Read, Set or Delete registry keys and values,
save and restore from a .REG file.
REG QUERY [ROOT\]RegKey /v ValueName [/s]
REG QUERY [ROOT\]RegKey /ve
--This returns the (default) value
REG ADD [ROOT\]RegKey /v ValueName [/t DataType] [/S Separator] [/d Data] [/f]
REG ADD [ROOT\]RegKey /ve [/d Data] [/f]
-- Set the (default) value
REG DELETE [ROOT\]RegKey /v ValueName [/f]
REG DELETE [ROOT\]RegKey /ve [/f]
-- Remove the (default) value
REG DELETE [ROOT\]RegKey /va [/f]
-- Delete all values under this key
[\\SourceMachine\][ROOT\]RegKey [\\DestMachine\][ROOT\]RegKey
REG EXPORT [ROOT\]RegKey FileName.reg
REG IMPORT FileName.reg
REG SAVE [ROOT\]RegKey FileName.hiv
REG RESTORE \\MachineName\[ROOT]\KeyName FileName.hiv
REG LOAD KeyName FileName
REG UNLOAD KeyName
REG COMPARE [ROOT\]RegKey [ROOT\]RegKey [/v ValueName] [Output] [/s]
REG COMPARE [ROOT\]RegKey [ROOT\]RegKey [/ve] [Output] [/s]
HKLM = HKey_Local_machine (default)
HKCU = HKey_current_user
= HKey_users
HKCR = HKey_classes_root
ValueName : The value, under the selected RegKey, to edit.
(default is all keys and values)
: The actual data to store as a &String&, integer etc
: Force an update without prompting "Value exists, overwrite Y/N"
\\Machine : Name of remote machine - omitting defaults to current machine.
Only HKLM and HKU are available on remote machines.
: The filename to save or restore a registry hive.
: A key name to load a hive file into. (Creating a new key)
: Query all subkeys and values.
/S Separator : Character to use as the separator in REG_MULTI_SZ values
the default is &\0&
/t DataType
: Force REG.exe to write to the 32-bit registry location
: Force REG.exe to write to the 64-bit registry location
By default a 32-bit process (such as an SCCM client or a 32 bit MSI installer)
on a 64 bit machine, will use a 32-bit view of the registry: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node
Use the /REG switch to over-ride this.
: /od (only differences) /os (only matches) /oa (all) /on (no output)
Any of the above commands can be run against
a remote machine by adding \\MachineName to the command line, assuming the
is running.
Registry data stored under HKCU will be visible and writable by the currently logged in user.
Registry data stored under HKLM will be visible to all users and writable by administrators.
REG RESTORE has a tendency not to work, possibly due to firewall issues, Export and Import are much more reliable.
Backslash characters
The REG command will interpret \ as an
for the character that immediately follows it.
To include a quote mark (&) in the data, prefix it with the escape character
e.g. Here is \& a quote
This can cause problems with quoted directory paths because
\& at the end of the line will be escaped.
To save a directory path with a trailing backslash (\) requires adding a second backslash to 'escape the escape'
so for example instead of &C:\My Docs\& use &C:\My Docs\\&
To activate registry changes in HKEY_CURRENT_USER without logging off:
USER32.DLL,UpdatePerUserSystemParameters ,1 ,True
Adding and querying data:
REG QUERY HKCU\Console\
REG QUERY HKCU\Console /v ScreenBufferSize
REG ADD HKCU\Software\SS64 /v Sample /d &some test data&
REG QUERY HKCU\Software\SS64 /v Sample
REG ADD HKLM\Software\DiLithium /v WarpSpeed /t REG_BINARY /d ffffffff
REG QUERY HKLM\Software\DiLithium /v WarpSpeed
Find the location of the
REG QUERY &HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders& /v &Start Menu&
List IE Proxy overrides:
REG QUERY &HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings&
/v ProxyOverride
Save a directory/registry path
that ends with a backslash:
Set _reg=HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\SS64.EXE\Set _prog=C:\Program Files\SS64 App\REG ADD &%_reg%\& /f /v &SS64.EXE& /t REG_SZ /d &%_prog%\&
Save a REG_Expand_SZ value of %systemroot%
REG ADD HKLM\Software\SS64 /v Path /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d ^%systemroot^%
REG COPY \\Wks580\HKCU\Software\SS64 HKCU\Software\SS64
REG COPY HKCU\Software\SS64 HKCU\Software\SS64Copy
REG EXPORT HKCU\Software\SS64 C:\MyReg.REG
REG IMPORT C:\MyReg.REG
REG SAVE HKCU\Software\SS64 C:\MyRegHive.hiv
REG RESTORE \\Wks580\HKCU\Software\SS64 C:\MyRegHive.hiv
Run a script at first logon (Run Once) to do this we edit the Default User profile by temporarily loading it as ZZZ:
REG LOAD HKU\ZZZ &C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\NTUSER.DAT&
REG ADD HKU\ZZZ\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce /v newUserProfile /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d &D:\setup.cmd& /f
REG UNLOAD HKU\ZZZ
examples are available via: REG QUERY /? REG ADD /? etc
&The way to a mans heart is through his stomach& ~ Fanny Fern (writer)
- Set environment variables permanently, can also read a registry key and write the value to a text file.
- Load Registry settings from a .REG file
Dureg - Registry Size Estimator. ()
Powershell:
- Retrieve / save registry Keys
- Remote access to 64-bit registry keys /reg:64 switch
- Run a Logon Script once when a new user logs on,
Windows 2003
- Reg.exe fails for
REG_EXPAND_SZ registry types}