Manage the registry in command line

Here is how to manage the registry using the command line (REG command). These mainupalitions are useful when you are facing an infection that prevents access to the registry or when you want to create a batch that modifies the registry.

Opening a command prompt

To begin, you must run the command prompt with the highest privileges:

• XP:

Start Menu> Run
Type cmd and validate

• Under Vista:

Start Menu> All Programs> Accessories
Right-click Command Prompt> Run as administrator

To get more information about the REG command.

Just add /? after the command.

Examples:

REG /?
REG ADD /?
REG COPY /?

Adding an Item

Add a Key

REG ADD [location of the key]\[name of the new key] 

Add a value

REG ADD [location of the new value]/V[value name]/T [value type]/D [value data] 

The /T is to specify the type of value to add. There may be six types of values:
REG_SZ
REG_MULTI_SZ
REG_EXPAND_SZ
REG_DWORD
REG_BINARY
REG_NONE

Add default value

REG ADD [location of the new value]/VE/D [data value]

Deleting an Item

Delete a key

REG DELETE [key name] 

Removes the selected key and all sub keys and values it contains.

Remove a value

REG DELETE [key name]/V[value name] 

Delete the default value

REG DELETE [key name]/VE 

Notes

It's important that you make up a backup of the registry before modifying it.