Compreg.exe
Version 1.01

Windows NT® Resource Kits

Contents

Introduction

Command-line syntax

Examples

Notes

Introduction

Compreg is a 32-bit, character-based, command-line utility that compares local or remote Registry keys on computers running Windows NT or Windows 95.

Command-line syntax

compreg key1 key2 [-v] [-r] [-e] [-d] [-q] [-n] [-h] [-?]

where

OptionMeaning

key1 key2Local or remote Registry keys to compare (default:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER)

(example: \\HOTDOG\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software)

The Registry subtrees can be abbreviated as follows:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER cu

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT cr

HKEY_USERS us

If key2 is the name of a computer, the key name specified in key1 is

appended automatically.

-vVerbose. Prints both differences and matches.

rRecurse into subkeys that only exist in one key.

eSets the error level to the error code that was in effect the last time the

utility was run. By default, the error level is set to the number of

differences that were found.

dPrints only the value entry names, not the actual values.

-qQuiet. Prints only the number of differences.

-nNo color in output. By default, color is used.

-hDisplays additional help.

-?Displays this screen.

Examples

The following are examples of Compreg usage:

compreg "\lm\system\currentcontrolset\control\session manager" \\MOON

compreg HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Cheech HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Chong

The following are examples of possible output:

Notes

Output produced by this utility consists of blocks of lines. Each block describes one difference. Each line starts with 1 or 2 (indicating whether it concerns key1 or key2), followed by an exclamation mark (!), then the name of the key or value entry, and optionally the value type and data. Lines starting with an 'X' indicate values and subkeys that exist in both keys.

Blocks containing one line indicate that a particular subkey or value entry is present only in that key. Blocks containing two lines indicate that there is a difference between the data types or actual values of the entries.

In the example above, the first block indicates that the Cpu value entry in the Environment subkey is only present on the first computer (key1). The second block indicates that the PagingFiles value entry on \\MOON are located on a different drive. The third block indicates that the AnyValue value entry in the AnyKey key exists in both sources.

For questions or feedback concerning this utility, please contact rkinput@microsoft.com.