[CraigW]

I have a PC running Windows XP. It started off as the original XP Professional, but has had SP2 and most recent patches applied. Recently I found I could not install Acrobat Reader 7, receiving the message that I have insufficient privileges to perform the install. My user ID is in the Local Administrator group and the same message appears if I log on as Administrator and perform the install. More recently I could not install Download Accelerator, with the same symptoms. I looked in Regedit and found the entry for Speedbit, but could not delete it or edit it. Regedit says it is owned by the Administrator group but.

Also, there are now 6 Windows Updates queued for install, but every time I try to install them they fail to install. (This happend also each time I shut down the machine.)

It looks like something has locked up a whole lot of entries in the registry. Is ther any way I can unlock these, or will I need to reinstall Windows?

Craig.

[gerryf]

The easiest way to do this is to use the following (it can also be done manually, but see if this automated tool works first)

http://wiki.djlizard...air_Permissions

[CraigW]

 logs.zip (226K)
Number of downloads: 97I tried both options described at the site. First I ran Dial a Fix from a normal login and it ran through its paces, but the problems remain. A side effect was that only my own user ID appers to be available.

Then I ran the !RUNME.bat (from Repair Permissions.zip), from the command prompt in Safe mode. It ran through, giving errors at each stage and the problem still persists.

When I run Regedit, the keys are generally locked so that I cannot even open them.

Can you suggest what I should try next? Would the security logs be of any assistance? I've included them just in case.

Also, how can I restore the other logons? (When I try to add them back in I am told they already exist, so it looks like they are just hidden.)

Regards,
Craig.

[gerryf]

is this xp home or pro?

[CraigW]

It is Windows XP Pro.

[CraigW]

Not to worry, I ended up rebuilding the machine onto a new hard disk, just keeping the old one there to copy files from.

Craig.