Differences between "regedit.exe" and "regedt32.exe"

SUMMARY
Windows NT-based operating systems include two utilities for editing
the registry, Regedit.exeand Regedt32.exe. This article describes the
differences between the two utilities for each Windows NT-based
operating system.

MORE INFORMATION
Windows NT 3.x
Regedit.exe
Regedit.exe is the registration editor for 16-bit Windows. It is used
tomodify the Windows registration database. The database is located in
theWindows directory as Reg.dat. The database contains information
about 16-bit applications, and is used by File Manager for opening and
printingfiles. It is also used by applications that support Object
Linking andEmbedding (OLE). Reg.dat is used and maintained by Windows
on Windows (WOW)and 16-bit Windows applications. The WOW layer resides
on top of theVirtual DOS Machine (VDM).
Regedit.exe is a 16-bit application that is included in Windows NT
forcompatibility with previous 16-bit applications. Regedit provides a
methodfor examining Reg.dat under Windows NT. You can migrate the
Reg.datdatabase file to the Windows NT registry during the first logon
to aninitial installation of Windows NT.

Regedt32.exe

Regedt32.exe is the configuration editor for Windows NT. It is used
tomodify the Windows NT configuration database, or the Windows
NTregistry. This editor allows you to view or modify the Windows NT
registry.The editor provides views of windows that represent sections
of theregistry, named hives. Each window displays two sections. On the
leftside, there are folders that represent registry keys. On the right
side,there are the values associated with the selected registry key.
Regedt32 isa powerful tool. You must use extreme caution when you use
it to changeregistry values. Missing or incorrect values in the
registry can make theWindows NT installation unusable.
Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000

Regedit.exe

Regedit.exe is included with Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 primarily
for its search capability. You can use Regedit.exe to make changes in
the Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 registry, but you cannot use it to
view or edit all functions or data types on Windows NT 4.0 and Windows
2000.
The following limitations exist in the Regedit.exe version that is
included with Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000:
- You cannot set the security for registry keys.
- You cannot view, edit, or search the value data types REG_EXPAND_SZ
and REG_MULTI_SZ. If you try to view a REG_EXPAND_SZ value, Regedit.exe
displays it as a binary data type. If you try to edit either of these
data types, Regedit.exe saves it as REG_SZ, and the data type no longer
performs its intended function.
- You cannot save or restore keys as hive files.
Microsoft recommends that you use Regedit.exe only for its search
capabilities on a Windows NT 4.0-based or Windows 2000-based computer.

Regedt32.exe

Regedt32.exe is the configuration editor for Windows NT 4.0 and Windows
2000. Regedt32.exe is used tomodify the Windows NT configuration
database, or the Windows NTregistry. This editor allows you to view or
modify the Windows NT registry.The editor provides views of windows
that represent sections of theregistry, named hives. Each window
displays two sections. On the leftside, there are folders that
represent registry keys. On the right side,there are the values
associated with the selected registry key. Regedt32 isa powerful tool,
and you must use it with extreme caution when you changeregistry
values. Missing or incorrect values in the registry can make theWindows
installation unusable.

Note Unlike Regedit.exe, Regedt32.exe does not support importing and
exporting registration entries (.reg) files.
Windows XP and Windows Server 2003
Regedit.exe
Regedit.exe is the configuration editor for Windows XP and Windows
Server 2003. Regedit.exe is used tomodify the Windows NT configuration
database, or the Windows NTregistry. This editor allows you to view or
modify the Windows NT registry. It supports setting security on
registry keys, viewing and editing REG_EXPAND_SZ and REG_MULTI_SZ, and
saving and restoring hive files.On the leftside, there are folders that
represent registry keys. On the right side,there are the values
associated with the selected registry key. Regedit isa powerful tool.
You must use extreme caution when you use it to changeregistry values.
Missing or incorrect values in the registry can make theWindows
installation unusable.
Regedt32.exe
In Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, Regedt32.exe is a small program
that just runs Regedit.exe.