Restore the Registry Editor

Helpline Q&A Directory

I can't access the Registry Editor. I have tried using Regedit from Run in the Start menu, but nothing happens. Is there another way I can gain access to the Registry?

The program regedit.exe may have been deleted for some unknown reason. It is a standard part of Windows and normally resides in the Windows folder. If you have Windows 98, use the System File Checker to restore it from the Windows CD. (See tips What does System File Checker do? and System File Checker won't run.)

Click Start, Run; type SFC, and hit Enter. When the System File Checker starts, select 'Extract one file from installation disk' and type regedit.exe in the box. Then click Start and, when prompted, insert the Windows disc into your CD-ROM drive.

However, if it's not your PC then it's possible the owner has set up system policies to prevent the use of tools, such as the Registry Editor, that can be used to change system settings. Speak to the owner or system administrator to see if they have restricted access. If you are going to edit the Registry see tip Back up the Registry.