Quicktime 7 cannot be removed from my registry!

I recently began to experience problems with Quicktime 7, such as ActiveX control not found, so I uninstalled it. During the uninstall I had unable to unregister dll errors. I have attempted to edit my registry to remove all references to Quicktime, but all the entries (and only the entries) related to Quicktime give me "Access Denied" no matter how I am logged in, even with the Administrator account. I have tried all the fixes on Apple's website, but none work. I have tried various registry cleaners, but none are able to remove the references to Quicktime. I have tried to reinstall the standalone (without Itunes) but that will no longer install because it is unable to write entries in my registry due to the semi-invulnerable one that is there. I even tried Quicktime Alternative which of course does not work since it needs to write entries in the registry where the semi-invulnerable ones are. I have tried System Restore (which fails), and I have tried restoring the registry to an earlier point (which also fails).
I am using this computer:

Operating System Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 (build 2600)
System Model HP Pavilion A510N
Enclosure Type: Desktop
Processor a Main Circuit Board b 2.10 gigahertz AMD Athlon XP
128 kilobyte primary memory cache
512 kilobyte secondary memory cache
Board: ASUSTek Computer INC. Kelut 2.02
Bus Clock: 200 megahertz
BIOS: Phoenix Technologies, LTD 3.15 06/06/2005
Drives c,d 120.02 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
103.88 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space
HL-DT-ST DVD-ROM GDR8162B [CD-ROM drive]
SAMSUNG CD-R/RW SW-252S [CD-ROM drive]
Generic USB CF Reader USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 3
Generic USB MS Reader USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 5
Generic USB SD Reader USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 2
Generic USB SM Reader USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 4
OEI-USB CF/SM/SD/MS USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 1
ST3120022A [Hard drive] (120.03 GB) -- drive 0, s/n 3JT3G5C1, rev 3.06, SMART Status: Healthy 448 Megabytes Installed Memory
Memory Modules
Slot 'A0' has 512 MB
Slot 'A1' is Empty
Local Drive Volumes
c: (NTFS on drive 0) 115.52 GB 100.71 GB free d: (FAT32 on drive 0) 4.50 GB 3.17 GB free
Controllers Primary IDE Channel [Controller] (2x)
Secondary IDE Channel [Controller] (2x)
Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller
VIA Bus Master IDE Controller
Display
VIA/S3G UniChrome IGP [Display adapter]
hp mx703 [Monitor] (15.7"vis, February 2004)
Bus Adapters Multimedia Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller
VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller (4x) Realtek AC'97 Audio for VIA (R) Audio Controller

I snipped the info that should be irrelevant. I am also using the latest version of DirectX. I have tried everything I can think of other than a full format and restoration of my system. Any help would be appreciated.

 

have you tried ultimate boot cd? It has a registry editor. Perhaps you'll be able to edit it since you are not loading up Windows.

 

Have you tried CCleaner, http://majorgeeks.com/CCleaner_d4191.html, in safe mode to see if it will delete it?

 

Yes. I use CCleaner on regular basis. Unfortunately it does the same thing all the other "cleaner" programs do, which is fail. I will try the UltimateBootCD thing today.

 

This might help: Someone know how to remove quicktime 7 for windows

 

Did you use the "issues" function of CCleaner while in safe mode?

 

Yes. It finds the same issues over and over. They are all quicktime related and CCleaner cannot remove them.

 

I removed QuickTime by downloading the latest version of it off thier website, installed, then I uninstalled iTunes (which came bundled with it ) through Add/Remove Programs FIRST. After iTunes is uninstalled.. Windows might ask if you want to Restart your machine. Just select "I will reboot later" and continue uninstalling Quicktime from Add/Remove Programs . When I did this, there was no more Quicktime. Good Riddance!

 

I have tried all that. I am not sure why, but I cannot remove Quicktime references from my registry. I get these errors when I try to using Regedit:

cannot open .mov: error while opening key

cannot save permission changes: access denied

I used .mov as an example. It happens with all Quicktime references no matter how I am logged in, even with the "Administrator" account that is created when WinXP is installed. I have checked all the accounts I have tried it with and they all have and have had Administrator permissions. I saw what I attempted as a fix on another website. I am pretty much baffled at this point.

 

First thing I tried. I get funky errors about not being able to unregister quicktime dlls. The dlls are gone, but the references to them in my registry seem impervious to editing.

Oh, and you can get the standalone version of Quicktime both here at Majorgeeks and through Apple. Or use Quicktime Alternative, which is what I should have done.

 

Have you checked your start up process to see if Quicktime is loading at startup? This should be the only reason that you can't delete the registry keys. Even though you have deleted it, there could be an exe. of some sort loading at start up. This app http://www.majorgeeks.com/Process_Explorer_d4566.html should help in identifying running processes and all keys associated with them.

 

Yes. It is not. Like I said before I am baffled. I tried UltimateBootCD, but its registry editor is not quite robust enough for me. I haven't poked around in DOS and Unix for too long to remember all the nifty commands. I am no longer geek enough. Anyone know of a graphical registry editor I can add to the UltimateBootCD? This is perhaps the only way I can get Quicktime out of the registry. Safe mode doesn't work, restoring a backup fails (can't rewrite the registry or delete it), straight up editing no matter how I am logged in (Administrator users) doesn't work. I am considering living without Quicktime and letting Media Player Classic play .mov files using the experimental procedure (without Quicktime). The only problem with that is I have 2 kids who have games that require Quicktime which will not install even if I try to use the old versions. Oh well, if anyone has any ideas that I haven't tried (other than format the HD and start over) let me know. I will try contacting Apple again for a fix.

 

Thanks everyone for the advice. I have tried everything, but nothing seems to work. I installed K-Lite Mega Codec Pack (Quicktime Alternative is included) and it works for playback. I simply ignored all the errors it gave me (by clicking the Ignore button a lot) and it works ok. Will play back video in Mozilla Firefox at least except for HD which I have to download and then play. Oh well, at least it's something. And my kids are happy that for some reason their games work ok. Thanks again everyone.