I want to write a program to delete some registry keys on XP and Vista.

techs

Lifer
Sep 26, 2000
28,559
4
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Many of my customers are finding Internet Explorer 8 is running slowly. I found the fix in this thread:
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2289681&enterthread=y

This is what I want the program to do:

1. Open regedit
2. Go to this key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap
3. Delete the following sub-folders: Domains, EscDomains, Ranges
4. Go to this key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\P3P
5. Delete the sub-folder History
6. Repeat steps 2-5, but in HKLM.

Could I just create a .reg file? Can a .reg file just delete some keys or only change or add keys?
Or could I write a batch file?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 

Aberforth

Golden Member
Oct 12, 2006
1,707
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:music:Goto Start> Regedit
Navigate to your registry key
Make the changes
Right-click on the key 'folder' and click export :music:
 

techs

Lifer
Sep 26, 2000
28,559
4
0
Originally posted by: Aberforth
:music:Goto Start> Regedit
Navigate to your registry key
Make the changes
Right-click on the key 'folder' and click export :music:
When I merge that with another computers registry it will delete the keys?
but won't it also change the sub keys into whatever I have in my computer on the second computer?

 

Aberforth

Golden Member
Oct 12, 2006
1,707
1
0
Originally posted by: techs
Originally posted by: Aberforth
:music:Goto Start> Regedit
Navigate to your registry key
Make the changes
Right-click on the key 'folder' and click export :music:
When I merge that with another computers registry it will delete the keys?
but won't it also change the sub keys into whatever I have in my computer on the second computer?

Edit:

Adding "Key"="" deletes the values in the sub-folder.

or

Delete the data in the sub folders but preserve the names, then export the key.
 

seemingly random

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 2007
5,277
0
0
From a command prompt, you could use reg.exe (should be in the PATH but could be explicitly referred to as "%SystemDrive%\System32\reg.exe"). Although the command line interface is tedious and clumsy, it does work. To become familiar with it, I would either create a new key that you could use to add/modify/delete other keys or use a machine that is scheduled to be reformatted.

A .reg file might ultimately be the best way to distribute the changes to non-tech people.