.REG

Introduction

A .reg file is a text listing of keys and values from the Windows Registry, the database where Windows and its programs keep their settings. Registry Editor writes one when a key is exported, and opening a .reg file merges its contents back into the Registry, after a warning.

Because merging a file can change any setting on the machine, .reg files from unknown sources should be read before they are opened. The Registry itself is stored in binary hive files, which are a different format.

Structure

Files written by current versions of Registry Editor are UTF-16 text and start with the line Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00. Older files start with REGEDIT4 and use the ANSI code page.

Each key appears as its full path in square brackets, followed by its values, one per line. A value is a quoted name, or @ for the key’s default value, an equals sign and the data: a quoted string, dword: and eight hexadecimal digits, or hex: and a list of bytes. Other types are written as hex(type):, such as hex(2): for an expandable string and hex(7): for a list of strings. A value of - deletes the value, and a minus sign before a key’s path, [-HKEY_…], deletes the whole key.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Example]
"Name"="Text value"
"Count"=dword:00000010
"Old"=-

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