Microsoft KB Archive/244004

= HOW TO: Prevent Regedit.exe from Using the Last State =

Article ID: 244004

Article Last Modified on 10/30/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server

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This article was previously published under Q244004





IN THIS TASK
SUMMARY
 * Preventing Regedit from Displaying the Last Key you Accessed When you Started Regedit

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry



SUMMARY
By default, when you start Regedit.exe, it displays the last key you accessed the last time you ran Regedit. This article describes how to prevent this behavior. WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

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Preventing Regedit from Displaying the Last Key you Accessed When you Started Regedit
 Start Regedt32.exe. Locate the following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Regedit

 Double-click the LastKey value, clear the entry in the String box, and then click OK. Click the Regedit key, and then click Permissions on the Security menu. Remove Full Control access for any user who does not want Regedit to display the last key the user accessed in the previous Regedit session, and then click OK.

Please note that if permissions cannot be removed, they may need to be denied. Quit Regedt32.exe.</li></ol>

If you do not want to deny access to users, there is an easy way to close all keys and hives after you start Regedit. After you start Regedit, press and hold down SHIFT+LEFT ARROW to collapse all the entries back to the My Computer entry. You must do this each time you start Regedit.

Note that Regedt32.exe does not exhibit the behavior noted above.

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Keywords: kbhowto kbhowtomaster KB244004

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