LKBEN10634: Howto delete a registry key by using a reg file

Symptom

You can use a reg file to import keys into the registry, this can be used to delete registry keys to!

Cause

None

Solution

To import a key into the registry you can click on a reg file and import it. The same regfile, with minimal changes, can be used to delete this key form the registry again.

In the following example you see the content of two registry files. The first one will add a "Send To" context menu and the second one will delete this again. Please note that having "Send To" in your context menu is the default under Windows.

Please also note the minimal difference between the two. In the second on there is a minus before the registry key! (this - sign has to be beween the brackets)

First regfile:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\AllFilesystemObjects\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\Send To]
@="{7BA4C740-9E81-11CF-99D3-00AA004AE837}"

Second regfile:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\AllFilesystemObjects\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\Send To]
@="{7BA4C740-9E81-11CF-99D3-00AA004AE837}"

About the Author

Wim Peeters is electronics engineer with an additional master in IT and over 30 years of experience, including time spent in support, development, consulting, training and database administration. Wim has worked with SQL Server since version 6.5. He has developed in C/C++, Java and C# on Windows and Linux. He writes knowledge base articles to solve IT problems and publishes them on the Lubby Knowledge Platform.

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