I have a need to use regedit on a registry that is on an external disk. Are
there options when starting regedit to direct it to another copy of a
registry file that is not in use on the computer? What are the file names
of the registry?
"Poor Richard" <poorrichardt@suddenlink.net> wrote in message
news:ewETAyRLIHA.2064@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> I have a need to use regedit on a registry that is on an external disk.
Are
> there options when starting regedit to direct it to another copy of a
> registry file that is not in use on the computer? What are the file names
> of the registry?
>
> Richard
>
>
Poor Richard wrote:
> I have a need to use regedit on a registry that is on an external disk. Are
> there options when starting regedit to direct it to another copy of a
> registry file that is not in use on the computer? What are the file names
> of the registry?
>
> Richard
>
>
The WinXP registry can be found in C:\Windows\System32\Config\.
It'll be divided into several data files, such as Security, Software,
and System. The user-specific portion of the registry is stored in each
user profile, in a file named NTUser.dat.
Within Regedit, click File > Load Hive, and then point to the
\Windows\System32\Config\ folder on the external drive.
On Thu, 22 Nov 2007 09:29:36 -0600, in
microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics, "Poor Richard"
<poorrichardt@suddenlink.net> wrote:
>I have a need to use regedit on a registry that is on an external disk. Are
>there options when starting regedit to direct it to another copy of a
>registry file that is not in use on the computer? What are the file names
>of the registry?
>
>Richard
>
"Bruce Chambers" wrote in message
news:O4cqElSLIHA.4912@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>
> Poor Richard wrote:
>> I have a need to use regedit on a registry that is on an external
>> disk. Are there options when starting regedit to direct it to
>> another copy of a registry file that is not in use on the computer?
>> What are the file names of the registry?
>
> The WinXP registry can be found in C:\Windows\System32\Config\.
> It'll be divided into several data files, such as Security,
> Software, and System. The user-specific portion of the registry is
> stored in each user profile, in a file named NTUser.dat.
>
> Within Regedit, click File > Load Hive, and then point to the
> \Windows\System32\Config\ folder on the external drive.
In addition, the File -> Load Hive menu will not be available until
you select WHICH hive under which you want to open the other
registry's hive. That is, and as an example, you have to select a
hive, like HKLM, and then use the File -> Load Hive menu.
The Load Hive submenu only becomes enable after you have selected
either the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE or HKEY_USERS hive in your current
registry.
Bruce Chambers wrote:
> Poor Richard wrote:
>> I have a need to use regedit on a registry that is on an external
>> disk. Are there options when starting regedit to direct it to
>> another copy of a registry file that is not in use on the computer? What
>> are the file names of the registry?
>>
>> Richard
>>
>>
>
>
> The WinXP registry can be found in C:\Windows\System32\Config\.
> It'll be divided into several data files, such as Security, Software,
> and System. The user-specific portion of the registry is stored in
> each user profile, in a file named NTUser.dat.
>
> Within Regedit, click File > Load Hive, and then point to the
> \Windows\System32\Config\ folder on the external drive.
Bruce,
Thant's interesting, and new to me, so thanks.
I believe the OP was expecting to find the entire set of Registry files; I
know I was hoping for them<g>.
Might there be other locations for other files, or is the ...\config the
entire contents of anything that is a file format? By process of
elimination I can probably answer that myself, but it you know the answer
it'd sure help.
I assume you're aware that only 2 of the Regedit roots can be loaded, right?
I thought your post sounded like it would open all of them.
My interest is purely curiousity at the moment, but I was pleased to see the
..log files there too, and happy that I could tell by dates which ones had
been modified today; something I've often wondered about.
Thanks for any comments or leads you can offer on this.
"Poprivet" wrote in message
news:%23Yd61EVLIHA.484@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Might there be other locations for other files, or is the ...\config
> the entire contents of anything that is a file format? By process
> of elimination I can probably answer that myself, but it you know
> the answer it'd sure help.
>
> I assume you're aware that only 2 of the Regedit roots can be
> loaded, right? I thought your post sounded like it would open all of
> them.
There are only 2 real hives: local machine and users. All the others
are *copies* (partial) of those root hives; that is, there are 2 root
hives and the others are pseudo-hives. HKCU shows the entries under
the HKU hive but only for the currently logged on user. HKR shows a
mix of entries from HKLM and HKU for the currently logged on user.
The HKCFG hive is a mix of System (used for HKLM) and ntuser.dat info.
There are only 2 real hives. The others are compilations made up from
those 2 real hives.
The SAM, Security, Software, and System registry files are all part of
the HKLM hive. The HKU user hive is taken from the ntuser.dat file
user the currently logged on user's profile path. The HKCFG hive is
compiled from the System and ntuser .dat files.
Will this action, Load Hive, replace the current hive? I do not want to
replace the current active hive, just edit the old to find the problem that
caused me to have to do a system restore. I also want to extract some
values for programs that were installed from the internet and are not now
available. I changed hard drives before doing the system restore because
the computer would not boot. If I can edit the old registry and correct the
problem, then I can again switch hard drives without having to reload all my
installed programs.
Richard
--
"Bruce Chambers" <bchambers@cable0ne.n3t> wrote in message
news:O4cqElSLIHA.4912@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Poor Richard wrote:
>> I have a need to use regedit on a registry that is on an external disk.
>> Are there options when starting regedit to direct it to another copy of a
>> registry file that is not in use on the computer? What are the file
>> names of the registry?
>>
>> Richard
>
>
> The WinXP registry can be found in C:\Windows\System32\Config\. It'll
> be divided into several data files, such as Security, Software, and
> System. The user-specific portion of the registry is stored in each user
> profile, in a file named NTUser.dat.
>
> Within Regedit, click File > Load Hive, and then point to the
> \Windows\System32\Config\ folder on the external drive.
>
>
> --
>
> Bruce Chambers
>
> Help us help you:
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> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
> They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
> safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin
>
> Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand
> Russell
>
> The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
> killed a great many philosophers.
> ~ Denis Diderot
VanguardLH wrote:
> "Poprivet" wrote in message
> news:%23Yd61EVLIHA.484@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> Might there be other locations for other files, or is the ...\config
>> the entire contents of anything that is a file format? By process
>> of elimination I can probably answer that myself, but it you know
>> the answer it'd sure help.
>>
>> I assume you're aware that only 2 of the Regedit roots can be
>> loaded, right? I thought your post sounded like it would open all of
>> them.
>
> There are only 2 real hives: local machine and users. All the others
> are *copies* (partial) of those root hives; that is, there are 2 root
> hives and the others are pseudo-hives. HKCU shows the entries under
> the HKU hive but only for the currently logged on user. HKR shows a
> mix of entries from HKLM and HKU for the currently logged on user.
> The HKCFG hive is a mix of System (used for HKLM) and ntuser.dat info.
> There are only 2 real hives. The others are compilations made up from
> those 2 real hives.
>
> The SAM, Security, Software, and System registry files are all part of
> the HKLM hive. The HKU user hive is taken from the ntuser.dat file
> user the currently logged on user's profile path. The HKCFG hive is
> compiled from the System and ntuser .dat files.
>
> http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tuto...utorial74.html
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Registry
Thanks much, that helps explain a LOT. And I'm into the links you provided
too. With your information here, they're making a little more sense to me
so far.
One more question if you don't mind.
The "other" hives, partials of the two "real" ones: Are those
created/updated at boot time? e.g. if I make a change in local machine,
does it propogate to the relevant partial hives? Sorry, I'm not useing
names yet because I'd screw them up for sure<g>.
Regedit 
Linear Mode
