What does HRESULT 0x8002801C (TYPE_E_REGISTRYACCESS) mean?

TYPE_E_REGISTRYACCESS

TYPE_E_REGISTRYACCESS: the registry operation failed

TYPE_E_REGISTRYACCESS (0x8002801C) points to the registry access itself. Automation reached the registry path used for type information, but a read, write, open, or delete operation could not be completed. It should not be diagnosed as a missing type library unless a later lookup succeeds and returns TYPE_E_LIBNOTREGISTERED.

Pin down the registry failure

• Identify the exact API that returned the HRESULT: loading, registration, or unregistration follow different paths.
• Record the process token and bitness, because HKCU/HKLM visibility and the 32/64-bit registry views can differ.
• Trace the first failing key operation and its underlying Win32 error; access denied, invalid handle, and unavailable key data require different corrections.

Retest the same registry view

Fix the ACL, hive availability, or registry-view mismatch, then repeat the identical Automation call from the same process architecture. Only after registry access succeeds does it make sense to investigate whether the requested LIBID/version is actually registered.

Technical references

• Registry key security and access rights.
• Accessing an alternate registry view.