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│ DEVELOPER : Microsoft
│ CATEGORY : System
│ MIME TYPE : text/plain
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What is a REG file?
REG files are text-based scripts that contain Windows Registry entries. When executed, they merge their contents into the Windows Registry, adding or modifying keys and values. REG files are commonly used for system configuration, software deployment, and backing up registry settings.
How to open REG files
- Registry Editor (Windows) — Double-click to merge
- Notepad (Windows) — View/edit as text
- regedit (Windows) — Import via File menu
- Any text editor — REG files are plain text
Technical specifications
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Header | Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 |
| Encoding | UTF-16 LE with BOM (or ANSI) |
| Value Types | REG_SZ, REG_DWORD, REG_BINARY, REG_MULTI_SZ |
| Root Keys | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, HKEY_CURRENT_USER, etc. |
| Delete Syntax | Leading minus (-) on key or value |
Common use cases
- System configuration: Tweaking Windows settings.
- Software deployment: Pre-configuring application settings.
- Registry backup: Exporting keys for safe-keeping.
- Group Policy: Alternative to GPO for registry changes.