Exporting registry branches with spaces using Reg.exe or Regedit.exe fails

[holgh]

Hi,

reading and writing single registry keys containing spaces using the AutoIt Registry Management functions is not my problem.

But, exporting a whole registry branch (e.g. "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\has spaces") using regedit.exe/reg.exe within AutoIt code did not work.

(OS: Windows 7)

I tried a lot:

• RunWait(@ComSpec & ' /k ' & 'regedit /a output.reg "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\has spaces" ')
• ShellExecuteWait("regedit.exe ",'/a output.reg "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\has spaces" , "")
• Run(@ComSpec & ' /k ' & 'reg.exe EXPORT "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\has spaces" "output.reg " ' )
• Executing a batch file with "Run" or "_RunDos" containing: regedit /a output.reg "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\has spaces"
• variants with double quotes instead of single quotes
• etc.

Execution from a shell always worked!

Using a registry branch without spaces always worked!

I guess, adding reg-files with reg.exe or registry.exe fails similarly (without testing it)

 

My way out was using PsExec from SystemInternals:

• $exitCode = RunWait('PsExec -s -i -h regedit.exe /a output.reg "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\has spaces" ', @SW_HIDE )

Pretty uncomfortable, i guess, but maybe one of you guys can prove me wrong or has a better idea .

Thx,

Holgh

 

 

[spudw2k]

No problems for me using this one:

RunWait(@Comspec & ' /k reg EXPORT "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Action Center" export.reg',@ScriptDir)

 

Edited May 18, 2016 by spudw2k

[Trong]

(:

RunWait('regedit.exe /e "' & @ScriptDir & '\File.reg" "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AutoIt v3"')

 

[holgh]

Thx for your immediate reply.

You're right, it has nothing to do with space characters in the registry branch.

Instead, when testing out my " HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software" registry folder, there a some sub-folders which I can read out. With others, the command above could not find the registry key/value according to the return message.

But these ones work, when using the reg command in the command shell.

Access rights?

[holgh]

I found out, that I get different registry exports depending on using:

RunWait(@Comspec & ' /k reg EXPORT "HKLM\Software" export.reg',@ScriptDir)

RunWait(@Comspec & ' /k reg EXPORT "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software" export.reg',@ScriptDir)

and executing

reg EXPORT "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software" export2.reg

in a command shell.

[AdamUL]

Are you running a 32 or 64 bit OS?  Are you running 32 or 64 bit AutoIt?  

 

Adam

[holgh]

Mea Culpa,

you had the right instinct AdamUL.

32Bit AutoIt on a 64Bit OS ==> registry confusion

Thx alot!

[AdamUL]

Your welcome.  As soon as I seen that you got different results, that was my first thought.  Glad I could help.  

 

Adam

[holgh]

Just for completion of this thread, this call works

(32-bit AutoIt on 64-Bit OS accessing 64-Bit registry key using reg.exe - with or without spaces in key ):

RunWait(@Comspec & ' /c reg EXPORT "HKY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\has spaces" export.reg /reg:64',@ScriptDir)

 

More info:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/948698

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/305097

 

Thx again for your help!