorder; these devices are now working
fine, but I just replaced a defective Firewire (IEEE1394 cable) for the
camcorder.

Why the error < can't say. You might try a Google Groups search on the
error message.

http://groups.google.com
http://groups.google.com/groups/search?q="error+while+deleting+key"&qt_s=Search+Groups

To add the "Run" option to the Start Menu, right-click the Start button,
click Properties, click Customize, click the "Advanced" tab, scroll down
to "Run command" and select it.
 
N

Nepatsfan

In
Scamp said:
In a nutshell: I found a posted solution to my problem that
the
"Found New Hardware Wizard" pops up every time the PC boots
up.
According to the fix, I should delete an H_KEY in the
registry using
regedit.exe. However, I can't delete the H_KEY.

The issue of the wizard popping up even when the printer is
already
installed is described here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/298370/en-us#appliesto

The solution I want to follow is:
<! To use Registry Editor to remove the damaged registry
key, follow
these steps:
1. Log on to your computer by using an administrator account.
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
4. Locate and click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\LPTENUM
5. Right-click the registry key, and then click Delete.
6. Under Confirm Key Delete, click Yes.
7. Close Registry Editor, and then restart your computer.
When Windows XP restarts, it will detect the printer and
install
support for it. After the printer is installed, it will no
longer be
detected each time you start Windows XP.-->

PROBLEM: I can get into regedit.exe through
C;\WINDOWS\regedit.exe
When I try to delete
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\LPTENUM, I
get the
small dialog box: "cannot delete LPTENUM: error while
deleting key."


Also, I don't how to "Click Start, then Run" as i have seen
in a
thousand posts since researching this issue. I did such a
thing once
a while ago, but I can't remember how to get into that box
where you
type run for "sysconfig" "regedit" etc. I must be doing
something
really basically inept. When I hit the Start button, I get
the
normal large display of my recent programs used, My Computer,
My
Documents, Control Panel, etc. What ai get is not the small
dialog
box all the help articles are referring to where you type in
"Run
XYZ".

I can't see if being administrator is any issue here. I'm
the only
account on the PC. I'm in over my head. I just want to
delete that
registry key, stop the annoying hardware wizard popping up
needlessly, and not screw up my registry.

Please advise.

system specs:
Win XP prof; CPU Intel Pentium 4 1.8 GHz; 1.79 GHz 512 MB
RAM;
Printer Canon Pixma MP450 scan/copy/print; also Sony digital
camera
DSC-S600 6.0 Mpx; 5 1/2 yr old Panasonic digital camcorder;
these
devices are now working fine, but I just replaced a defective
Firewire (IEEE1394 cable) for the camcorder.

First off, have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling your
printer and camera? How about going to the manufacturer's web
site and looking for an updated driver for these devices?

As for your registry editing problem, Microsoft left out an
important piece of information in that article. In order to
delete that registry key you have to have the correct
permissions.

Let's start with the easy stuff. Elmo already has shown you how
to add the Run box to your Start menu. Another way to launch
the Run box is to hit the Windows and R key at the same time.

Before you go editing the registry, it's a good idea to create
a restore point. Go to Start -> All Programs -> Accessories ->
System Tools -> System Restore. Select "Create a restore point"
and hit the Next button. Enter something appropriate in the
description box. Hit the Create button. Once the restore point
is created hit the Close button.

Now here's how to delete that registry key.
Open the registry editor (Windows key + R key -> regedit.exe).
Navigate to the key you want to delete.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\LPTENUM

In the left hand column, right click on that key and select
Export from the menu.
The "Export Registry File" box should pop up.
Enter LPTENUM in the "File name" box and save it to a handy
location such as your Desktop.
Back in the registry editor, right click the LPTENUM key in the
left hand column again but this time select Permissions from
the menu.
You should now see a "Permissions for LPTENUM" sheet displayed.
Notice how the Everyone group only has Read permissions. That's
why you can't delete the key. You have to add the
Administrators group and give it Full Control.
Hit the Add button.
The "Select Users or Groups" dialog should pop up.
Hit the Advanced button.
In the expanded dialog, hit the Find Now button.
In the bottom pane, click on Administrators so it's
highlighted.
Hit the OK button twice.
You should now be back at the "Permissions for LPTENUM" sheet
with the Administrators group added and highlighted in the
upper box.
In the lower box under "Permissions for Administrators", click
on Full Control so it's checked.
Click OK.
You should now be able to delete that registry key.
Restart your computer and follow the rest of the procedure
outlined in that Microsoft article.

Good luck

Nepatsfan
 
G

Guest

Thanks for the responses,

So far I was able to change the permissions and delete
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\LPTENUM. It disappeared
from the list. However, when I restart the PC, the HKey LPTENUM is back in
the registry and the FoundNewHardWiz pops up again.

