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Possible to deploy HKCU registry changes to computer.

Avatar
Gerth Ericsson

Hi 

I have for a couple of days tried to push out two registry changes for Adobe Reader DC to computers that already have the program installed.

Many of my users complain about the huge toolbar that opens on the right hand side when an new PDF is opened. I have found out that the behavior is controlled by two registry keys.

Though when i try to deploy a registry key file to the computer so doesn't the keys get updated,
I have tried to run as "Deploy Administrator" and "Logged on user" in PDQ Deploy but neither of those credentials make any difference.


If i run the same registry file as the logged on user on the local machine so is the changes applied.

Anyone that have a clue if its possible to make changes to a HKCU keys with deploy?
I haven't had any problems to deploy HKLM key changes earlier.

Our policies don't grant logged on user as admin on the machine, so installs do require a admin password.

I have as well tried to use a CMD step , Install step and a couple of other combination but failed.

Attached is registry keys I want to change.  Did yesterday find out that the is a Deploy tool kit for Adobe (Thanks to Admin Arsenals videos) , but in thus case is it to late to use as the Adobe Reader installation is already conducted.




AcrobatReaderDcRemoveSideBar.reg
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Comments

3 comments
Date Votes
  • Avatar
    Mark Harrison

    Hello,

    I am having the same issue.

    Whether I Use PDQDeploy's COMMAND or I use "INSTALL" and have a .BAT batch program, I get the same error (this from the "output file" after trying the deploy):

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    C:\Windows\AdminArsenal\PDQDeployRunner\service-1\exec>C:\Windows\SysWOW64\reg.exe DELETE "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging Subsystem\Profiles\Novell Groupwise" /f
    ERROR: The system was unable to find the specified registry key or value.

    C:\Windows\AdminArsenal\PDQDeployRunner\service-1\exec>C:\Windows\SysWOW64\reg.exe DELETE "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging Subsystem\Profiles\BACKUP OF FLTG" /f
    ERROR: The system was unable to find the specified registry key or value.

    C:\Windows\AdminArsenal\PDQDeployRunner\service-1\exec>C:\Windows\SysWOW64\reg.exe DELETE "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging Subsystem\Profiles\FLTG" /f
    ERROR: The system was unable to find the specified registry key or value.
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    C:\Windows\AdminArsenal\PDQDeployRunner\service-1\exec>C:\Windows\System32\reg.exe DELETE "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging Subsystem\Profiles\Novell Groupwise" /f
    ERROR: The system was unable to find the specified registry key or value.

    C:\Windows\AdminArsenal\PDQDeployRunner\service-1\exec>C:\Windows\System32\reg.exe DELETE "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging Subsystem\Profiles\BACKUP OF FLTG" /f
    ERROR: The system was unable to find the specified registry key or value.

    C:\Windows\AdminArsenal\PDQDeployRunner\service-1\exec>C:\Windows\System32\reg.exe DELETE "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging Subsystem\Profiles\FLTG" /f
    ERROR: The system was unable to find the specified registry key or value.
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     

    But, when I run the commands on the target PC itself, whether from a CMD line or run the .BAT program, the specified registry keys disappear.

    I then put the keys back in to place, rerun deploy, does not work. Same errors.

    I searched AdminArsenal for several things like "REG DELETE" and "delete registry keys" and so forth and tried several variations, but the same results.

    I also tried just deleting the whole "Profiles" reg key, same error messages.

    I *can* deploy and run other .BAT programs and installations with no problems. Just this REG DELETE thing doesn't seem to want to work.

    Thoughts, please?

    Thanks!

    - Mark

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  • Avatar
    Mark Harrison

    ANSWER !!!!

    I found a .BAT program script (with the help of Google) and so a big big THANK YOU to Jared Barneck for this slick piece of work....

    https://community.landesk.com/support/docs/DOC-2417

    Here is the .BAT program which worked for me:

    --------------------------------------------------------------------

    REM Modify a registry key in for all logged in users
    REM Also modify it in the .DEFAULT hive so future users get it.
    REM
    REM Copyright Jared Barneck
    REM

    GOTO main

    :modkey
    REM %1 is the value of %a that is passed.
    reg delete "HKU\%1\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging Subsystem\Profiles /f
    REM Going to :end here only ends this instance of the call to the
    REM :modkey label. It does not end the whole batch file.
    GOTO end

    :main
    FOR /F "tokens=2* delims=\" %%a IN ('REG QUERY HKU ^|Findstr /R "DEFAULT S-1-5-[0-9]*-[0-9-]*$"') DO CALL :modkey %%a
    REM Going to :end here ends the whole batch file.
    GOTO end

    :end

    --------------------------------------------------------------------

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  • Avatar
    Gerth Ericsson

    Thanks a lot for this update, it solved my problem as well.

    Very good link to an interesting article.

    //Gerth

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