HKLM can not be opened

when i try to uninstall a program (antivirus), it always pops out this message where it cannot open the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\security center\monitoring\antivirus and verify that i have sufficient access to that key.

so i logged in as administrator and that message still pops out.
and when i run regedit, it doesn't let me modify the permissions neither even as administrator.

how can i remove this key?? now i can't uninstall that antivirus no more

 

It would be very helpful to mention what AV software you are having trouble with. I will take a guess it is ZoneAlarm. If so:

Open ZoneAlarm, select the "overview" tab, then the "preferences" tab, and un-check "load ZoneAlarm at startup”. Reboot your computer and you should be able to make the changes or uninstall if you wish. The issue has to do with the True-Vector software.

If you want to keep the software, after you have made your changes, re-check "load ZoneAlarm at startup”.

I had this issue on my son's computer.

 

thanks for the suggestion.
my antivirus is kaspersky. i tried what you said to uncheck to load at startup but it didn't worked. i then looked around the settings and unchecked registry guard as well which i thought that was the problem but not... i still can't get to uninstall the antivirus.. still same error cannot open that registry key

 

From regedit, you should be able to take ownership of the key, and then
change the key's security settings.

Alternatively, you can download the following tool from microsoft to open an
instance of regedit as system:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/utilities/psexec.mspx

The following command line will open a "system" regedit:

psexec -s -i regedit

(Note: You have to execute this command line from an "administrator" command
prompt [right-click command prompt and click run as administrator])

If that doesn't work, then try a program called Registar Lite. I have had good luck with it for precisely these kind of problems. Another good one is RegAssassin.

Another way is to use the Kaspersky Removal Tool.

 

can you run regedit correctly and only the key is making troubles, or you cannot open regedit at all with the insufficient-rights error? (just to make sure that it's not that AV2009 crap's work)

by chance, and in case that the kaspersky removal tool mentioned by Jakpro ends with the same access error: won't kaspersky offer some tool to repair their own registry items? in case that it's a known issue, they would have some fix tool. stuff like that is usually not on a vendor's site but may be sent on demand.

 

hmm Try the same in Safe Mode and see if you have rights to access it

 

there is a free program named FreshUI that has a setting to "repair the Registry Editor" you can get it at www.freshdevices.com. You should register the product - free and maybe this will help. With the app using under a meg of HD space this should be of great help to you even if it does not fix this particular problem. Note: This program does change many registry settings and some of them can be harmful to your system. the Registry editor repair is safe and will do your system more help than hindrance.