Is it possible to modify a registry entry via a .bat/.cmd script?

Question

Is it possible to modify a registry value (whether string or DWORD) via a .bat/.cmd script?

Solution 1

You can use the REG command. From http://www.ss64.com/nt/reg.html:

Syntax:

   REG QUERY [ROOT\]RegKey /v ValueName [/s]
   REG QUERY [ROOT\]RegKey /ve  --This returns the (default) value

   REG ADD [ROOT\]RegKey /v ValueName [/t DataType] [/S Separator] [/d Data] [/f]
   REG ADD [ROOT\]RegKey /ve [/d Data] [/f]  -- Set the (default) value

   REG DELETE [ROOT\]RegKey /v ValueName [/f]
   REG DELETE [ROOT\]RegKey /ve [/f]  -- Remove the (default) value
   REG DELETE [ROOT\]RegKey /va [/f]  -- Delete all values under this key

   REG COPY  [\\SourceMachine\][ROOT\]RegKey [\\DestMachine\][ROOT\]RegKey

   REG EXPORT [ROOT\]RegKey FileName.reg
   REG IMPORT FileName.reg
   REG SAVE [ROOT\]RegKey FileName.hiv
   REG RESTORE \\MachineName\[ROOT]\KeyName FileName.hiv

   REG LOAD FileName KeyName
   REG UNLOAD KeyName

   REG COMPARE [ROOT\]RegKey [ROOT\]RegKey [/v ValueName] [Output] [/s]
   REG COMPARE [ROOT\]RegKey [ROOT\]RegKey [/ve] [Output] [/s]

Key:
   ROOT :
         HKLM = HKey_Local_machine (default)
         HKCU = HKey_current_user
         HKU  = HKey_users
         HKCR = HKey_classes_root

   ValueName : The value, under the selected RegKey, to edit.
               (default is all keys and values)

   /d Data   : The actual data to store as a "String", integer etc

   /f        : Force an update without prompting "Value exists, overwrite Y/N"

   \\Machine : Name of remote machine - omitting defaults to current machine.
                Only HKLM and HKU are available on remote machines.

   FileName  : The filename to save or restore a registry hive.

   KeyName   : A key name to load a hive file into. (Creating a new key)

   /S        : Query all subkeys and values.

   /S Separator : Character to use as the separator in REG_MULTI_SZ values
                  the default is "\0" 

   /t DataType  : REG_SZ (default) | REG_DWORD | REG_EXPAND_SZ | REG_MULTI_SZ

   Output    : /od (only differences) /os (only matches) /oa (all) /on (no output)

Solution 2

@Franci Penov - modify is possible in the sense of overwrite with /f, eg

reg add "HKCU\Software\etc\etc" /f /v "value" /t REG_SZ /d "Yes"

Solution 3

Yes, you can script using the reg command. Example:

reg add HKCU\Software\SomeProduct
reg add HKCU\Software\SomeProduct /v Version /t REG_SZ /d v2.4.6

This would create key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SomeProduct, and add a String value "v2.4.6" named "Version" to that key.

reg /? has the details.

Solution 4

This is how you can modify registry, without yes or no prompt and don't forget to run as administrator

reg add HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\etc\etc   /v Valuename /t REG_SZ /d valuedata  /f 

Below is a real example to set internet explorer as my default browser

reg add HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Associations\UrlAssociations\https\UserChoice   /v ProgId /t REG_SZ /d IE.HTTPS  /f 

/f Force: Force an update without prompting "Value exists, overwrite Y/N"

/d Data : The actual data to store as a "String", integer etc

/v Value : The value name eg ProgId

/t DataType : REG_SZ (default) | REG_DWORD | REG_EXPAND_SZ | REG_MULTI_SZ

Learn more about Read, Set or Delete registry keys and values, save and restore from a .REG file. from here

Solution 5

You can make a .reg file and call start on it. You can export any part of the registry as a .reg file to see what the format is.

Format here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310516

This can be run on any Windows machine without installing other software.

View more solutions

Comments

[sourcenouveau]

PowerShell scripts must first be enabled on the client machine by using Set-ExecutionPolicy. I have a batch script which modifies the registry to set the execution policy to RemoteSigned. The benefit is that a user can enable and run PowerShell scripts without typing any commands. They can just double-click the batch file.

[amyassin]

+1 for the /f I've written couple of scripts for that but without /f it was such a pain; required me to be there when running the script to type "y+[return]"

[Dany Khalife]

this answer is very vague and even though it lists all the possibilities (which is nice) it doesn't clearly answer the OP's question unlike @nray's answer

[Michael Butler]

Thanks. This should be the accepted answer as it explains how to MODIFY an existing KEY.

[nanonerd]

Thank you for the parameter definitions !