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by **Spock** » Wed 2006 May 03 10:47

Ref: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310516
Ref: http://www.robvanderwoude.com/index.html
Ref: http://www.robvanderwoude.com/regedit.html

I had to call Tech Support about my new HP computer and, after about 30 minutes of frustration, was told I would have to do a System Recovery. I got a case number and hung up so I could back up my system to another networked computer.

When I called today and talked to another technician, he talked me through a Registry change that solved the problem. He wasn't aware that you could create an ASCII text file that would do the same thing when run, so I told him I would find out how to do so and let him know.

The information is too good to keep hidden but PLEASE only try this if you know what you are doing as the entries will be different from one OS to another and may even be different from one version of an OS to a different version.

You must create an ASCII text file using any pure ASCII text editor like NotePad but save it with a .reg extension. More information below from the above referenced website.

Removing registry entries
To remove an entire "tree" from the registry using REGEDIT and a .REG file, just add a minus sign before the tree name:

REGEDIT4

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\DummyTree]

will remove the entire tree "DummyTree".

To remove an individual item from the registry, place the minus sign after the equal sign:
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\DummyTree]
"ValueToBeRemoved"=-

will remove the individual value "ValueToBeRemoved" from "DummyTree".
This is demonstrated in the uniqueid.bat example below, a batch file that forces a new LANDesk agent ID.

More info can be found at Regedit.com's Registry FAQ.

How to remove an individual registry key or value using *.INF files and RUNDLL is explained here by Bill James.

NT 4 users who own a copy of the NT 4 Resource Kit can also use REG.EXE to remove registry entries.
In Windows 2000 and later REG.EXE is a native tool.

===========================
uniquid.bat

Code: Select all: @ECHO OFF :: No command line parameters required IF NOT "%1"=="" GOTO Syntax :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: Adjust the LANDesk server name and the drive and directory if necessary :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: SET LANDeskServer=MyLDServer C: CD\LDClient ECHO Removing old LANDesk agent ID :: Delete old ID file (adjust drive if necessary) IF EXIST C:\LDIScan.cfg ATTRIB -h -r -s C:\LDIScan.cfg IF EXIST C:\LDIScan.cfg DEL C:\LDIScan.cfg :: Delete old ID from the registry (Local Machine) :: Create a temporary REG file > %TEMP%.\UniqueID.reg ECHO REGEDIT4 >>%TEMP%.\UniqueID.reg ECHO. >>%TEMP%.\UniqueID.reg ECHO [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Intel\LANDesk\Common Api] >>%TEMP%.\UniqueID.reg ECHO "UniqueID"=- >>%TEMP%.\UniqueID.reg ECHO. :: Check if previous ID was stored for Current User and if so, delete it IF EXIST %TEMP%.\_Unique_.REG DEL %TEMP%.\_Unique_.REG REGEDIT /E %TEMP%.\_Unique_.REG "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Intel\LANDesk\LDWM\LDIScan32" TYPE %TEMP%.\_Unique_.REG | FIND /I "Last Device ID" >NUL 2>&1 IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO Next >>%TEMP%.\UniqueID.reg ECHO [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Intel\LANDesk\LDWM\LDIScan32] >>%TEMP%.\UniqueID.reg ECHO "Last Device ID"=- >>%TEMP%.\UniqueID.reg ECHO. :: Repeat for Default User :Next IF EXIST %TEMP%.\_Unique_.REG DEL %TEMP%.\_Unique_.REG REGEDIT /E %TEMP%.\_Unique_.REG "HKEY_USERS\.Default\SOFTWARE\Intel\LANDesk\LDWM\LDIScan32" TYPE %TEMP%.\_Unique_.REG | FIND /I "Last Device ID" >NUL 2>&1 IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO Merge DEL %TEMP%.\_Unique_.REG >>%TEMP%.\UniqueID.reg ECHO [HKEY_USERS\.Default\SOFTWARE\Intel\LANDesk\LDWM\LDIScan32] >>%TEMP%.\UniqueID.reg ECHO "Last Device ID"=- >>%TEMP%.\UniqueID.reg ECHO. :: Merge (import) the REG file to delete the UniqueID entry :Merge REGEDIT /S %TEMP%.\UniqueID.reg :: Delete the temporary REG file DEL %TEMP%.\UniqueID.reg ECHO Creating new LANDesk agent ID :: Start inventory scan to create new ID LDISCN32.EXE /NTT=%LANDeskServer%:5007 /S="%LANDeskServer%" /I=\\%LANDeskServer%\LDLOGON\ldappl.ini /V ECHO Done IF EXIST %TEMP%.\_Unique_.REG DEL %TEMP%.\_Unique_.REG SET LANDeskServer= CD\ GOTO End :Syntax ECHO UniqueID.bat, Version 2.00 for 32-bit Windows ECHO Create a new unique ID for Intel LANDesk agent ECHO. ECHO If a computer is installed using a harddisk image (like Norton Ghost ECHO or PowerQuest's Drive Image) all "clones" will have the same LANDesk ECHO agent ID if LANDesk agent was installed when the image was created. ECHO However, the LANDesk agent needs a unique ID to function properly. ECHO You can force a new ID by reinstalling the LANDesk agent software, ECHO but running this batch file can force a new unique ID just as well. ECHO. ECHO Written by Rob van der Woude ECHO http://www.robvanderwoude.com :End

by **cmptch** » Sat 2006 May 06 4:38

what was going on with your new machine to require a registry edit? I'm intrigued. I've also been in the business a few years now and have been going through regedit key by key with their crappy organizational system. It's some good info, and I'm going to do some thorough investigation into exploiting the use of that to make my job easier. Appreciate you not keeping it a secret. I just wish I could reorganize the registry the way I would like it.

by **Krank** » Sat 2006 May 06 4:53

Well, this could be me, but whenever someone manully needs to edit the reg. with or without a file, make sure you back it up before you go any further.