Let me explain what I did. Likely I missed something elementary. Sorry for
being verbose.
In regedit.exe, I located LPTENUM. Right click permissions, there are
two groups listed: “Everyone†has nothing highlighted, and “System†has
“full†and “read†checked, but in dull grey font. Then, following
Nepatsfan’s instr:
Hit the Add button.
The "Select Users or Groups" dialog should pop up.
Hit the Advanced button.
In the expanded dialog, hit the Find Now button.
In the bottom pane, click on Administrators so it's
highlighted.
I get the choices “Administrator†in Desktop folder or “Administrators†in
Desktop folder. Also many other options including my own name.
I select Administrator and hit OK in two different dialog boxes. Now in
Permissions for LPTENUM, there is an Administrator category with Full
checked.
I close Regedit and reopen, try to delete the LPTENUM. I get “cannot
delete. Error while deleting key.â€
I restart the PC in safemode, log in as administrator, type regedit and
delete the LPTENUM key OK. It disappears from the list, at least. When I
reboot, the pesky HKey is back.
Another attempt was in regedit, I can change permissions for “Everyoneâ€
and give “Fullâ€. Then I can right click, delete the LPTENUM. Still, as soon
as I reboot, the LPTENUM is back in the registry and the FoundNHWiz pops up.

I hope I understand the MS article correctly. It seems straightforward.
The LPTENUM key I guess is not really deleted or being reimplemented on
boot-up by default to protect against ignorant users. The Canon printer is
new (Pixma MP450-from Oct 06) and definitely plug-n-play. The Panasonic
camcorder is 5 ½ yrs old, but the PC detected immediately when I plugged it
in with a new Firewire cable. It wasn’t detected in the past, but replacing
the cable solved that issue.

Your tips sound great, but I am usually having a hard time in getting things
done.

Scamp,
 
G

Guest

Thanks for the responses,

So far I was able to change the permissions and delete
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\LPTENUM. It disappeared
from the list. However, when I restart the PC, the HKey LPTENUM is back in
the registry and the FoundNewHardWiz pops up again.

Let me explain what I did. Likely I missed something elementary. Sorry for
being verbose.
In regedit.exe, I located LPTENUM. Right click permissions, there are
two groups listed: “Everyone†has nothing highlighted, and “System†has
“full†and “read†checked, but in dull grey font. Then, following
Nepatsfan’s instr:
Hit the Add button.
The "Select Users or Groups" dialog should pop up.
Hit the Advanced button.
In the expanded dialog, hit the Find Now button.
In the bottom pane, click on Administrators so it's
highlighted.
I get the choices “Administrator†in Desktop folder or “Administrators†in
Desktop folder. Also many other options including my own name.
I select Administrator and hit OK in two different dialog boxes. Now in
Permissions for LPTENUM, there is an Administrator category with Full
checked.
I close Regedit and reopen, try to delete the LPTENUM. I get “cannot
delete. Error while deleting key.â€
I restart the PC in safemode, log in as administrator, type regedit and
delete the LPTENUM key OK. It disappears from the list, at least. When I
reboot, the pesky HKey is back.
Another attempt was in regedit, I can change permissions for “Everyoneâ€
and give “Fullâ€. Then I can right click, delete the LPTENUM. Still, as soon
as I reboot, the LPTENUM is back in the registry and the FoundNHWiz pops up.

I hope I understand the MS article correctly. It seems straightforward.
The LPTENUM key I guess is not really deleted or being reimplemented on
boot-up by default to protect against ignorant users. The Canon printer is
new (Pixma MP450-from Oct 06) and definitely plug-n-play. The Panasonic
camcorder is 5 ½ yrs old, but the PC detected immediately when I plugged it
in with a new Firewire cable. It wasn’t detected in the past, but replacing
the cable solved that issue.

Your tips sound great, but I am usually having a hard time in getting things
done.
Scamp

 
N

Nepatsfan

As you've discovered, after you delete the LPTENUM registry
key, Windows will recreate it when you restart your computer.
This means you're going to have to look elsewhere for why the
New Hardware wizard launches whenever you start Windows.

Have you tried letting the New Hardware wizard run and see what
it tries to install?

Also, you might want to try the following:

Disconnect everything attached to your computer except the
mouse, keyboard and monitor.
Restart the computer and see if the wizard launches. If it
doesn't, connect the printer and restart the computer to see if
the wizard launches. Keep reconnecting peripherals until the
wizard launches to see if you can pinpoint exactly what device
is causing the problem.

Good luck

Nepatsfan


In
 
G

Guest

Thanks.
I've tried many things, but some configurations have changed recently. I am
using a new Firewire.
Nepatsfan said:
Have you tried letting the New Hardware wizard run and see what
it tries to install?
Yes, that's a long story. I'll let you know if I can't get the peripherals
uninstalled.
Also, you might want to try the following:

Disconnect everything attached to your computer except the
mouse, keyboard and monitor.
Restart the computer and see if the wizard launches. If it
doesn't, connect the printer and restart the computer to see if
the wizard launches. Keep reconnecting peripherals until the
wizard launches to see if you can pinpoint exactly what device
is causing the problem.

So far I haven't been able to get rid of the FNHWiz with an uninstall using
Control Panel's Add/Delete hardware. I'll try to do it again systematically
and observe all results.
It might be a while cuz I usually do things wrong the first time.
Scamp
 

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