Error 1402
Error 1402. Could not open key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\...
The installer could not open a registry key because your account does not have permission on it. This is a permissions problem on that specific key, not a corrupt registry.
What it actually means
Installers write configuration into the registry. When a key was created by a different account, or its permissions were changed by an earlier uninstall, the installer is denied access and stops at that key.
How to fix it, in order
Ordered by how often each one is the answer, not by how clever it sounds.
- 01Run the installer as administrator first, which resolves the straightforward cases.
- 02If it names the same key again, open regedit as administrator and navigate to the key in the message.
- 03Right-click the key, choose Permissions, and give Administrators Full Control, ticking the option to replace permissions on all child objects.
- 04Retry the installation.
- 05If several unrelated keys fail in turn, the more likely cause is a damaged profile or system files, so run "sfc /scannow".
Change permissions, do not delete the key
Advice to delete the offending key circulates widely and is risky: the key often belongs to a component still in use. Granting Administrators Full Control fixes the access problem without removing anything.
Common questions
- How do I fix error 1402 could not open key?
- Run the installer as administrator. If it persists, open regedit as administrator, find the key named in the error, and give Administrators Full Control including all child objects.
Before you retry the installer
If the package came from anywhere other than the publisher, confirm it is the file they actually shipped. Check its SHA-256 against our index, which settles in seconds whether you are debugging an installer or a damaged download.