unable to write to HKLM

rabsofty · Dec 25th 2017

I have looked at various websites and found all kinds of entries to add entries to HKLM none worked with success.

Using my spreadsheet and in VBA code I want to be able to add a key and put entries into HKLM (local machine)
(error says I do not have the permissions)

Rather than writing to HKCU for every user, I want to write the registry in HKLM so as the entries are global to the local machine.

Is there a way to programmatically allow my specific spreadsheet to have the permissions to access HKLM via Excel VBA code?
I am using Windows 7, Office 2010

**Kenneth Hobson** · Dec 26th 2017

Of course you could write the .REG text file and then Shell() to execute it.
\
Or, use an API method. e.g.

Code

' 32-bit declarations
Declare Function RegOpenKeyA Lib "ADVAPI32.DLL" _
(ByVal hKey As Long, ByVal sSubKey As String, _
ByRef hkeyResult As Long) As Long


Declare Function RegCloseKey Lib "ADVAPI32.DLL" _
(ByVal hKey As Long) As Long


Declare Function RegSetValueExA Lib "ADVAPI32.DLL" _
(ByVal hKey As Long, ByVal sValueName As String, _
ByVal dwReserved As Long, ByVal dwType As Long, _
ByVal sValue As String, ByVal dwSize As Long) As Long


Declare Function RegCreateKeyA Lib "ADVAPI32.DLL" _
(ByVal hKey As Long, ByVal sSubKey As String, _
ByRef hkeyResult As Long) As Long


Declare Function RegQueryValueExA Lib "ADVAPI32.DLL" _
(ByVal hKey As Long, ByVal sValueName As String, _
ByVal dwReserved As Long, ByRef lValueType As Long, _
ByVal sValue As String, ByRef lResultLen As Long) As Long


Function GetRegistry(Key, Path, ByVal ValueName As String)
     '  Reads a value from the Windows Registry


    Dim hKey As Long
    Dim lValueType As Long
    Dim sResult As String
    Dim lResultLen As Long
    Dim ResultLen As Long
    Dim x, TheKey As Long


    TheKey = -99
    Select Case UCase(Key)
    Case "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT": TheKey = &H80000000
    Case "HKEY_CURRENT_USER": TheKey = &H80000001
    Case "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE": TheKey = &H80000002
    Case "HKEY_USERS": TheKey = &H80000003
    Case "HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG": TheKey = &H80000004
    Case "HKEY_DYN_DATA": TheKey = &H80000005
    End Select


     '   Exit if key is not found
    If TheKey = -99 Then
        GetRegistry = "Not Found"
        Exit Function
    End If


    If RegOpenKeyA(TheKey, Path, hKey) <> 0 Then _
    x = RegCreateKeyA(TheKey, Path, hKey)


    sResult = Space(100)
    lResultLen = 100


    x = RegQueryValueExA(hKey, ValueName, 0, lValueType, _
    sResult, lResultLen)


    Select Case x
    Case 0: GetRegistry = Left(sResult, lResultLen - 1)
    Case Else: GetRegistry = "Not Found"
    End Select


    RegCloseKey hKey
End Function


Function WriteRegistry(ByVal Key As String, _
    ByVal Path As String, ByVal entry As String, _
    ByVal value As String)


    Dim hKey As Long, TheKey As Long, x As Boolean
    Dim lValueType As Long
    Dim sResult As String
    Dim lResultLen As Long


    TheKey = -99
    Select Case UCase(Key)
    Case "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT": TheKey = &H80000000
    Case "HKEY_CURRENT_USER": TheKey = &H80000001
    Case "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE": TheKey = &H80000002
    Case "HKEY_USERS": TheKey = &H80000003
    Case "HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG": TheKey = &H80000004
    Case "HKEY_DYN_DATA": TheKey = &H80000005
    End Select


     '   Exit if key is not found
    If TheKey = -99 Then
        WriteRegistry = False
        Exit Function
    End If


     '   Make sure  key exists
    If RegOpenKeyA(TheKey, Path, hKey) <> 0 Then
        x = RegCreateKeyA(TheKey, Path, hKey)
    End If


    x = RegSetValueExA(hKey, entry, 0, 1, value, Len(value) + 1)
    If x = 0 Then WriteRegistry = True Else WriteRegistry = False
End Function

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BaraaKhalil · Dec 26th 2017

Thanks a lot Mr. Kenneth for this UDFs
Can you give us example of how to use those UDFs?

**Kenneth Hobson** · Dec 26th 2017

It depends on what you want to do: Add a key, a value, or check for key, value, or delete a key, value, etc.

Do not use registry methods if you have not backed it up and/or you don't understand it.

There are other API's like those here: http://www.cpearson.com/excel/Registry.htm

There are other methods like the method I first explained and this which is a combination of WScript.Shell and a Shell() method. e.g.

Code

'https://stackoverflow.com/questions/32345238/read-and-write-from-to-registry-in-vba
Sub DoUSB_Control()
    If CreateObject("WScript.Shell").RegRead("HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR\Start") = 3 Then
        ShellExecute 0, "runas", "C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe", "/k %windir%\System32\reg.exe ADD HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR /f /v Start /t REG_DWORD /d 4", "C:\", 0
    Else
        ShellExecute 0, "runas", "C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe", "/k %windir%\System32\reg.exe ADD HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR /f /v Start /t REG_DWORD /d 3", "C:\", 0
    End If
End Sub

In the example above, I would use /c rather than /k. That method uses an API ShellExecute().

One way to learn REG command syntax is to run RegEdit in a command shell (Win+R, cmd, Return) and copy the keys as needed from an existing one. Then paste to text editor like Notepad or one of many others.

BaraaKhalil · Dec 27th 2017

Thanks a lot ..
I just wanted an example of how using the UDF "GetRegistry" and "WriteRegistry" .. A simple example to know how to use the parameters correctly

rabsofty · Dec 27th 2017

Kenneth,

In answer to your question, my program has parameters that I want to store such as version, license
I want to be able to add key(s) ,read and write values to it to hklm and if an uninstall is needed to delete the Key(s)

Eg:

Rabsoftware - Key
FinancialStatement - Sub Key
sysparm - SubKey
License abcdefgh - Parm
version 4.5 - Parm

JobTime - Key
sysparm - SubKey
License abcdxyz - Parm
version 2.3 - Parm

By putting it in hklm, I only have to modify it once. whereas in hkcu I have to modify it for each user.

unable to write to HKLM

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