Import, export or delete registry settings from a text (.REG) file

Syntax
Export the Registry (all HKLM plus current user)
REGEDIT /E pathname

Export part of the Registry
REGEDIT /E pathname "RegPath"

Import a reg script
REGEDIT pathname

Silent import
REGEDIT /S pathname

Start the regedit GUI
REGEDIT

Open multiple copies of GUI (XP and 2003 only)
REGEDIT -m

Key
/E : Export

/S : Silent ImportHow to add keys and values from the registry:

Create a text file like this:

REGEDIT4
[HKEY_CURRENT_USERSomeKey]
"SomeStringValue"="Hello" When double clicking this .reg file the key and value will be added.
Alternatively run REGEDIT MYKEY.REG from the command line.

How to delete keys and values from the registry:

Create a reg file like this, notice the hyphen inside the first bracket

REGEDIT4
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USERSomeKey] When double clicking this .reg file the key "SomeKey" will be deleted along with all string, binary or Dword values in that key.

If you want to just delete values leaving the key in place, set the value you want to delete = to a hyphen
e.g.

REGEDIT4
[HKEY_CURRENT_USERSomeKey]
"SomeStringValue"=-
Again double clicking this .reg file will delete the values specified – or you can use REGEDIT /s MyDeleteScript.REG.

Windows XP Registry files.
Under Windows NT all registry scripts start with:
REGEDIT4

Under Windows 2K and XP the first line is:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

To be sure that a .REG script will run under any version of Windows use the earlier syntax: REGEDIT4.

Compare the Registry of two machines

Windiff is your friend, this simple GUI utility from the resource kit will list all the differences.

Comments
Within a registry file, comments can be preceded by "; "
e.g.
;
; Turn the NUMLOCK on at login
;
[HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelKeyboard]
"InitialKeyboardIndicators"="2"