Connect to remote Registry fails with: An error is preventing this key from being opened

When you install a Windows 7 machine without a domain (in a Workgroup) and you want to connect to the Registry of this machine from another machine, it’s possible you will receive the following error:

[Window Title]
Error Opening Key

[Content]
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE cannot be opened.
An error is preventing this key from being opened.
Details: Access is denied.

You must execute the following steps before you can connect to the remote Registry:

  • Enable File and Print sharing in the Firewall
  • Start the Remote Registry Service
  • Third follow the steps below…

Although the user is member of the local Adminstrators group, it’s necessary to modify the registry permissions on the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SecurePipeServers\winreg

Add the user which must connect to the remote Registry, Read rights is sufficiant. You can also create a group and add the users which may connect to the remote Registry to this group. After that add the group to the permissions of the Registry key.

Reconnect to the remote Registry (for more information regarding these settings see: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314837/en-us)

Daniel Nikolic