This isn't actually a question on programming, is it ?

[puzzolino]

Hi all !
Is there a way on Windows XP to let a non-administrator user access the registry without restrictions ?

I have seen that only administrators can read/write some keys...

[dimm_coder]

Oh... Ehh and what about to get an access to any other data wich belongs to other users :D
There is a standart and normal defence policy for all
OS not to prevent for all any type of system data.
Those registry keys contain a data U not need to look and OS preserve it from a possible damage U can do with it.
In common case there is no standart way of course to prevent the access to it for any non-priviledge user (not administrator). Of course, U can try to find some unknown and unfixed bugs somewhere in the system to get aceess for it :D
May be the easyst way is to load from floppy with a DOS, get access for NTFS (if it will be NTFS) drive with some special driver ( because standart DOS cannot see it ) , then make a copy of registry files (registre stores in the some files) .... oppsss .... but they can be high than 1.44 mb.... in this case U need to have any DOS-program wich can read a registry file and know about it format and can extract any hives from it.
The better way is to extract hard-disk with this system and put into your comp like the second drive.
There is a standart way when U forget your admin password to get your hard disk with windows installed on it , put into another comp, then delete reg sys file wich has a SAM (it contains a passwords) in it , then U can load from it without password.
But I hope U not do this with a comp of your friends without their permission ;):D

[Andreas Masur]

Moved thread to proper forum.

[puzzolino]

Thank you Dim,
but my situation is simpler than the one you describe....

I'm the only administrator of my computer (which has WinXP installed); I'd like my sister and my brother use the computer as well without all those limitations their user type provides...

That is, if they run a program that checks some registry value (stored in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, not USERS), the program fails since they don't have permissions...

I need to switch them to administrators even to *run* programs only....