Control Panel, Registry and other things disappear

[Solid]

Hi all,
This is my first time here and I hope you don't mind my asking for your help.

Someone opened up a .reg file on my machine with the title hiding_all.reg. Some idiot I assume who has just learnt to dabble with the registry created that file. After the file was merged into the registry I no longer have access to the Control Panel, File on the menu bar, right mouse click no longer works and a host of other nuances. Furthermore my registry is "disable by the administrator" I'm fairly comfortable using the registry. How can I actually access it to undo the mess that file did? thanx for your help!

[Solid]

My machine does work. So I'm assuming my registry is still fairly intact. I simply can't find it to open it. Could he have changed the name of my registry?

[Simon Clausen]

I would image the file just contained a range of various registry restrictions. Do you still have the file they ran? If you do -- edit it and basically reverse all the options, so for example if there us a value called "DisableRegistryTools" and it's set to "1" change that to "0" merge the file again and you should then be able to edit the registry. You could also use the unlock.reg file from http://www.winguides.com/ (http://registry.winguides.com/display.php/190/>here</a>)

[RWSchlatter]

may sound a bit rude of me but J am in a hurry.
repost this question in the Registry Discussion section rather than here in the Security section.
That's where everyone tries to get the opposite answers, how to lock down on users (includes me too).
Maybe you should also read thru the Registry Guide - links in the left border o fthis page.
Please mention Win version - can help to give proper answer.

My inital suggestion: try starting Win in Safe Mode, make a copy of the registry files SYSTEM.DAT and USER.DAT, start REGEDIT, or possibly a third party tool to be found in the download area ot this site, and have a lookout for keys containing \POLICY\ or \POLICIES\. Deleting them will drop restrictions, but you may be happier first to set values of 1 to 0 (zero) to inactivate restriction, and do the big cleanup when the system works near to normal.

______________
Regards - Richard

[Solid]

Thanx a million for your help! I was able to import a modified version of the .reg file into my registry using one of the programs in your downloads section.

The help was greatly appreciated