Differences Between REGEDIT.EXE and REGEDT32.EXE

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5 and 3.51
• Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5 and 3.51

SUMMARY

Windows NT provides two utilities that allow you to modify the configuration and registration databases. The two utilities are REGEDIT.EXE and REGEDT32.EXE. This article describes the differences between the two utilities.

MORE INFORMATION

REGEDIT.EXE

REGEDIT.EXE is the registration editor for 16-bit Windows, which is used to modify the Windows registration database. The database is located in the Windows directory as REG.DAT. The database contains information about 16- bit applications, and is used by File Manager for opening and printing files. It is also used by applications that support Object Linking and Embedding (OLE). REG.DAT is used and maintained by Windows on Windows (WOW) and 16-bit Windows applications. The WOW layer resides on top of the Virtual DOS Machine (VDM).

REGEDIT.EXE is a 16-bit application that is included in Windows NT for compatibility with previous 16-bit applications. Regedit provides a method for examining REG.DAT under Windows NT. You can migrate the REG.DAT database file to the Windows NT registry during the first logon to an initial installation of Windows NT.

REGEDT32.EXE

REGEDT32.EXE is the configuration editor for Windows NT, which is used to modify the Windows NT configuration database, also known as the Windows NT Registry. This editor allows you to view or modify the Windows NT Registry. The editor provides views of windows that represent sections of the registry, called hives. Each window displays two sections. On the left side, there are folders that represent registry keys. On the right side, there are the values associated with the selected registry key. Regedt32 is a powerful tool, which you must use with extreme caution when changing registry values. Missing or incorrect values in the registry can render the Windows NT installation unusable.

For additional information on Regedit and Regedt32, please see the on-line Help for these utilities or the Resource Kit Tools Overview Help in the Windows NT Resource Kit.