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  
 
key
   /E : Export  
 
   /S : Silent Import
How to add keys and values from the registry:
 
Create a text file like this:
 
REGEDIT4
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SomeKey]
"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_USER\SomeKey]  
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_USER\SomeKey]
"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 2K and XP this first line changes to:
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_USER\Control Panel\Keyboard]  
"InitialKeyboardIndicators"="2"  
 
Related commands:
 
REGEDT32.EXE - Edit the registry including Security and Auditing Options (NT 4)
REG - Read, Set or Delete registry keys and values  
SET - Display, set, or remove Windows NT environment variables  
SETX - Set environment variables permanently
Dureg - Registry Size Estimator. (Win 2K ResKit)  
WinXP registry - User interface settings  
 
Equivalent Linux BASH commands:
 
none