Unable to delete a corrupt registry key.

[DogDownDave]

I'm attempting to delete a bad registry key, but no matter what I do I cannot access the key at all or delete it.

The closest I can get to it is it's parent key, and even from there I cannot flood permissions to child keys as I get an error:
"Registry Editor could not set security in the key currently delected, or some of its subkeys."

I've tried booting in safe mode and logging on as Administrator, but NO user or logon can even view this key. If I attempt to, I get an error:
"Cannot open Vid_058f&Pid_9350: Error while opening key."

I saw a thread in this forum:
http://www.techzonez.com/forums/arch...p/t-14034.html

Which has similarities, but I can't figure out how that person managed to take ownership of the key in order to solve his problem.

SO before anyone tells me to take ownership or set permissions on this key, remember I can't do either of those things as I have no access to it directly or indirectly.

Does anyone know if there is a way I can remove this key from outside of windows?

This problem is linked to an original problem where I can't see any items in my device manager, and 3 days of messing around has lead to this key.

The thread for that is on Experts Exchange at:
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Oper..._21849835.html

I hope someone can help

[phishhead]

have you tried regcleaner from MS.
http://www.worldstart.com/weekly-dow...cleaner4.3.htm

[DogDownDave]

Installed registry cleaner thanks..
It cleaned up quite a bit of stuff, but nothing it got rid of was crucial or affecting anything.

I still have a blank device manager window and the duff key is still there and unreadable.

Any more ideas?

[rik]

Is this your own home machine, a work machine or what?

[phishhead]

have you tried running a repair install or from run type sfc /scannow and hopefully it will find some corrupt system files and repair it.

[DogDownDave]

Rik... It's my machine.
phishhead... The system file checker wants the windows XP Profesional CD wich I dont have, so I cant do that.

[cash_site]

you will have to log in as a computer adminstrator, and SAFE mode if you can. Then try to delete the keys...

If you have to take ownership, then you can do that in SAFE mode too...