---
name: "SHDeleteOrphanKeyA"
section: "3w"
platform: "linux"
package: "libwine-dev"
version: "1.4.1-4"
release: "Debian 7 (Wheezy)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/SHDeleteOrphanKeyA"
---

# SHDeleteOrphanKeyA(3w)

## NAME

**SHDeleteOrphanKeyA** (SHLWAPI.@)

## SYNOPSIS

DWORD SHDeleteOrphanKeyA\
  (\
   HKEY   *hKey*,\
   LPCSTR *lpszSubKey*\
  )

## DESCRIPTION

Delete a registry key with no sub keys or values.

## PARAMS

*hKey* **\[In\]**  Handle to registry key.

*lpszSubKey* **\[In\]**  Name of sub key to possibly delete.

## RETURNS

**Success:** **ERROR\_SUCCESS**. The key has been deleted if it was an orphan.

**Failure:** An error from **[RegOpenKeyExA(3w)](/RegOpenKeyExA/3w.md)**, **[RegQueryValueExA(3w)](/RegQueryValueExA/3w.md)**, or **[RegDeleteKeyA(3w)](/RegDeleteKeyA/3w.md)**.

## IMPLEMENTATION

Declared in **"shlwapi.h"**.

Implemented in **"dlls/shlwapi/reg.c"**.

Debug channel **"shell"**.