The Reg.exe utility does not compress a registry key when the utility saves a registry key to a hive file

Applies To
Windows Vista Business Windows Vista Business 64-bit Edition Windows Vista Enterprise Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit Edition Windows Vista Home Basic Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit Edition Windows Vista Home Premium Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition Windows Vista Ultimate Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit Edition Windows Server 2008 Datacenter Windows Server 2008 Datacenter without Hyper-V Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Windows Server 2008 Enterprise without Hyper-V Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems Windows Server 2008 Foundation Windows Server 2008 Standard Windows Server 2008 Standard without Hyper-V Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-Based Systems Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard Windows 7 Enterprise Windows 7 Home Basic Windows 7 Home Premium Windows 7 Professional Windows 7 Ultimate Windows 8 Windows 8 Enterprise Windows 8 Pro Windows Server 2012 Datacenter Windows Server 2012 Datacenter Windows Server 2012 Foundation Windows Server 2012 Foundation Windows Server 2012 Standard Windows Server 2012 Standard

Symptoms

Consider the following scenario:

  • You try to make copies of the registry or of the registry keys on a computer that is running one of the following operating systems:

    • Windows Vista
    • Windows Server 2008
    • Windows 7
    • Windows Server 2008 R2
    • Windows 8
    • Windows Server 2012
  • You use the reg save command to export the registry key into a hive file.

In this scenario, the reg save command does not compress the registry key during the exporting process. Therefore, the size of the hive file may be larger than expected.

Resolution

A hotfix is available to resolve this issue. After you install this hotfix, you can use the /c switch in the reg save command to compress the registry key. For example, the following command compresses the HKLM\System subkey:

reg save hklm\system %windir%\system32\config\system.lkg /y /c

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing the problem described in this article. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http:⁠//support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix, your computer must be running one of the following operating systems:

  • Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1)
  • Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2)
  • Windows Server 2008
  • Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (SP2)
  • Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1)
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1)
  • Windows 8
  • Windows Server 2012

For more information about how to obtain a Windows Vista service pack, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

935791 How to obtain the latest Windows Vista service pack

For more information about how to obtain a Windows Server 2008 service pack, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

968849 How to obtain the latest service pack for Windows Server 2008

For more information about how to obtain a Windows 7 or a Windows Server 2008 R2 service pack, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

976932 Information about Service Pack 1 for Windows 7 and for Windows Server 2008 R2

Restart requirement

You do not have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Registry information

You do not have to make any change to the registry.

File information

The English (United States) version of this hotfix installs files that have the attributes that are listed in the following tables. The dates and the times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The dates and the times for these files on your local computer are displayed in your local time together with your current daylight saving time (DST) bias. Additionally, the dates and the times may change when you perform certain operations on the files.

Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 file information noteImportant Windows Vista hotfixes and Windows Server 2008 hotfixes are included in the same packages. However, only "Windows Vista" is listed on the Hotfix Request page. To request the hotfix package that applies to one or both operating systems, select the hotfix that is listed under "Windows Vista" on the page. Always refer to the "Applies To" section in articles to determine the actual operating system that each hotfix applies to.

  • The files that apply to a specific product, SR_Level (RTM, SPn), and service branch (LDR, GDR) can be identified by examining the file version numbers as shown in the following table.

    Version Product SR_Level Service branch
    6.0.600
    1.
    22xxx
    Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 SP1 LDR
    6.0.600
    2.
    22xxx
    Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 SP2 LDR
  • Service Pack 1 is integrated into the release version of Windows Server 2008.

  • The MANIFEST files (.manifest) and the MUM files (.mum) that are installed for each environment are listed separately in the "Additional file information for Windows Server 2008 and for Windows Vista" section. MUM files and MANIFEST files, and the associated security catalog (.cat) files, are extremely important to maintain the state of the updated components. The security catalog files, for which the attributes are not listed, are signed with a Microsoft digital signature.

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows Vista and of Windows Server 2008

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Reg.exe 6.0.6001.22477 61,952 23-Jul-2009 04:04 x86
Reg.exe 6.0.6002.22182 61,952 23-Jul-2009 04:06 x86

For all supported x64-based versions of Windows Vista and of Windows Server 2008

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Reg.exe 6.0.6001.22477 74,752 23-Jul-2009 04:08 x64
Reg.exe 6.0.6002.22182 74,752 23-Jul-2009 04:11 x64

For all supported Itanium-based versions of Windows Server 2008

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Reg.exe 6.0.6001.22477 170,496 23-Jul-2009 04:15 IA-64
Reg.exe 6.0.6002.22182 170,496 23-Jul-2009 05:04 IA-64

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 file information notes
Important Windows 7 hotfixes and Windows Server 2008 R2 hotfixes are included in the same packages. However, hotfixes on the Hotfix Request page are listed under both operating systems. To request the hotfix package that applies to one or both operating systems, select the hotfix that is listed under "Windows 7/Windows Server 2008 R2" on the page. Always refer to the "Applies To" section in articles to determine the actual operating system that each hotfix applies to.

