Using Registry Editor in Real Mode

• Microsoft Windows 95

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, you should first make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat). Both are hidden files in the Windows folder.

SUMMARY

The registry is a system-wide database used for storing Windows 95 soft- ware and hardware configuration settings.

Windows 95 includes a Registry Editor program (Regedit.exe) that runs in both the real-mode MS-DOS environment and in the protected-mode Windows environment. When you need to modify the registry without starting Windows 95, use Registry Editor in real mode.

MORE INFORMATION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall Windows 95. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

NOTE: For information about how to edit the registry, view the Changing Keys And Values online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe). Note that you should make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat) before you edit the registry.

To export, modify, and then import registry data using Registry Editor in real mode, follow these steps:

1. Restart your computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press the F8 key and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu.

2. Type the following command:

         regedit /l:c:\windows\system.dat /e c:\system.txt
   

3. Use any text editor (such as Edit.com) to modify the System.txt file that you created in step 2.

4. Make the changes you want and then save and close the file.

5. To merge the text file back into the registry, type the following command:

         regedit /l:c:\windows\system.dat c:\system.txt
   

Syntax

The syntax and command-line switches for Regedit in real mode are as follows:

  REGEDIT [/L:system] [/R:user] filename1
  REGEDIT [/L:system] [/R:user] /C filename2
  REGEDIT [/L:system] [/R:user] /E filename3 [regpath]

    /L:system         Specifies the location of the System.dat file.
    /R:user           Specifies the location of the User.dat file.
    filename1         Specifies the file(s) to import into the registry
    /C filename2      Specifies the file to create the registry from.
    /E filename3      Specifies the file to export the registry to.
    regpath           Specifies the starting registry key to export from.
                      (Defaults to exporting the entire registry).