Add Keys and Values in the Registry

To use the Regedits: Save the REG File to your hard disk. Double click it and answer yes to the import prompt. REG files can be viewed in Notepad by right clicking on the file and selecting Edit.

To use the VBS Files: Download .vbs file and save it to your hard drive (you may want to right click and use Save Target As). Double click the vbs file. You will be prompted when the script is done.

Before making any registry edits, navigate to the key you are wanting to modify. Once there, right click the key in question, choose Export. Name it according to the edit you are going to perform ending with (ex) xxx_backup.reg.

How to Add Keys and Values in the Registry:

There are five types:

String Value = REG_SZ
Binary Value = REG_BINARY
DWORD Value = REG_DWORD
Multi-String Value = REG_MULTI_SZ
Expandable String Value = REG_EXPAND_SZ

When an edit calls for adding a type:

Right click in the right pane and choose New/[Type in Question]. Once done, double click the newly added type and enter the Value data.

When an edit calls for modifying the value:

In the right pane, double click the entry and modify the Value data.

When an edit calls for adding a Subkey:

Navigate to the key in question. Then use Edit/New/Key. Name the key according to provided information, in the left pane. Once done, add the Name, Type and Data in the right pane.

Registry branches (hives) of interest:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE - Changes made here apply on a machine wide basis, and affect all users, unless it is specifically over-ridden by a change in HKEY_CURRENT_USER, in some cases. Current user settings cannot always over-ride Local Machine settings.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER - This branch of the Registry affects the currently logged on user, just as the name implies. Changes made here will only affect the active logged on user. Some settings may over-ride the LOCAL_MACHINE settings, and others will not.

HKEY_USERS\.Default - This branch of the registry is used to store Default settings for all new user accounts that are created. Any change made here will apply to any accounts created after the change was made, but will not apply to accounts that already exist. This is a handy method for an Administrator to apply specific changes to all users other than themselves.

Note: By default, the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE branches can only be changed by an Administrator level user. This can be changed by adjusting the "permissions" of the branch or subkey in question