Error modifying registry key

[Gruff the Elder]

XP Pro sp3

I'm trying to temporarily disable McAfee Virus Scan Enterprise 8.5. This is
installed on a laptop that is NOT a member of a domain but is sometimes
connected to a corporate network. McAfee's anti-tampering feature won't let
the services be stopped and McAfee was installed (by corp) without installing
the console that permits turning off the McAfee anti-tampering feature.
However, a McAfee KB article reveals that anti-tampering can be disabled by
changing a registry key.

However, regedit gives the error: "Cannont edit LockDownEnabled. Error
writing the value's new contents." I've checked the permissions for this
key, and the Administrators group is supposed to have Full Control. The user
account in which I'm attempting to make the change is a member of the
Administrators group.

Where do I go from here?

 

[Daniel Martín [MVP]]

Re: Error modifying registry key

Hi, Gruff:

Maybe that registry key is protected by a driver installed by Mcafee, or
another third party software. Try the same steps booting your computer in
Safe Mode.

--
Regards,
Daniel Martín
Microsoft MVP Windows Desktop Experience


"Gruff the Elder" <GrufftheElder@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:FE493BFA-8B6E-455D-BD2A-6C9E2B1516B0@microsoft.com...
> XP Pro sp3
>
> I'm trying to temporarily disable McAfee Virus Scan Enterprise 8.5. This
> is
> installed on a laptop that is NOT a member of a domain but is sometimes
> connected to a corporate network. McAfee's anti-tampering feature won't
> let
> the services be stopped and McAfee was installed (by corp) without
> installing
> the console that permits turning off the McAfee anti-tampering feature.
> However, a McAfee KB article reveals that anti-tampering can be disabled
> by
> changing a registry key.
>
> However, regedit gives the error: "Cannont edit LockDownEnabled. Error
> writing the value's new contents." I've checked the permissions for this
> key, and the Administrators group is supposed to have Full Control. The
> user
> account in which I'm attempting to make the change is a member of the
> Administrators group.
>
> Where do I go from here?

 

[Gruff the Elder]

Re: Error modifying registry key

I tried Safe Mode. The McAfee services are stopped in safe mode and I was
able to modify that key. HOWEVER, when I booted back to normal mode, the key
had been RE-written (presumably by McAfee) back to its anti-tamper
configuration and I was still unable to stop the services in normal mode.

So I went back to safe mode and tried to change the McAfee services startup
type from "Automatic" to "Disabled". Even with the registry key configured
the way that McAfee said would disable anti-tampering, I couldn't change the
configuration of those services.

Finally, I found a different registry key that controls whether the McAfee
virus scan service starts and set it to 0. That did the trick.

I *really* dislike being "protected" from myself. I'd simply uninstall
McAfee root and branch, but the laptop's user would probably get in trouble
with her company if I did that.

"Daniel Martín [MVP]" wrote:

> Hi, Gruff:
>
> Maybe that registry key is protected by a driver installed by Mcafee, or
> another third party software. Try the same steps booting your computer in
> Safe Mode.
>
> --
> Regards,
> Daniel Martín
> Microsoft MVP Windows Desktop Experience
>
>
> "Gruff the Elder" <GrufftheElder@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:FE493BFA-8B6E-455D-BD2A-6C9E2B1516B0@microsoft.com...
> > XP Pro sp3
> >
> > I'm trying to temporarily disable McAfee Virus Scan Enterprise 8.5. This
> > is
> > installed on a laptop that is NOT a member of a domain but is sometimes
> > connected to a corporate network. McAfee's anti-tampering feature won't
> > let
> > the services be stopped and McAfee was installed (by corp) without
> > installing
> > the console that permits turning off the McAfee anti-tampering feature.
> > However, a McAfee KB article reveals that anti-tampering can be disabled
> > by
> > changing a registry key.
> >
> > However, regedit gives the error: "Cannont edit LockDownEnabled. Error
> > writing the value's new contents." I've checked the permissions for this
> > key, and the Administrators group is supposed to have Full Control. The
> > user
> > account in which I'm attempting to make the change is a member of the
> > Administrators group.
> >
> > Where do I go from here?
>
>

 

[Kelly]

Re: Error modifying registry key

Can the Recovery status be changed via services.msc to say:

Take no action

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

SupportSpace
www.supportspace.com/pages?aiu=kellyskorner

"Gruff the Elder" <GrufftheElder@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:373FD080-2898-45C4-BF08-FB93CF574F09@microsoft.com...
>I tried Safe Mode. The McAfee services are stopped in safe mode and I was
> able to modify that key. HOWEVER, when I booted back to normal mode, the
> key
> had been RE-written (presumably by McAfee) back to its anti-tamper
> configuration and I was still unable to stop the services in normal mode.
>
> So I went back to safe mode and tried to change the McAfee services
> startup
> type from "Automatic" to "Disabled". Even with the registry key
> configured
> the way that McAfee said would disable anti-tampering, I couldn't change
> the
> configuration of those services.
>
> Finally, I found a different registry key that controls whether the McAfee
> virus scan service starts and set it to 0. That did the trick.
>
> I *really* dislike being "protected" from myself. I'd simply uninstall
> McAfee root and branch, but the laptop's user would probably get in
> trouble
> with her company if I did that.
>
> "Daniel Martín [MVP]" wrote:
>
>> Hi, Gruff:
>>
>> Maybe that registry key is protected by a driver installed by Mcafee, or
>> another third party software. Try the same steps booting your computer in
>> Safe Mode.
>>
>> --
>> Regards,
>> Daniel Martín
>> Microsoft MVP Windows Desktop Experience
>>
>>
>> "Gruff the Elder" <GrufftheElder@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
>> message
>> news:FE493BFA-8B6E-455D-BD2A-6C9E2B1516B0@microsoft.com...
>> > XP Pro sp3
>> >
>> > I'm trying to temporarily disable McAfee Virus Scan Enterprise 8.5.
>> > This
>> > is
>> > installed on a laptop that is NOT a member of a domain but is sometimes
>> > connected to a corporate network. McAfee's anti-tampering feature
>> > won't
>> > let
>> > the services be stopped and McAfee was installed (by corp) without
>> > installing
>> > the console that permits turning off the McAfee anti-tampering feature.
>> > However, a McAfee KB article reveals that anti-tampering can be
>> > disabled
>> > by
>> > changing a registry key.
>> >
>> > However, regedit gives the error: "Cannont edit LockDownEnabled. Error
>> > writing the value's new contents." I've checked the permissions for
>> > this
>> > key, and the Administrators group is supposed to have Full Control.
>> > The
>> > user
>> > account in which I'm attempting to make the change is a member of the
>> > Administrators group.
>> >
>> > Where do I go from here?
>>
>>