Registry editing problem

[Arjay13]

Hi
I was editing a friends registry because she couldn't change her homepage (I tried all the usual things first). I deleted the Start Page key. When I went to add a new Start Page key, the regisrty allows me to create it, but does not allow me to edit the key. So the start page is blank - but we can get on the net by typing a web address. Any ideas as to how I can get the Start Key edited?
Thanks in Advance
Arjay

[BipolarBill]

Firstly, the probable reason for the inability to change the homepage was malware. Deleting and re-creating registry keys would not fix that underlying problem. If the system is slow and/or she's getting pop-ups, the system needs to be scanned and cleaned of spyware. Use Ad-Aware and Spybot Search and Destroy for this. Scan for viruses with AVG:

http://free.grisoft.com/

In the meantime, she can download and use Firefox. It's a safer and better way to surf the Net anyway:

www.mozilla.com

[Arjay13]

she has norton internet security running at all times - I checked the logs and it hasnt seen any malware recently and it last performed a full scan last week - still doesn't help me edit the registry

[BipolarBill]

NIS is not "all that". It's fine for AV in most cases, but it's not good with spyware. You need to scan with another because a locked homepage is not normal - unless it's locked by NIS, SpywareBlaster or another anti-malware program. You need to address this issue because you will get nowhere until you do.

We can't scan for you. You have to double-check yourself.

As I've said, she can get full function with Firefox in the meantime. Opera is another option.

The only other methods I know of fixing this problem are:

1. Reinstalling IE7
2. Repairing Windows
3. Reinstalling Windows

You may have to do one of those even if this is malware, but "first things first".

System Restore will restore the registry key, but it will not fix the homepage lock.

[BipolarBill]

That's a thought - check NIS settings to be sure that it isn't locking the home page.

[Arjay13]

btw - there are multiple users on this machine and only one has the problem so I tyhink NIS is not the issue but I will check that. It'll take a couple of days since she is not local - thanks for the input!

[BipolarBill]

If the user is logged on as a Guest, she can't save any settings. If this is a work PC and she doesn't have Admin privileges, the same applies.

[evereddie]

Try running 'Hijack This'.

[Arjay13]

The other 3 users can change the start page so I don't think privileges is the issue. She is going to run Adaware and Spybot Search and Destry then try to reset IE7 to its default settings.

Still, why can't I edit the Start Page key? You think that malware is preventing me from doing that?

[BipolarBill]

Yes.

If it's only happening in her profile, you can always create a new one for her.