REG file delete key and values doesn't always work?

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John Gray
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REG file delete key and values doesn't always work?

Post by John Gray »

I wonder whether anyone has come across an occasional problem when applying a REG file doesn't always have the expected effect in the registry, even though REGEDIT gives encouraging messages that things have worked?

Occasionally my .REG file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains]

doesn't seem to delete the Domains key and the subkeys below it.

Similarly, building the subkeys again with
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains]
@=""

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains\domain1.org.uk]
"*"=dword:00000002

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains\domain2.org.uk]
"*"=dword:00000002

sometimes leaves the previous subkeys/values and doesn't add the newer ones...
John Gray

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HansV
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Re: REG file delete key and values doesn't always work?

Post by HansV »

I've never seen that. If there was a permissions problem you'd get an error message, so that can't be the cause...
Best wishes,
Hans

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StuartR
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Re: REG file delete key and values doesn't always work?

Post by StuartR »

I've always found Reg files work flawlessly - or as Hans says they generate an error message. I take it you have checked that there is no typo in the keys
StuartR


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John Gray
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Re: REG file delete key and values doesn't always work?

Post by John Gray »

My point is that those REG files usually produce the expected answers but occasionally they don't. Hence the unlikeliness of typos.

Maybe I still had IE11 open on the occasions when the REG files didn't work?

I'm pleased you have a common view on the flawlessness of REG files!
John Gray

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John Gray
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Re: REG file delete key and values doesn't always work?

Post by John Gray »

Returning to this topic, I have found that even though one can update the keys and values as above in HKCU then IE11 seems to be working off, not HKCU, but one of the HKU users because the settings are not changed when one then goes into Tools -> Internet Options -> Security tab -> Trusted Sites -> Sites

Even stopping or starting IE11, or rebooting the PC, doesn't cause the Regedit-file-added settings to override those originally in the "Website" box.

If one adds a dummy website, say FishFingers.org, manually in IE11 and looks for it via REGEDIT-the-GUI, it still appears only in one of the HKU users.

Any thoughts on how to correctly to apply settings from a .reg file for IE11, please?
John Gray

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HansV
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Re: REG file delete key and values doesn't always work?

Post by HansV »

I cannot reproduce your problem using IE11 on Windows 10. I saved

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains\domain1.org.uk]
"*"=dword:00000002


to a text file with extension .reg, then double-clicked the .reg file.

The new entry domain1.org.uk appeared in HKCU, and also in IE11 in Tools > Internet Options > Security > Trusted Sites > Sites. So it works as intended for me...
Best wishes,
Hans

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John Gray
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Re: REG file delete key and values doesn't always work?

Post by John Gray »

Well, I'm baffled. This happens on several Windows 7 Pro PCs, the ones I've tested.

I'm running in a Standard account, with an elevated command prompt window, and run
regedit \\fileserver\share\settings.reg
getting both the windows expected from regedit.

I go into HKCU and the settings are applied in Tools > Internet Options > Security > Trusted Sites > Sites,
but when I start IE11 the previous settings are present in the Websites box.
These previous settings also apply in one of the HKU users, but I haven't determined whether this relates to the logged-on standard account, or to another.

LATER...
I've checked the other visible HKU user in Regedit, and this one's setting seems to match those of HKCU.
HKLM doesn't have these keys at all.

So the problem seems to be that IE11 is not picking up the correct settings from HKCU entries...
John Gray

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John Gray
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Re: REG file delete key and values doesn't always work?

Post by John Gray »

I may have sorted this out using
SFC /SCANNOW
CCleaner Cleaner
CCleaner Registry

I now have to do it on another PC to find out which was the magic mechanism ...
John Gray

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Rudi
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Re: REG file delete key and values doesn't always work?

Post by Rudi »

I've been following this thread John, but out of my depth based on the topic.
Holding thumbs though that the solution you found is valid.

TX for sharing!!
Regards,
Rudi

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John Gray
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Re: REG file delete key and values doesn't always work?

Post by John Gray »

Thank you for your encouragement!
I have that worrying feeling that 20 years ago I could have sorted it out in a day... :scratch:
John Gray

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