Issue
You need to create a new Registry Key (Reg Key) and/or string value, or you need to edit or delete one or more of the Reg Keys.
Important note: DO NOT edit or delete Reg Keys from your computer unless you are specifically instructed to do so by one of our Knowledge Base articles or technical support personnel.
Reg Keys are essentially folders that allow Windows applications to process data. On rare occasions, programs such as AutoCAD can become corrupted and require you to delete one or more of these folders. Some functions of our software may also require you to edit a Reg Key.
Solution
Open the Registry Editor
1. Open the Windows Run dialog box by pressing the Windows + R keys (Windows keyboard) or Command + R keys (Mac keyboard).
2. In the Run dialog box, type Regedit and click OK.
3. The Registry Editor dialog box will open.
The Reg Keys are located within the folders with names that begin with HKEY_ (as pictured to the right).
A Reg Key's name consists of its folder path within this folder structure.
Some of our troubleshooting articles will instruct you to edit or delete one or more Reg Keys. To locate a Reg Key, expand the first folder in that Reg Key's name (example: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE) by clicking the right-facing arrow to the left of that folder.
4. Continue expanding folders to locate the Reg Key you need to create, edit, or delete.
- Create a Reg Key
- Edit a Reg Key or String Value
- Delete a Reg Key or String Value
- Change Permissions for Reg Keys
Create a Reg Key
To create a new Reg Key, right-click the key location where you want to create the new key. Hover the mouse on the New option in the menu that opens, then select Key from the submenu that opens after that.
In this example, we'll create a key named Ecografx in the key location HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
You'll see a new key within the key path you right-clicked.
Type a name for the key (example: Ecografx).
To continue adding keys to the path you've created – for example, if you need to create the key path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Ecografx\Land F/X in following our Manual Installation of the Land F/X Workstation steps, repeat these steps, right-clicking the new key you just created and selecting the option for the new key in the menu.
If our Knowledge Base or one of our support technicians has instructed you to create a key path that ends with a string value, move on to the Create a String Value steps below once you've created the necessary key path. So, for example, if you're following our Manual Installation of the Land F/X Workstation Installer steps, you'd create the key path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Ecografx\Land F/X and then create the string value InstallPath within the Land F/X key as shown below.
Create a String Value
Creating a string value is similar to creating a key – right-click on the key where you want to create the string value, hover on New in the menu, and then select String Value from the submenu. In this example, we'll create the string value InstallPath within the key Land F/X.
The new string value will appear to the right of the key you right-clicked. Type a name for the new string value (example: InstallPath)
Edit a Reg Key or String Value
To edit a Reg Key or string value, click the Reg Key folder to open it. In our example, we'll edit the Reg Key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ODBC\ODBC.INI\LANDFX by clicking the folder LANDFX in the path of the same name.
In the right pane, you'll see a list of files, or "strings," contained within the Reg Key you selected. Right-click the string you want to edit. Select Modify from the menu that opens. In our example, we'll edit the string SERVER.
In the Edit String dialog box, make your desired change in the Value data field. Click OK to save your change.
Delete a Reg Key or String Value
Before deleting a Reg Key or string value, it's a good idea to back it up by exporting it. In this example, we'll show you how to export and delete the Reg Key named HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Installer\Products\AutoCAD 2015.
Right-click the Reg Key folder, and select Export from the menu that opens.
Navigate to the location where you want to back up the Reg Key, and click Save.
You'll now have a backed-up copy of the Reg Key, should you need it.
You can now delete the Reg Key safely.
To delete the Reg Key, right-click it and select Delete from the menu that opens.
Do not delete this particular Reg Key – or any Reg Key, for that matter – unless specifically instructed to do so. The Reg Key(s) you need to delete will depend on the issue you're experiencing with AutoCAD.
Change Permissions for Reg Keys
You may also need to change the permissions settings for reg keys. Here's how to do that:
Right-click the key whose permissions you need to change.
Select the Permissions option from the menu that opens.
Select the user whose permissions you need to change (example:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Autodesk.
Check the box for the permission type you need to grant or deny to the selected user. For example, if you need to grant the user full control (read/write access) for the key, select the Full control option in the Allow column.
Click Apply to apply the change, or OK to apply the change and close the permissions dialog box.
You'll likely need to grant permission to the System and Administrator roles as well.
You may need to restart your computer for the permission changes to take effect.
FAQs
Registry keys are important to the functionality of your computer and its installed programs. Accidental removal of an essential registry entry may damage the system of your PC. Having a backup allows you to recover accidentally deleted entries. Click File on the menu bar, and then select Export.
