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regedit failed to initialize properly

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10 replies

by guy west

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I'm trying to get into the registry of a WinXP Home computer. When I go to run>regedit I get this error "application failed to initialize properly (0xc0000005). click OK to terminate app". The last time I needed to work in the registry several weeks ago it opened fine. Any ideas anyone?

10 replies

by dmiles

CAUSE
The Regedit.exe file in the Windows folder is missing or damaged.
RESOLUTION
To resolve this problem, rename the Regedit.exe file (if it exists) in the Windows folder, and then extract a new copy of the Regedit.exe file from your original Windows XP CD-ROM. The Regedit.exe file is located in the Win XP.cab cabinet file on the Windows XP CD-ROM or of your original Windows XP disks.

For information about using the Extract tool, type "extract" (without quotation marks) at a command prompt, or see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
129605 How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files

by guy west

dmiles I extracted regedit.exe off the CD after renameing the existing one. Unfortunately was no help. Thanks for the suggestion. Regedt32 does not work either.

by joseph moore

Answer2 is a good suggestion. If it doesn't work, try booting into Safe Mode, and run Regedit from there.

Good luck.

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