Here is the solution that worked for us:
This has occurred to me when I also noticed that a registry value in
Windows XP could not be deleted when attempting to install a USB to
serial driver.
When in REGEDIT the message "Error while opening key" would show when
attempting to view the registry value and "Error while deleting key"
when attemtpign to delete the key. Registry cleaners will not work.
Fix (Windows XP):
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You will need admin priveledges
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1) Open the .INF file of the device you are attempting to install,
highlight and copy (CTRL-C) the ID between the brackets {} in the line
which reads:
ClassGuid={4D36E978-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
Note that your ID will be different than the
"4D36E978-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318" in this example.
2) Run REGEDIT and search for the ClassGuid copied (in this example,
we search for "4D36E978-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318")
3)Select the 0000, 0001, 0002, etc folders until you find one that
indicates "Error while opening key"
4) Right-Click and select permissions - you may receive and error
indicating "You do not have permission to view the current permission
settings for 0000, but you can make permission changes". Select Ok.
5) Select Advanced button
6) Select Owner tab - you may notice that the "current owner of this
item" indicates "Unable to display current owner" . This is the crux
of the problem.
7) In the "Change owner to" box, select "administrator" or your admin
user name
8) Select Apply, then Ok
9) In the security tab, select Add button. Select the Computer from
the Locations button and enter "Administrators" in the "Enter the
object names to select", then Ok button (NOTE: your can also enter
"everyone" but it lowers security of these settings)
10) Highligh "Administrators" and select the "Full Control" and "Read"
selections in the "Allow" column.
11) Again in the security tab, select Add button. Select the Computer
from the Locations button and enter "Users" in the "Enter the object
names to select", then Ok button.
12) Highligh "Users" and select the only "Read" selections in the
"Allow" column.
13) Select Apply then Ok again.
You will now see the entries under the 000X entry you just modified.
14) Repeat steps 3 to 13 for each 000X entry. No need to modify
permissions if you can already read them.
Restart the computer and install your device. If you still have
problems, try booting safe mode (F8 at boot), uninstall the drivers
with the problem using Device Manager, and repeat the steps above.