How can I reset Registry entries to prevent the erwin application from crashing or hanging?

Problem:

erwin Data Modeler consistently crashes when launched, or when performing a specific task. 

Symptoms:

• Crash is consistent. It always occurs when performing a certain task.
• Usually begins suddenly.  erwin was working fine, but the problem just began to occur.
• Affects only one machine or one user.
• If there are multiple installations of erwin Data Modeler, the problem affects only one.

NOTE: If the crash is not consistently reproducible when performing the same step in a specific task, it is probably not due to a corrupt Registry entry.

Summary:

This problem is often associated with a corrupt registry entry.  The simplest way to determine if the problem is due to corrupt Registry information is to temporarily rename the erwin Registry key.  After the test, we will restore the original key.

If renaming the key resolved the problem, we’ll then change only those Registry entries that are associated with this behavior. 

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  ****** WARNING *** WARNING *** WARNING ******WARNING *** WARNING *** WARNING ******

If you are not familiar with, and comfortable with editing your Registry, please obtain assistance from your corporate technical support, or contact erwin Technical Support before proceeding.  Improper changes to the Registry can cause serious problems and may lead to loss of data.

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Diagnosis:

1. Make sure no erwin applications are running
1. Check Task Manager to make sure there are no instances of erwin.exe
2. Open the Windows Registry Editor (regedit.exe)
1. From the Start menu click “Run…”
2. Enter “regedit” and click “OK”
3. The Registry Editor will open
3. Navigate to the Registry entry for erwin Data Modeler:
1.  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\CA\ERwin Data Modeler
4. Find the Registry entry for your version of  erwin Data Modeler:
1. e.g. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\CA\ERwin Data Modeler\7.3
5. Rename the key:
1. e.g. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\CA\ERwin Data Modeler\_7.3
6. Launch erwin Data Modeler and perform the task that caused the crash.
7. Close erwin Data Modeler.
8. Restore the original Registry Key (regardless of whether the problem was corrected)
1. Delete the new key (in our example the key named “7.3”)
2. Rename the original key (from “_7.3” to “7.3”)

Analysis:

• If the problem was not resolved, please contact erwin Technical Support for further assistance.
• If after renaming the key, you could successfully perform the task that had been causing the crash; you should now follow the steps below to selectively rename only those entries known to cause this behavior.

Resolution:

Renaming specific Registry keys to resolve erwin crash problem

1. Make sure no erwin applications are running
1. Check Task Manager to make sure there are no instances of erwin.exe
2. Open the Windows Registry Editor (regedit.exe)
1. From the Start menu click “Run…”
2. Enter “regedit” and click “OK”
3. The Registry Editor will open
3. Navigate to the Registry entry for  erwin Data Modeler:
1.  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\CA\ERwin Data Modeler
4. If you are using erwin r7.3, navigate to:
1.  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\CA\ERwin Data Modeler\7.3
2. Rename all keys whose names begin with “Settings”. For example…

• from: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\CA\ERwin Data Modeler\7.3\Settings-Bar0
• to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\CA\ERwin Data Modeler\7.3\_Settings-Bar0
1. If you are using erwin r8, navigate to:

1.  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\CA\ERwin Data Modeler\8.0
2. Rename all keys whose names begin with “CommandBars”. For example…

• from: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\CA\ERwin Data Modeler\8.0\CommandBars
• to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\CA\ERwin Data Modeler\8.0\_CommandBars

If renaming the parent key had resolved the problem, selectively renaming these specific keys should also correct the problem while preserving other erwin Registry information.