Cannot import Registry File. Not all Data was written to Registry

Windows Registry allows any user to take backup and restore registry files. While the process should be smooth, restoring can increase complications. One of the common errors that show up while restoring the registry is—

Cannot import Registry File, Not all Data was successfully written to the Registry Some keys are open by the system or other processes.

While you can try to update in safe mode – but this can be because of permission issues.

Cannot import Registry File, Not all Data was successfully written to the Registry

The error is not surprising. When restoring the complete registry backup because there are many keys for which we won’t have permissions. It’s merely impossible to give permission to the entire registry entries because they might cause the system not to boot. Most of the third-party application keys and some of the system keys can be restored, but not all. So follow the methods below to achieve it.

Take full control of Registry Keys

We have written a full guide on how you can take full control of Windows Registry keys and then restore the backed up registry files. Like folders and files, Registry keys have permissions. The method involves accessing Registry and then changing permission for each, and subkeys to another user.

However, before you open the Registry Editor as admin, first backup your Windows registry and create a system restore point.

The process involves technical details, and hence may not be suitable for beginners. Look at the next method if that’s the case.

Use RegOwnIt

Our in-house software allows you to take ownership of a Registry key using Administrator, home users, or the current Logged On User account.

It will list down the four Registry databases, i.e.,

• HKEY Classes Root,
• HKEY Current User,
• HKEY local Machine, and
• HKEY Users.

Select each of them, and then select user, and then Full Control permission.

All the best.