"Registry Editing Has Been Disabled By Your Administrator"

Virus creators like to disable the Registry Editor so it makes solving the problem and removing the issue difficult.

Listed below you will find the different ways to enable regedit, the Registry Editor.

Method 1: Use Symantec's tool to reset shell\open\command registry keys
In these cases, visit Symantec's website and download the UnHookExec.inf file to your desktop. Right-click on it and choose Install. Restart your computer and then try to open the Registry Editor.

Method 2: Rename Regedit.com to Regedit.exe
Some viruses and other malware will load a regedit.com file that is many times a zero byte dummy file. Because .com files have preference over .exe files when executed if you type REGEDIT in the run line, it will run the regedit.com instead of the real regedit.exe file.
Delete the regedit.com file if its a zero byte file to restore access to REGEDIT. In some cases, such as the W32.Navidad worm, you'll need to rename the REGEDIT file to get it to work.

Method 3: Windows XP Professional and Group Policy Editor
If you have Windows XP Professional and access to an administrative user account, you could change the registry editor options in the Group Policy Editor.

1. Click Start, Run
2. Type GPEDIT.MSC and Press Enter
3. Go to the following location
   
   
   
   • User Configuration
   • Administrative Templates
   • System
   
   
4. In the Settings Window, find the option for "Prevent Access to Registry Editing Tools" and double-click on it to change.
5. Select Disabled or Not Configured and choose OK
6. Close the Group Policy Editor and restart your computer
7. Try opening REGEDIT again