I have had to tell this to peeps much to often, its just good advice so if this is "free" info to teach peeps, (note that your doing something pretty deep within windows, hence my consirn), add this always.

Dont get me wrong, im a person who firmly believes in education, even when it can go wrong, systemwise.

by **cmptch** » Sat 2006 May 06 8:04

krank wrote:...make sure you back it up before you go any further...

your darn right, although sometimes not backing up sure does make it interesting sometimes.

heck, nowadays it seems you can't USE Windows without a full hdd image.

by **Ben Last** » Sat 2006 May 06 8:57

Yeah I've come across this feature before, it seems quite useful although I've never actually used it to edit my own registry.

I built a file for someone once to add 'open in Notepad' to the right click context menu for every file type. For that sort of thing it is really useful.

by **Spock** » Sat 2006 May 06 10:55

All my video drives somehow became disconnected. The registry edit was fairly simple, easy to do, and my drives were again recognized. The Registry Edit to reconnect them is as follows:

Registry Editor for CD/DVD drives being disconnected:

My Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

Modify all UpperFilters and LowerFilters entries and delete them.

Ben Last wrote:... I built a file for someone once to add 'open in Notepad' to the right click context menu for every file type. For that sort of thing it is really useful.

Care to share it with us?

by **cmptch** » Sat 2006 May 06 11:25

Spock wrote:All my video drives somehow became disconnected.

I had to look up "video drive". After all, our disributers calls them optical drives. That's a really common issue after installing certain burning software. HP's images are known for issues like that.

If it's a brand new system, I wonder if there's an issue with the image they threw on your model.

by **Spock** » Sun 2006 May 07 2:56

Your right, I should have said Optical drives. I have:

1 DVD-ROM
1 DVD-RW
1 External DL DVD-RW

The system is fairly new but I had to remove Nero, so that may or may not have had something to do with it.

by **Ben Last** » Sat 2006 May 13 8:02

Spock wrote:
Ben Last wrote:... I built a file for someone once to add 'open in Notepad' to the right click context menu for every file type. For that sort of thing it is really useful.

Care to share it with us?

This was a post I had made on another forum, and it appears to have been pruned now, but if I find the file on my pc I'll make sure to post it.

by **cmptch** » Sat 2006 May 13 9:53

This is to add "open with notepad" to the right-click(context) menu in Reg Edit. I've verified that this works on windows xp.

Code: Select all: In Windows Registry editor(start:run:regedit) Open: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\* (note: this is the exact text) --Create sub-key: shell ----Create sub-key: Open with Notepad (note:this will be the displayed text) ------Create sub-key: command --------Modify the default value: notepad "%1"

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/context_folders.htm This site contains some information regarding the context menu, but doen't provide information on how keys and their structure work.

by **Spock** » Sat 2006 May 13 10:07

cmptch wrote:This is to add "open with notepad" ...

Ah but the trick is to create a file that does that automatically without having to rely on the end user knowing how to access the registry.

by **cmptch** » Sat 2006 May 13 10:09

yes, I was editing my post while you posted that. That info is now included.

by **cmptch** » Sat 2006 May 20 9:51

Here's how to create a "Open With Notepad" registry file for Windows XP:
1. Open Notepad (Start:All Programs:Accessories:Notepad)
2. Insert the Code at the bottom of the page exactly as it appears
3. Save the file as notepad.reg (File:Save As) to the desktop.
4. Right Click on the file.
5. Click Merge.
6. Click "Yes" on the dialog box,
7. Click "ok" on the dialog box.

You do not need to restart the computer in windows xp.

Code: Select all: Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*] [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\Shell] [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\Shell\Open With Notepad] [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\Shell\Open With Notepad\Command] @="notepad \"%1\""

by **cmptch** » Sat 2006 May 20 10:29

I've been doing alot of PHP editing lately, and ftp tends to mess up the formatting. wordpad usually corrects this formatting, so adding "Open With Wordpad" to the context menu has really helped out. Extemely important information at bottom of post.

Here's how to create a "Open With Wordpad" registry file for Windows XP:
1. Open Notepad (Start:All Programs:Accessories:Notepad)
2. Insert the Code belowexactly as it appears
3. Save the file as wordpad.reg (File:Save As) to the desktop.
4. Right Click on the file.
5. Click Merge.
6. Click "Yes" on the dialog box,
7. Click "ok" on the dialog box.

You do not need to restart the computer in windows xp.

Code: Select all: Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*] [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\Shell] [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\Shell\Open With Wordpad] [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\Shell\Open With Wordpad\Command] @="C:\\Program Files\\Windows NT\\Accessories\\wordpad.exe \"%1\""

IMPORTANT INFO:
You'll notice the use of double backslashes("\") in the following line:

@="C:\\Program Files\\Windows NT\\Accessories\\wordpad.exe \"%1\""

If the double backslashes are not present, then the registry editor will not recognize it, and will skip it. When you try to use the command, it will give an error.

by **Spock** » Mon 2006 May 22 4:50

Thanks for the info cmptch. Your last two posts should be enough to get any budding Registry Crashers started. }:->

A word to the beginners (the wise already know it):

ALWAYS BACKUP YOUR REGISTRY BEFORE MAKING ANY CHANGES!!!

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