I'm having a tough time removing specific registry entries that just won't budge, even after I set myself as the owner. This issue started when I tried to update PowerToys but ended up uninstalling it instead. Now, Windows still thinks it's installed, which is blocking me from reinstalling it. I've performed a thorough search for it in the program list and system search, but I can't find it anywhere. I manually deleted a lot of registry entries, but a few still seem untouchable. Whenever I try to use PowerToys, it claims that it can't remove the old version, which shouldn't exist anymore. I've employed tools like IObit Uninstaller and Advanced SystemCare, which are supposed to help clean up leftovers, but they haven't worked either. I'm stuck and can't reinstall the program until I get rid of these ghost entries. Any advice?
3 Answers
You might want to try using psexec to launch a shell as System. This approach typically allows you to bypass permission issues and force deletions. If you're interested, I can explain the steps to do that!
Consider using msizap.exe; it's an older tool but has proven useful even with recent applications. Just be careful as it’s no longer supported and could mess things up if not handled correctly. It can completely clear any references to the MSI product code you provide. Here’s a couple of links for guidance: [Instructions](https://support.microfocus.com/kb/doc.php?id=7023386) and a link to a likely safe version [here](https://github.com/adbertram/PSSoftware/blob/master/MsiZap.exe).
I appreciate the suggestion! I managed to resolve my issue with another method, but I’m definitely saving this for future use. Always good to have more tools in my tech toolkit!
Check out this Microsoft Support link: [Fix problems that block programs from being installed or removed](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/fix-problems-that-block-programs-from-being-installed-or-removed-cca7d1b6-65a9-3d98-426b-e9f927e1eb4d). It may provide guidance on handling registry keys that are locked by TrustedInstaller.
Thanks for the tip! The Microsoft link actually worked for me, but I'd love to learn how to use psexec for future reference. So if you could outline the steps, I'd really appreciate it.