Learn how to access the Registry Editor, a tool that lets you view and modify the Windows registry. Be careful when editing the registry, as it can cause serious problems if done incorrectly.

Learn how to create, import, and export .reg files to add, modify, or delete registry subkeys and values. A .reg file is a text file that contains registry data and instructions for Regedit.exe.

How to back up and restore the registry in Windows. Back up the registry manually. Select Start , type regedit.exe in the search box, and then press Enter. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

When you start your computer successfully, the Windows Registry Checker tool (Scanreg.exe) creates a backup of system files and registry configuration information (including user account information, protocol bindings, software program settings, and user preferences) once daily.

Regsvr32 is a command-line utility to register and unregister OLE controls, such as DLLs and ActiveX controls in the Windows Registry. Regsvr32.exe is installed in the %systemroot%\System32 folder in Windows XP and later versions of Windows.

Select Start , type regedit.exe in the search box, and then press Enter. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation. In Registry Editor, locate and click the registry key or subkey that you want to back up. Select File > Export.

This article describes the command-line switches you can use when you run the MS-DOS version (Scanreg.exe) or the Windows version (Scanregw.exe) of the Registry Checker tool.

Fixes an issue in which help information is displayed when you use the Reg.exe utility to query some flags in Windows 7 SP1 or Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1. This issue occurs when you increase your control over security settings on the computer.

Select Start , type regedit.exe in the search box, and then press Enter. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation. In Registry Editor, locate and click the registry key or subkey that you want to back up.

Fixes an issue in which the size of a hive file is larger than expected after you export a registry key by using the "reg save" command on a computer that is running Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012.