Full access to the registry keys in Windows 8

I need to delete the key:

DeleteRegKey HKCU "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.jpg\UserChoice"

and then create it with a different value :

WriteRegStr HKCU "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.jpg\UserChoice" "Progid" "MyApp.jpg"

This key need full access. Any means to gain full access you can not .. AccessControl plugin does not work in Windows 8 ...
Please help to solve this problem.

This registry key is protected to stop people like you from messing with it.

You are supposed register your application/file type in the documented way, the user will then pick their desired default.

The FileExts key was added as a layer on top of that and only explorer is supposed to touch it. The UserChoice key was added later and defines the default progid. In Win8 the security of this key was changed, probably because people could not keep their fingers away from it.

I'm not sure why you don't already have full access, since it is under HKCU. But, Windows 8 prevents programatically changing a user's file associations anyway so it might not work, the user has to manually associate it in Default Programs.

Originally Posted by Anders View Post

This registry key is protected to stop people like you from messing with it.

You are supposed register your application/file type in the documented way, the user will then pick their desired default.

No messing with these keys is not going. 😉 Write a program with a fixed file associations.
How to do this using NSIS?

This registry key is protected

I asked a specific question - how to remove this protection?

Originally Posted by redxii View Post

I'm not sure why you don't already have full access, since it is under HKCU. But, Windows 8 prevents programatically changing a user's file associations anyway so it might not work, the user has to manually associate it in Default Programs.

You don't have write access to all keys under HKCU, the policy key(s) etc...

MSDN has information about file types:

You can implement this in the AccessControl plugin?

Originally Posted by stass View Post

You can implement this in the AccessControl plugin?

You are not supposed to touch the UserChoice key, use the documented keys, they don't require special access...

Originally Posted by stass View Post

I asked a specific question - how to remove this protection?

People will use this information for evil, it is better for Windows users everywhere if it stays a secret...

I understand ... But why not help the user NSIS, setting he needed associations? For example, to make a plugin for the file associations in windows 8. Can it be a secret? 🙂

Originally Posted by stass View Post

I understand ... But why not help the user NSIS, setting he needed associations? For example, to make a plug for the file associations in windose 8. Can it be a secret? 🙂

See the MSDN links I posted, this is all the information you need to register a file type...

This is a bit of a tangent but...

I have a Bluetooth keyboard that has become "un-paired" with my Win8 tablet. When I try to "re-pair" it, Win 8 doesn't show it because it is already in Device manager. The posts from other sites say to uninstall the device but not only does that not work but the device keeps coming back. I figured the only way to get it completely uninstalled was to delete all of the entries in the registry that reference its internal address but some are protected and won't let me delete them.

So, any MSDN links or other suggestions on how to fix this without having full access to the registry?