registry key problem installing TiVo Desktop

Do you have any security suites or program that might be blocking you from installing?


From the forums tivo com area I found this.


I was finally able to get this to work. Here is what I did.

1. Start registry editor as follows:

Start -> Run... -> regedit -> OK

2. Be extremely careful with Registry Editor. One false move can mess up your OS.

3. Expand +HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

4. Expand +Software

5. Right click on Tivo -> Permissions...

6. For each user select the "Allow" "Full Control" box.

If this does not work you might want to re-install 2.4a and try the above steps again.

I had exactly the same problem. After every installation I would get two pop ups; one said failed to add key software/tivo/desktop/transfer, and the other, failed to add key software/tivo/desktop/publisher.

I was on the phone with Tivo support for over an hour. It became obvious I was dealing with someone that had a script to follow rather than someone that has any clue what my problem was. I was finally told it was the fault of my computer and call the computer manufacture about it.

After looking around on this community I saw the last post and it became clear this was a problem that Tivo should recognize and have an answer for. Here is what I found out all on my own:

It appears that Windows XP home addition defaults to a lot of user settings at install that may be in part due to the manufacture of your computer. One key area is setting user permissions on files, folders AND registry entries. I would also assume that running some antivirus programs or network security programs (even in the past and uninstalled) can leave your windows with many of the permissions set to not allow you to do things...one being changing a registry key.

The last post was on the right track; however it did not work for me at first. What I found on my system was that the TIVO key was being entered in TWO places in the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/TIVO
HKEY_CURRENT_USER/SOFTWARE/TIVO

I right clicked on each of those entries and selected properties. Both keys did not have full permissions so I selected FULL PERMISSIONS for both profiles/users that displayed then exited the registry editor.

Running the desktop again I got rid of the popup and got anew one saying something about the server not running. I rebooted and PRESTO! Tivo Desktop was working.


FYI
On my machine; an HP Pavillion762n I checked the registry afterwards and it added the 2 missing keys "transfer" and "publisher" to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER branch.

Tivo tech should know this is happening and have a quick patch to fix this install bug.