How to run Regedit as the System account

Information:

By running Regedit under the System account it is possible to view information in the registry that is normally restricted to user accounts.

 

For example:

The following registry key is usually restricted from user access.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Security

 

Solution:

Download Psexec from Sysinternals (now part of Microsoft)

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897553.aspx

 

Type the following command to run Regedit under the System Account

 

psexec -i -d -s c:\windows\regedit.exe

 

Note: Regedit will launch in the console session by default.  If you are connected via Terminal Services you should attach to the console via the /console switch to interact with regedit.exe

 

Newer versions of psexec allow you to specify which terminal session to allow the program to interact with (i.e. psexec –i # program).  You can determine the terminal session number by using “Terminal Services Manager” and looking at the “ID” column for the user you wish the program to interact with.