Solved How to delete specific value from all registry subkeys

Brink · Sep 9, 2022

I'm trying to delete only the specific LastUsedTimeStart and LastUsedTimeStop values found in all subkeys in the registry key below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CapabilityAccessManager\ConsentStore\microphone

Does anyone know how to do this via command or PowerShell? Preferably in one line if able.

This is for clearing the microphone last access by apps history. If I can get this to work, I can apply it for other items in a series of tutorials to make it easier instead of manually in Registry Editor.

Ghot · Sep 9, 2022

Well manually, all you would need to do is search only that key for the expressions...
LastUsedTimeStart and LastUsedTimeStop ...making sure to check mark the box "Match whole string only".
And when the search finds one... delete it, and hit the F3 key to find the next one.
Rinse and repeat.

Now all you need is to find someone to do that with a Command or Powershell

DigitalGoat · Sep 9, 2022

Not sure how convenient it would be, but could you use Power Automate to 'script' the actions based on your steps?

Brink · Sep 10, 2022

I found this PowerShell command below that works, but it does display an error message for each subkey that it doesn't find the value to delete.

I just need to clean it up to not show the error messages now.

Code:

Remove-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CapabilityAccessManager\ConsentStore\microphone\*" -Name "LastUsedTimeStart"

OR

Code:

Get-Item -Path HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CapabilityAccessManager\ConsentStore\microphone\* | Remove-ItemProperty -Name LastUsedTimeStart

Remove-ItemProperty (Microsoft.PowerShell.Management) - PowerShell

The Remove-ItemProperty cmdlet deletes a property and its value from an item. You can use it to delete registry values and the data that they store.

docs.microsoft.com

Brink · Sep 10, 2022

All cleaned up now. :party:

I just needed to add 2>$null to the end of the command to not show the "not found" error messages.

Code:

Remove-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CapabilityAccessManager\ConsentStore\microphone\*" -Name "LastUsedTimeStart" 2>$null

OR

Code:

Get-Item -Path HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CapabilityAccessManager\ConsentStore\microphone\* | Remove-ItemProperty -Name LastUsedTimeStart 2>$null

Ghot · Sep 10, 2022

You are hereby awarded the...

Brink · Sep 10, 2022

Now all I have to do is convert this to be used in a BAT file to make it even easier to use.

Try3 · Sep 10, 2022

I was about to suggest something else but I've no reason to think it's any better than what you've just posted.
$ErrorActionPreference = 'silentlycontinue'
Taken from Handling Errors the PowerShell Way - Hey, Scripting Guy Blog - TechNet

I use it in my script for an internet connectivity test to suppress boring error messages, when it's run offline, because I'm only interested in the output variable $WWWConnection [True, False].
- The Pause line is added only in demo/devn versions. In others, the calling script grabs the output variable $WWWConnection
- Explanations of grabbing output string variables from PS scripts provided in List of my TomLavedas example links - my post #31 - TenForums

$ErrorActionPreference = 'silentlycontinue'
$WWWTest = Invoke-WebRequest http://www.msftconnecttest.com/connecttest.txt
If ($WWWTest -match 'Microsoft Connect Test') {$WWWConnection = $true} Else {$WWWConnection = $false}
$WWWConnection
Pause

All the best,
Denis

Superfly · Sep 10, 2022

Brink said:
Now all I have to do is convert this to be used in a BAT file to make it even easier to use.

BAT? Hmmm reminds me of my arch enemy.. LOL

BTW this works to suppress those "informational error" messages in PS

Get-Item -Path HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CapabilityAccessManager\ConsentStore\microphone\* | Remove-ItemProperty -Name LastUsedTimeStart -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

Ghot · Sep 10, 2022

Brink said:
Now all I have to do is convert this to be used in a BAT file to make it even easier to use.

Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na- batch file.

Brink · Sep 10, 2022

Ok. This below works great in a BAT file. All solved now. :party:

Thank you everyone for helping.

Code:

Powershell -Command "Get-Item -Path HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CapabilityAccessManager\ConsentStore\microphone\* | Remove-ItemProperty -Name LastUsedTimeStart -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue"

Try3 · Sep 10, 2022

Brink said:
Get-Item -Path HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CapabilityAccessManager\ConsentStore\microphone\*

The penny has only just dropped.
Using that * in the Key address is a method of working through every sub-key without an explicit ForEach ... loop.
Marvellous.

Thanks,
Denis

Try3 · Sep 10, 2022

I appreciate that this is OT but, since I posted an example of PS error handling earlier, I've now gone back to that post #8 and added a few words of explanation.

All the best,
Denis

Superfly · Sep 10, 2022

Try3 said:
I appreciate that this is OT but, since I posted an example of PS error handling earlier, I've now gone back to that post #8 and added a few words of explanation.

All the best,
Denis

You are setting a variable and not using it - best to pipe it.

BTW 'for each' is more purist and wildcards may be dispensed with in future iterations of PS... just IMHO.

Brink · Sep 10, 2022

New tutorial below for this.

Clear Microphone Last Accessed History in Windows 11 Tutorial

When your microphone is in use, a microphone icon will be displayed in the notification area of the taskbar. You can also look in Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone to see which apps are currently using your microphone or have recently or previously accessed your microphone. If an app...

www.elevenforum.com

Try3 · Sep 10, 2022

Superfly said:
You are setting a variable and not using it - best to pipe it.

The variable is used elsewhere. The posted code is just its generation.

Denis

garlin · Oct 5, 2022

I prefer this, since it ignores both return values and error messages.

$null = Get-Item -Path HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CapabilityAccessManager\ConsentStore\microphone\* | Remove-ItemProperty -Name LastUsedTimeStart