Member Avatar for fuzzyduq

Hi guys,

I need help urgently. We are running Terminal Services on an SBE 2003 Server, and the print spooler has crashed because of a corrupt registry key. We have tried to delete the key but keep getting the response that the key cannot be deleted. is there something we are missing? We have changed the adminstrator rights on the key, but to no avail.

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Dani AI

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Short, prioritized checklist for a stuck/corrupt registry key on an SBS 2003 Terminal Server (following 's safe-mode suggestion and 's report that safe mode + ACL changes didn’t work).

  1. Backup first. Export the affected key and take a System State backup (ntbackup) or copy the hive files in C:\Windows\System32\Config before any edit:

    reg export "HKLM\Software\Path\To\Key" C:\Temp\KeyBackup.reg

  2. Run the editor as SYSTEM (often bypasses permission/lock problems). On another machine or with the Sysinternals PsExec on the server:

    psexec -i -s regedit.exe

    In that SYSTEM regedit, take ownership (Advanced → Owner), give Full Control, then delete or rename the key. Stop the Print Spooler first if it’s running:

    net stop spooler

  3. If regedit still can’t remove it (common when names include embedded nulls or nonprintable chars), try offline hive editing or the Sysinternals RegDelNull tool. Offline editing steps (boot to WinPE or attach the drive to another Windows box), then load the hive, delete the key and unload:

    reg load HKLM\OfflineHive "D:\Windows\System32\Config\SOFTWARE"
reg delete HKLM\OfflineHive\Path\To\Key /f
reg unload HKLM\OfflineHive

  4. If a handle is holding the key, use Process Explorer or Handle to search for the key name, stop the owning process or close the handle before retrying. If none of these work, restore the hive from the System State backup or consider a repair install — do not proceed on a production Terminal Server without tested backups or scheduled downtime.

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Member Avatar for jbennet

Tried doing it in safe mode?

Member Avatar for fuzzyduq

Tried doing it in safe mode?

Hi, Thanx but already tried that b4 posting hlp request, didn't work. Regcure id's corrupt reg key, but can't delete. Even in safe mode, get response to delete saying unable to delete. Also can't delete higher level keys, tried that as well.

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