ERROR : "Registry Editing has been disabled by your administrator"

Cause: This error occurs if the DisableRegistryTools Policy is enabled (mostly due to an accidental modification or a virus present in your system).

You can perform the steps in any of below methods to remove the registry editing restrictions.

Method 1: Using the REG.EXE console tool

1. Click Start → Run and type this command:

REG add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v DisableRegistryTools /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

Now, you should be able to launch the Registry Editor.

Method 2: Using the Group Policy Editor

• Click Start → Run and type gpedit.msc and press ENTER

• Go to the following location:

User Configuration → Administrative Templates → System

• Double-click “Prevent access to registry editing tools”. It will probably be not configured or enabled.

• If it’s enabled, disable it and if it’s not configured, first enable it, apply settings and then disable it.

• Exit the Group Policy Editor

• Run gpupdate in command prompt to apply the group policies.

Note: If the setting already reads Not Configured, set it to Enabled, and click Apply. Then revert it back to Not Configured. This ensures that the DisableRegistryTools registry value is removed successfully.

Method 3 : Copy the following code in a notepad and save it as "reg.vbs". Then double click on it to run it. The registry should be enabled.

'Enable/Disable Registry Editing tools

Option Explicit

'Declare variables
Dim WSHShell, n, MyBox, p, t, mustboot, errnum, vers
Dim enab, disab, jobfunc, itemtype

Set WSHShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
p = "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\"
p = p & "DisableRegistryTools"
itemtype = "REG_DWORD"
mustboot = "Log off and back on, or restart your pc to" & vbCR & "effect the changes"
enab = "ENABLED"
disab = "DISABLED"
jobfunc = "Registry Editing Tools are now "

'This section tries to read the registry key value. If not present an 
'error is generated.  Normal error return should be 0 if value is 
'present
t = "Confirmation"
Err.Clear
On Error Resume Next
n = WSHShell.RegRead (p)
On Error Goto 0
errnum = Err.Number

if errnum <> 0 then
'Create the registry key value for DisableRegistryTools with value 0
        WSHShell.RegWrite p, 0, itemtype
End If

'If the key is present, or was created, it is toggled
'Confirmations can be disabled by commenting out 
'the two MyBox lines below

If n = 0 Then
        n = 1
WSHShell.RegWrite p, n, itemtype
Mybox = MsgBox(jobfunc & disab & vbCR & mustboot, 4096, t)
ElseIf n = 1 then
        n = 0
WSHShell.RegWrite p, n, itemtype
Mybox = MsgBox(jobfunc & enab & vbCR & mustboot, 4096, t)
End If

Method 4 : Heres the script given in italics below. Just copy and paste in a notepad. Name the file as "editregenable.reg". After you get the file just right click and select merege. Then restart the computer:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
"DisableRegistryTools"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
"**.del.DisableRegistryTools"=-

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy Objects\LocalUser\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
"DisableRegistryTools"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy Objects\LocalUser\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
"**del.DisableRegistryTools"=-

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoSaveSettings"=dword:00000000

The effects are usually instant, else it works after restarting your computer .

Now try to open the registry editor and see if it works.

Note: If none of the above methods works or your registry editor again gets automatically disabled say after restart, then it is highly likely that there is a virus present in your system. Hence it is recommended that the virus is first removed and then the above steps are performed.

ERROR MESSAGE: “DATA EXECUTION PREVENTION”

If you click Close Message, the program quits, and Windows Error Reporting gives you the option to send an error report.

Causes:

There can be many like:-

• Due to some issues in a program/software e.g. drivers, applications, etc.

• If you have used a crack against Windows OS executables, DLL files, etc.

• Some malicious software might have harmed your system files or changed the security settings.

What is Data Execution Prevention?

Data Execution Prevention (DEP) is a security feature that can help prevent damage to your computer from viruses and other security threats. Harmful programs can try to attack Windows by attempting to run (also known as execute) code from system memory locations reserved for Windows and other authorized programs. These types of attacks can harm your programs and files.

DEP was introduced in Windows XP Service Pack 2 and is included in Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005, Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 and later, Windows Vista, and Windows Server 2008. It is also included in beta versions of Windows 7.

DEP can help protect your computer by monitoring your programs to make sure that they use system memory safely. If DEP notices a program on your computer using memory incorrectly, it closes the program and notifies you.

It's a feature that can be turned on or off, or be configured.

Turning Off DEP

You can turn off DEP completely by doing this:-

• Right click on My Computer

• Click on Properties

• Click on the Advanced tab

• Click on the Settings button in the Performance section

• Click on the Data Execution Prevention tab and make necessary settings.

Alternatively you can also do the following:-

1. Click Start, click Run, type sysdm.cpl, and then click OK.

2. On the Advanced tab, under Performance, click Settings.

3. On the Data Execution Prevention tab, use one of the following procedures:

   • Click Turn on DEP for essential Windows programs and services only to select the OptIn policy.

   • Click Turn on DEP for all programs and services except those I select to select the OptOut policy, and then click Add to add the programs that you do not want to use the DEP feature.

4. Click OK two times.

Configure Exceptions to DEP

If you have a program you know is genuine and that happens to cause DEP errors you can add it to the list of exceptions.

To do so, click on the Add button. And locate the software or program's ".exe" file. Let’s take “Foxit PDF reader” as an example.

In this example the program is located in "C:\Program Files\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\Foxit Reader.exe". The final result should look something like this:

Now, the program has been added to the list of exceptions. It will not be protected by DEP, but everything else in your system will be.

However, if you get the following message while turning off the DEP for a program:-

"This program must run with data execution prevention (DEP) enabled.
You cannot turn off DEP for this program."

Then the most likely reason can be that the program is cracked or it’s not in its original form. In such a situation reinstall or replace that program with its original version. And then you can turn off the DEP for the same.

Note: In general scenario it is suggested NOT to turn off the DEP.