Regdel.exe Cannot Delete Values, Can Only Delete Keys (165042)

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

CAUSE

Regdel.exe is a resource kit utility that can be used to delete keys from the local registry or from a remote registry. Regdel.exe cannot be used to delete values, only keys.

RESOLUTION

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

Regdel will only delete registry entries under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, and will default to this registry key.

For example: to delete all the keys and their associated values underneath HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Test, type:

regdel "software\microsoft\test"

Regdel.exe is not case sensitive.

MORE INFORMATION

Note that Regdel.exe has been replaced in Windows NT 4.0 Resource Kit Supplement 4 with the Registry Management utility (Reg.exe). Reg.exe performs the functionality of and replaces the following tools from previous Resource Kits: Regchg.exe, Regdel.exe, Regdir.exe, Regread.exe, Regsec.exe, Restkey.exe, Rregchg.exe, and Savekey.exe.

For additional information about obtaining Reg.exe, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: