# Deleting Registry Key - Remove-Item

**URL:** <https://forums.powershell.org/t/deleting-registry-key-remove-item/5354>\
**Category:** PowerShell Help\
**Created:** [December 10, 2015, 10:29am UTC](https://forums.powershell.org/t/deleting-registry-key-remove-item/5354 "2015-12-10T10:29:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![andrew-rasdell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@andrew-rasdell](https://forums.powershell.org/u/andrew-rasdell)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2015, 10:29am UTC](https://forums.powershell.org/t/deleting-registry-key-remove-item/5354/1 "2015-12-10T10:29:08Z")

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Windows 7 64bit Powershell Version 4.0

I am using

if((Test-Path “HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SMS”) -eq ‘true’){  
Remove-Item “HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SMS” -Recurse -Force  
}

and receive the following error:  
Remove-Item : Cannot delete a subkey tree because the subkey does not exist.

the SMS reg key has one subkey Current user - the same type of test-path, remove-item has worked on several previous reg keys and subkeys - just fails on this one - has anyone seen this before?

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**Author:** ![mark-hammonds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90db22/32.png) [@mark-hammonds](https://forums.powershell.org/u/mark-hammonds)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2015, 10:51am UTC](https://forums.powershell.org/t/deleting-registry-key-remove-item/5354/2 "2015-12-10T10:51:20Z")

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Problem with sccm installing? I had a issue a while back all we needed to do is delete a sub key under mobile then restart the sms service then the new client would take. I will look for the script when I get to work if some one does not chime in first.

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**Author:** ![andrew-rasdell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@andrew-rasdell](https://forums.powershell.org/u/andrew-rasdell)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2015, 11:34am UTC](https://forums.powershell.org/t/deleting-registry-key-remove-item/5354/3 "2015-12-10T11:34:02Z")

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Hi Mark - yes, basically trying to wrap up about 10 steps in a script to clean out all the bits the SCCM client may leave behind after a failed ‘uninstall’

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**Author:** ![mark-hammonds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90db22/32.png) [@mark-hammonds](https://forums.powershell.org/u/mark-hammonds)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2015, 12:29pm UTC](https://forums.powershell.org/t/deleting-registry-key-remove-item/5354/4 "2015-12-10T12:29:08Z")

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What we did was delete the folder under c:\windows delete the reg keys then restart service. I will look when I get to work.

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**Author:** ![andrew-rasdell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@andrew-rasdell](https://forums.powershell.org/u/andrew-rasdell)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 8:58am UTC](https://forums.powershell.org/t/deleting-registry-key-remove-item/5354/5 "2015-12-16T08:58:24Z")

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Think I have solved my issue - my Registry SubKey was continually in use, I have managed to get a working solution for my environment - which required me to convert my script into a PS Workflow (After I resume after a computer restart, my reg subkey can be deleted). I am impressed by workflows - awesome

After I clear out all the SCCM folders, registry bits etc, I get a clean re-installation of the client by sending it from Configmanager - right click - Install

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**Author:** ![dotnVo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4af34b/32.png) [@dotnVo](https://forums.powershell.org/u/dotnVo)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 8:43pm UTC](https://forums.powershell.org/t/deleting-registry-key-remove-item/5354/6 "2024-05-16T20:43:23Z")

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