  • The files that apply to a specific product, SR_Level (RTM, SPn), and service branch (LDR, GDR) can be identified by examining the file version numbers as shown in the following table.

    Version Product SR_Level Service branch
    6.1.760
    1.
    22xxx
    Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 LDR
  • The MANIFEST files (.manifest) and the MUM files (.mum) that are installed for each environment are listed separately in the "Additional file information for Windows Server 2008 R2 and for Windows 7" section. MUM and MANIFEST files, and the associated security catalog (.cat) files, are extremely important to maintain the state of the updated components. The security catalog files, for which the attributes are not listed, are signed with a Microsoft digital signature.

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows 7

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Reg.exe 6.1.7601.22128 62,464 08-Oct-2012 16:43 x86

For all supported x64-based versions of Windows 7 and of Windows Server 2008 R2

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Reg.exe 6.1.7601.22128 74,752 08-Oct-2012 17:39 x64
Reg.exe 6.1.7601.22128 62,464 08-Oct-2012 16:43 x86

For all supported IA-64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 R2

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Reg.exe 6.1.7601.22128 169,472 08-Oct-2012 16:42 IA-64
Reg.exe 6.1.7601.22128 62,464 08-Oct-2012 16:43 x86

Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 file information notesImportant Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 hotfixes are included in the same packages. However, only "Windows 8" is listed on the Hotfix Request page. To request the hotfix package that applies to one or both operating systems, select the hotfix that is listed under "Windows 8" on the page. Always refer to the "Applies To" section in articles to determine the actual operating system that each hotfix applies to.

  • The files that apply to a specific product, milestone (RTM,SPn), and service branch (LDR, GDR) can be identified by examining the file version numbers as shown in the following table:

    Version Product Milestone Service branch
    6.2.920 0.20 xxx Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 RTM LDR
  • The MANIFEST files (.manifest) and the MUM files (.mum) that are installed for each environment are listed separately in the "Additional file information for Windows 8 and for Windows Server 2012" section. MUM and MANIFEST files, and the associated security catalog (.cat) files, are extremely important to maintain the state of the updated components. The security catalog files, for which the attributes are not listed, are signed with a Microsoft digital signature.

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows 8

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Reg.exe 6.2.9200.20628 60,416 08-Feb-2013 23:35 x86

For all supported x64-based versions of Windows 8 and of Windows Server 2012

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Reg.exe 6.2.9200.20628 72,192 08-Feb-2013 23:33 x64
Reg.exe 6.2.9200.20628 60,416 08-Feb-2013 23:35 x86

      

Workaround

To work around the issue, you can manually export a registry key into a hive file by using the Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) utility. The Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) utility exports a compressed registry key into a hive file.

Status

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

More Information

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

Additional file information

Additional file information for Windows Server 2008 and for Windows Vista

Additional files for all supported x86-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and of Windows Vista

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
X86_microsoft-windows-r..-commandline-editor_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22477_none_31d9290c43ff851c.manifest Not Applicable 5,612 23-Jul-2009 08:26 Not Applicable
X86_microsoft-windows-r..-commandline-editor_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6002.22182_none_33afc9964132777e.manifest Not Applicable 5,612 23-Jul-2009 07:57 Not Applicable

Additional files for all supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and of Windows Vista

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Amd64_microsoft-windows-r..-commandline-editor_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22477_none_8df7c48ffc5cf652.manifest Not Applicable 5,634 23-Jul-2009 08:06 Not Applicable
Amd64_microsoft-windows-r..-commandline-editor_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6002.22182_none_8fce6519f98fe8b4.manifest Not Applicable 5,634 23-Jul-2009 08:03 Not Applicable

Additional files for all supported Itanium-based versions of Windows Server 2008

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Ia64_microsoft-windows-r..-commandline-editor_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22477_none_31dacd0243fd8e18.manifest Not Applicable 5,623 23-Jul-2009 07:52 Not Applicable
Ia64_microsoft-windows-r..-commandline-editor_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6002.22182_none_33b16d8c4130807a.manifest Not Applicable 5,623 23-Jul-2009 08:18 Not Applicable