Is it OK to delete registry keys? ›
Registry keys are important to the functionality of your computer and its installed programs. Accidental removal of an essential registry entry may damage the system of your PC. Having a backup allows you to recover accidentally deleted entries. Click File on the menu bar, and then select Export.
How do I edit a registry key? ›
Follow these steps:
- Open Registry Editor: Press Windows Key + R, type “regedit”, and press Enter.
- Locate the Key to Edit: Navigate to the specific key you wish to edit.
- Double-Click the Key or Value: Double-click the key or value you want to edit.
- Make the Necessary Changes: ...
- Save the Changes:
Why would the Windows Registry need to be edited? To clean out keys that are causing problems. For example, you might use a printer vendor's uninstall program to remove a printer from you computer.
What are the registry keys and values? ›
Registry values are non-container objects similar to files. Keys may contain values and subkeys. Keys are referenced with a syntax similar to Windows' path names, using backslashes to indicate levels of hierarchy. Keys must have a case insensitive name without backslashes.
How do I clean my registry keys? ›
Type "regedit" into the search dialog in the Windows 10 taskbar, and then click the Registry Editor app that appears in the search results. The Windows Registry Editor will then open, allowing you to review, change or delete registry entries (Figure 1).
Is it good to delete a valid registry in your system? ›
To avoid any issues, you should never edit or delete registry entries manually unless you are an expert and know exactly what you are doing, as this could cause irreversible damage to your system or make it unbootable.
Why would you edit the registry? ›
If registry entries or the keys inside a registry become corrupt or faulty, they can cause the system to crash or other performance issues. By using the Windows Registry Editor's intuitive display, users can edit or update the malfunctioning entries.
What tool is used to delete registry keys? ›
Open a command prompt (with administrative rights) and navigate to the folder location and run “PsExec.exe” -i -d -s c:\windows\regedit.exe". This should allow you to edit, or remove, reg keys that are locked by the system.
What tool is used to edit the registry? ›
In the search box on the taskbar, type regedit, then select Registry Editor (Desktop app) from the results. Right-click Start , then select Run. Type regedit in the Open: box, and then select OK.
Manually editing the Registry can be risky and result in malfunctions in Windows: applications might not start, utilities might not work, or worst of all, the computer might not boot.
What are the 5 registry keys? ›
What are the five registry keys? In most versions of Windows, the following keys are in the registry: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT (HKCR), HKEY_CURRENT_USER (HKCU), HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE (HKLM), HKEY_USERS (HKU), and HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG.
How do I remove a corrupt registry key? ›
How to Delete Broken Registry Items? Follow the 5 Methods!
- Method 1: Via MiniTool System Booster.
- Method 2: Run Windows Automatic Repair.
- Method 3: Via the Disk Cleanup Tool.
- Method 4: Run an SFC Scan.
- Method 5: Try a DISM Scan.
- Final Words.
If you're creating a new registry value, right-click or tap-and-hold on the key it should exist within and choose New, followed by the type of value you want to create. Name the value, press Enter to confirm, and then open the newly created value and set the Value data it should have.
How do I find my registry key? ›
In the Run dialog box, type Regedit and click OK. 3. The Registry Editor dialog box will open. The Reg Keys are located within the folders with names that begin with HKEY_ (as pictured to the right).
What is the purpose of the registry key? ›
Registry keys are containers that act like folders, with values or subkeys contained within them. Registry values are similar to files (not containers). The relatively straightforward syntax and simple user interface keep the size of the registry low. Not all applications use the registry.
What happens if you delete the entire registry? ›
So yes, deleting stuff from the registry will absolutely positively kill Windows. And unless you have a backup, restoring it is impossible. ... If you remove this information, Windows will be unable to find and load critical system files and thus be unable to boot.
Is it safe to delete broken registry items? ›
Broken Registry Items can rarely cause a nonfunctional PC, but in many instances attempts to “clean” or optimize the registry will do more harm than good.
Is it okay to go off registry? ›
Not rude per se, but not recommended. The entire point of the registry is telling guests what they'd like - respect their wishes and trust that they know what they want/need better than you do.
Is it safe to edit registry in Windows 10? ›
Warning: Exercise extreme caution when using the Registry Editor. If you edit the registry incorrectly, serious problems might occur that could require a complete reinstall of the operating system and result in data loss. Avoid any edits suggested by unofficial sources.
