PRB: Unable to Write to the Windows NT Registry

 Last reviewed: July 25, 1997
Article ID: Q104042
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Visual C++ 32-Bit Edition, versions 1.0, 2.0, 2.1, 4.0, 4.1

SYMPTOMS

Windows NT sets up each Windows NT user with a different environment. When you install Visual C++ 32-bit Edition, Visual C++ installs for that particular user. If the user changes his or her group membership (privileges), then the Registry Key will not work accordingly with Visual C++. The following two messages may appear if this happens when starting Visual Workbench:

Message 1

  • The options Registry Key 'Visual C++' is missing. A new Registry Key will be created using the default settings."

    Press OK to continue.

Message 2

   Unable to write to the NT Registry. Option settings will not be
   saved.

   Press OK to continue.
After these messages, Visual C++ starts running. However, when you exit you receive the second message again.

CAUSE

Each Windows NT user has a different user profile and privilege level. Each user may not have access to the same Registry Key information as the person who installed Visual C++. Changing the privilege level of the person who installed Visual C++ causes this problem.

RESOLUTION

Check with the Windows NT administrator for the machine to correctly perform the following steps to rebuild the Registry Key for that particular Visual C++ user.

  1. Log in as Administrator and give the user of Visual C++ administrative privileges to delete the Visual C++ entry, with the Registry Editor (REGEDT32.EXE) located in the \WINNT\SYSTEM32 directory. The Visual C++ entry is under the HKEY_CURRENT_USER, Software, Microsoft, Visual C++. Be sure not to delete any entries other than Visual C++.

  2. Remove the administrative privileges for the Visual C++ user.

  3. Log in as the user and start Visual C++ again; this time you will only receive the first message above and a new Registry entry will be created. 
Keywords          : vc10setup vc20setup kbsetup kbfasttip
Version           : 1.0 2.0 2.1 4.0 4.1
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb
Solution Type     : kbworkaround

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Last reviewed: July 25, 1997
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