Additional file information for Windows 7 and for Windows Server 2008 R2

Additional files for all supported x86-based versions of Windows 7

File name Update.mum
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,104
Date (UTC) 08-Oct-2012
Time (UTC) 20:01
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_4509681f9b0ca2e7e3fd50c34543fe1e_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.22128_none_3b5f5f0781f95d81.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 715
Date (UTC) 08-Oct-2012
Time (UTC) 20:01
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_microsoft-windows-r..-commandline-editor_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.22128_none_341e4ba9a213dae5.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,419
Date (UTC) 08-Oct-2012
Time (UTC) 17:15
Platform Not Applicable

Additional files for all supported x64-based versions of Windows 7 and of Windows Server 2008 R2

File name Amd64_4509681f9b0ca2e7e3fd50c34543fe1e_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.22128_none_977dfa8b3a56ceb7.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 717
Date (UTC) 08-Oct-2012
Time (UTC) 20:01
Platform Not Applicable
File name Amd64_4e9dfc8c3868d3e03da9e781ccded9f1_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.22128_none_c95f835ab980aa49.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 1,078
Date (UTC) 08-Oct-2012
Time (UTC) 20:01
Platform Not Applicable
File name Amd64_681232713d48c87272b34edebe33dfdb_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.22128_none_4d7fd32963288645.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 719
Date (UTC) 08-Oct-2012
Time (UTC) 20:01
Platform Not Applicable
File name Amd64_microsoft-windows-r..-commandline-editor_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.22128_none_903ce72d5a714c1b.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,423
Date (UTC) 08-Oct-2012
Time (UTC) 18:16
Platform Not Applicable
File name Update.mum
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,741
Date (UTC) 08-Oct-2012
Time (UTC) 20:01
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_microsoft-windows-r..-commandline-editor_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.22128_none_341e4ba9a213dae5.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,419
Date (UTC) 08-Oct-2012
Time (UTC) 17:15
Platform Not Applicable

Additional files for all supported IA-64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 R2

File name Ia64_84a9ec4c3006dbd3e54d453488497576_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.22128_none_85cec290cd380fec.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 1,076
Date (UTC) 08-Oct-2012
Time (UTC) 20:01
Platform Not Applicable
File name Ia64_microsoft-windows-r..-commandline-editor_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.22128_none_341fef9fa211e3e1.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,421
Date (UTC) 08-Oct-2012
Time (UTC) 18:13
Platform Not Applicable
File name Update.mum
File version Not Applicable
File size 1,441
Date (UTC) 08-Oct-2012
Time (UTC) 20:01
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_microsoft-windows-r..-commandline-editor_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.22128_none_341e4ba9a213dae5.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,419
Date (UTC) 08-Oct-2012
Time (UTC) 17:15
Platform Not Applicable

Additional file information for Windows 8 and for Windows Server 2012

Additional files for all supported x86-based versions of Windows 8

File name Update.mum
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,003
Date (UTC) 10-Feb-2013
Time (UTC) 09:05
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_ab6386622b6aae17414da4ba721b90cf_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.20628_none_ed757fddafa1b598.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 715
Date (UTC) 10-Feb-2013
Time (UTC) 09:05
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_microsoft-windows-r..-commandline-editor_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.20628_none_2f0dc12514ff9574.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,458
Date (UTC) 09-Feb-2013
Time (UTC) 00:19
Platform Not Applicable

Additional files for all supported x64-based versions of Windows 8 and of Windows Server 2012

File name Amd64_16a2de8cbc50539e21a08f26acee244d_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.20628_none_80427375f61ea4d8.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 1,078
Date (UTC) 10-Feb-2013
Time (UTC) 09:05
Platform Not Applicable
File name Amd64_a6784d32cbaed23df08f25c31506dee3_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.20628_none_8dd970da7ec8b94d.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 719
Date (UTC) 10-Feb-2013
Time (UTC) 09:05
Platform Not Applicable
File name Amd64_ab6386622b6aae17414da4ba721b90cf_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.20628_none_49941b6167ff26ce.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 717
Date (UTC) 10-Feb-2013
Time (UTC) 09:05
Platform Not Applicable
File name Amd64_microsoft-windows-r..-commandline-editor_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.20628_none_8b2c5ca8cd5d06aa.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,462
Date (UTC) 09-Feb-2013
Time (UTC) 02:47
Platform Not Applicable
File name Update.mum
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,679
Date (UTC) 10-Feb-2013
Time (UTC) 09:05
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_microsoft-windows-r..-commandline-editor_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.20628_none_2f0dc12514ff9574.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,458
Date (UTC) 09-Feb-2013
Time (UTC) 00:19
Platform Not Applicable