How to Use Regedit.exe to Rename Keys

This article describes how you can use Regedit.exe to rename a registry key on a remote or local computer when it is loaded with Regedt32.exe.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

1. Start Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).
2. Click the key to be renamed. On the Edit menu, click Rename, type the new name for the key, and then press ENTER.
3. To change a key name in a registry located on a remote computer, click Connect Network Registry on the Registry menu, type the name of the remote computer, and then click OK.
4. Repeat step 2 to rename the remote computer's key.
5. After you make the changes to the remote computer's registry, click Disconnect Network Registry on the Registry menu, click the remote computer name, and then click OK.
6. Quit Registry Editor.

Note: For Windows 2000 you need to change the permissions in the Winreg registry key to allow access by any user not in the Administrators or the Backup Operators group.

For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: