Differences Between Regedt32.exe and Regedit.exe

Differences Between Regedt32.exe and Regedit.exe

Windows 2000 provides two versions of Registry Editor:

Regedt32.exe (32-bit) and Regedit.exe (16-bit).

Regedt32.exe is automatically installed in the systemroot\system32 folder. (\WINNT\System32)

Regedit.exe is automatically installed in the systemroot folder.(\WINNT\)

Regedit.exe is included with Windows 2000 primarily for its search capability. You can use Regedit.exe to make changes in the registry, but not all functions or data types can be viewed or edited properly.

Regedit.exe does not provide the following functions or capabilities:

• You cannot set the security for registry keys. If you need this functionality, you must use Regedt32.exe.
• You cannot view or edit the value data types REG_EXPAND_SZ and REG_MULTI_SZ. If you attempt to view a REG_EXPAND_SZ value, Regedit.exe displays it as a binary data type. If you attempt to edit either of these data types, Regedit.exe saves it as REG_SZ and the data type no longer performs its intended function.

  To view or edit these data types, you must use Regedt32.exe. Microsoft recommends that you use Regedit.exe solely for its search capabilities and that you use Regedt32.exe when it is necessary to edit the registry.

To start Regedt32.exe

• Click Start, and then click Run.
• Type Regedt32 and then click OK.

You will find an overview of Regedt32 here.

To start Regedit.exe

• Click Start, and then click Run.
• Type Regedit and then click OK.

You will find an overview of Regedit here.

Notice: Windows® 95, Windows® 98, Windows® NT, Windows® 2000 and
Microsoft® Office are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation.