is there a way to export registry key but in an incremental way , many copies ?

[drugo]

Hi

i would to export some registry key with a bat file but in incremental way  (keep many reg files , with a name and a suffix for example export1.reg export2.reg and so on ) ?

I 'm thinking about a bat file ,just because i can use the windows 11 or 10 task manager and run every x hours or every day

i don't want to export the entire registry but only 1 key or 2 ,with all the subkeys and keep all them

I use a free portable backup jubut portable , cool program ,but only for files, and macrium for image

i'm looking for a script / bat , can a script/bat file do it?

I have't found a free program to export them

thanks

[Guest]

@echo off
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion

set /p "numKeys=Enter the number of registry keys to export: "
set /p "backupDir=Enter the backup directory path: "

if not exist "%backupDir%" mkdir "%backupDir%"

set "baseFileName=export"
set "fileExt=.reg"
set "counter=1"

for /l %%i in (1,1,%numKeys%) do (
    set /p "key%%i=Enter the location of registry key #%%i: "
)

:loop
set "fileName=%baseFileName%!counter!%fileExt%"
set "filePath=%backupDir%\!fileName!"

for /l %%i in (1,1,%numKeys%) do (
    reg export "!key%%i!" "!filePath!" /y
)

set /p "continue=Do you want to export another set of registry keys? (Y/N): "
if /i "!continue!"=="Y" (
    set /a "counter+=1"
    goto loop
)

 

[drugo]

  On 21/04/2024 at 08:15, cacoe said:

 

Expand  

hi Cacoe

may i a question ?

let's say i want to backup these keys 

  Quote

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mozilla

Expand  

to X:\backupregistry

is your script correct ?

I have added HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mozilla 

the backup folder is X:\backupregistry

about the number of registry key to export what does it mean how many backups?

thanks Caoce

@echo off
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion

set /p "numKeys=Enter the number of registry keys to export: "
set /p "backupDir=x:\backupregisry: "

if not exist "%backupDir%" mkdir "%backupDir%"

set "baseFileName=export"
set "fileExt=.reg"
set "counter=1"

for /l %%i in (1,1,%numKeys%) do (
    set /p "key%%i=HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mozilla #%%i: "
)

:loop
set "fileName=%baseFileName%!counter!%fileExt%"
set "filePath=%backupDir%\!fileName!"

for /l %%i in (1,1,%numKeys%) do (
    reg export "!key%%i!" "!filePath!" /y
)

set /p "continue=Do you want to export another set of registry keys? (Y/N): "
if /i "!continue!"=="Y" (
    set /a "counter+=1"
    goto loop
)

 

[binaryzero]

## Export registry key

# Specify registry key
$registryKey = "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mozilla"

# Specify the path to save .reg file
$exportPath = "X:\backupregistry\Mozilla.reg"

# Export the registry key
Invoke-Expression -Command "reg export `"$registryKey`" `"$exportPath`""

# Check if the export was successful
if (Test-Path -Path $exportPath) {
    Write-Host "Registry key exported successfully."
} else {
    Write-Host "Failed to export registry key."
}

Save as <filename>.ps1, run with PowerShell.

[drugo]

  On 21/04/2024 at 11:44, binaryzero said:

## Export registry key

# Specify registry key
$registryKey = "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mozilla"

# Specify the path to save .reg file
$exportPath = "X:\backupregistry\Mozilla.reg"

# Export the registry key
Invoke-Expression -Command "reg export `"$registryKey`" `"$exportPath`""

# Check if the export was successful
if (Test-Path -Path $exportPath) {
    Write-Host "Registry key exported successfully."
} else {
    Write-Host "Failed to export registry key."
}

Save as <filename>.ps1, run with PowerShell.

Expand  

Hi @binaryzero  @cacoe

if i click on run with powershell it does work ,I have tried even  in power shell ISE and the error translated in English with google translator is

Failed to load file X:\backupregistryJriver\eportaregistryJriver.ps1. Script execution is disabled on your system. For more information,
see about_Execution_Policies at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=135170.
    + CategoryInfo : Protection error: (:) [], ParentContainsErrorRecordException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : UnauthorizedAccess

here a command

  Quote

 Get-ExecutionPolicy -List

        Scope ExecutionPolicy
        ----- ---------------
MachinePolicy       Undefined
   UserPolicy       Undefined
      Process       Undefined
  CurrentUser       Undefined
 LocalMachine       Undefined

Expand  

so i opened powershell as administrator windows 11 pro , and copied everything it does create it but only 1 registry backup

i would like to create many backups and only 1

could be make maybe with the bat/cmd  files many files (i have no limit)?

thanks

[binaryzero]

Set-ExecutionPolicy unrestricted

# Import CSV file
$csvData = Import-Csv -Path "X:\backupregistry\regkeys.csv"

# Backup directory
$backupDir = "X:\backupregistry"

# Check the backup directory exists
if (!(Test-Path -Path $backupDir)) {
    New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $backupDir | Out-Null
}

# Loop through each registry key in the CSV file
foreach ($row in $csvData) {
    $key = $row.RegistryKey

    # Define the backup file path
    $backupFile = Join-Path -Path $backupDir -ChildPath ("$(($key -replace '\\', '_')).reg")

    # Export the registry key
    Invoke-Expression -Command "reg export `"$key`" `"$backupFile`""

    # Check if the .reg file has been created
    if (Test-Path -Path $backupFile) {
        Write-Output "Backup for $key created successfully at $backupFile"
    }
    else {
        Write-Output "Failed to create backup for $key"
    }
}

Save as ps1. Create a csv file with the header "RegistryKey", list key paths underneath. 

[drugo]

  On 21/04/2024 at 15:52, binaryzero said:

Set-ExecutionPolicy unrestricted

 

Expand  

hi

i have set unrestricted by default

Get-ExecutionPolicy -List

        Scope ExecutionPolicy
        ----- ---------------
MachinePolicy       Undefined
   UserPolicy       Undefined
      Process       Undefined
  CurrentUser       Undefined
 LocalMachine       Undefined

thanks

[Guest]

  On 21/04/2024 at 09:09, drugo said:

hi Cacoe

may i a question ?

let's say i want to backup these keys 

to X:\backupregistry

is your script correct ?

I have added HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mozilla 

the backup folder is X:\backupregistry

about the number of registry key to export what does it mean how many backups?

thanks Caoce

@echo off
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion

set /p "numKeys=Enter the number of registry keys to export: "
set /p "backupDir=x:\backupregisry: "

if not exist "%backupDir%" mkdir "%backupDir%"

set "baseFileName=export"
set "fileExt=.reg"
set "counter=1"

for /l %%i in (1,1,%numKeys%) do (
    set /p "key%%i=HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mozilla #%%i: "
)

:loop
set "fileName=%baseFileName%!counter!%fileExt%"
set "filePath=%backupDir%\!fileName!"

for /l %%i in (1,1,%numKeys%) do (
    reg export "!key%%i!" "!filePath!" /y
)

set /p "continue=Do you want to export another set of registry keys? (Y/N): "
if /i "!continue!"=="Y" (
    set /a "counter+=1"
    goto loop
)

 

Expand  

The number is simply the amount of keys you would like to save, so if you know you want to save 5 keys, enter 5, then you will proceed to get 5 prompts for 5 different key locations, then it will save to 5 different files to the backup location.

All entries under each key will be saved to each file.

[drugo]

  On 21/04/2024 at 17:05, cacoe said:

The number is simply the amount of keys you would like to save, so if you know you want to save 5 keys, enter 5, then you will proceed to get 5 prompts for 5 different key locations, then it will save to 5 different files to the backup location.

All entries under each key will be saved to each file.

Expand  

hi Cacoe

but there is something doesn't work , might you please check it?

thanks

@echo off
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion

set /p "numKeys=5"
set /p "backupDir=x:\backupregistry\"

if not exist "%backupDir%" mkdir "%backupDir%"

set "baseFileName=export"
set "fileExt=.reg"
set "counter=1"

for /l %%i in (1,1,%numKeys%) do (
    set /p "key%%i=HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mozilla"
)

:loop
set "fileName=%baseFileName%!counter!%fileExt%"
set "filePath=%backupDir%\!fileName!"

for /l %%i in (1,1,%numKeys%) do (
    reg export "!key%%i!" "!filePath!" /y
)

set /p "continue=Do you want to export another set of registry keys? (Y/N): "
if /i "!continue!"=="Y" (
    set /a "counter+=1"
    goto loop
)

 

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

Would it not make sense to just learn PowerShell? Literally so useful

[Guest]

  On 21/04/2024 at 18:41, drugo said:

hi Cacoe

but there is something doesn't work , might you please check it?

thanks

@echo off
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion

set /p "numKeys=5"
set /p "backupDir=x:\backupregistry\"

if not exist "%backupDir%" mkdir "%backupDir%"

set "baseFileName=export"
set "fileExt=.reg"
set "counter=1"

for /l %%i in (1,1,%numKeys%) do (
    set /p "key%%i=HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mozilla"
)

:loop
set "fileName=%baseFileName%!counter!%fileExt%"
set "filePath=%backupDir%\!fileName!"

for /l %%i in (1,1,%numKeys%) do (
    reg export "!key%%i!" "!filePath!" /y
)

set /p "continue=Do you want to export another set of registry keys? (Y/N): "
if /i "!continue!"=="Y" (
    set /a "counter+=1"
    goto loop
)

 

Expand  

I don't see the issue, I tested it, it's a batch file, I ran it, set it to only do 1 key, selected a random key and it saved the contents to a reg file. What is not working?

[binaryzero]

  On 21/04/2024 at 20:50, Dick Montage said:

Would it not make sense to just learn PowerShell? Literally so useful

Expand  

This. 

I provided two code samples, with comments; up to them now...

[drugo]

  On 21/04/2024 at 22:24, cacoe said:

I don't see the issue, I tested it, it's a batch file, I ran it, set it to only do 1 key, selected a random key and it saved the contents to a reg file. What is not working?

Expand  

hi Cacoe

it does not save any reg files...

i have tried even this key with all the sub keys

for /l %%i in (1,1,%numKeys%) do (
    set /p "key%%i=HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\J. River"
)

maybe the problem is this

set "baseFileName=export"
set "fileExt=.reg"
set "counter=1"

i should set  ?

set "fileExt=backup.reg" 

thanks pal 

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

  On 22/04/2024 at 06:09, drugo said:

set "fileExt=backup.reg" 

Expand  

Obviously not, as ".reg" is a file extension and "backup.reg" is not.

[binaryzero]

  On 21/04/2024 at 15:52, binaryzero said:

# Import CSV file
$csvData = Import-Csv -Path "X:\backupregistry\regkeys.csv"

# Backup directory
$backupDir = "X:\backupregistry"

# Check the backup directory exists
if (!(Test-Path -Path $backupDir)) {
    New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $backupDir | Out-Null
}

# Loop through each registry key in the CSV file
foreach ($row in $csvData) {
    $key = $row.RegistryKey

    # Define the backup file path
    $backupFile = Join-Path -Path $backupDir -ChildPath ("$(($key -replace '\\', '_')).reg")

    # Export the registry key
    Invoke-Expression -Command "reg export `"$key`" `"$backupFile`""

    # Check if the .reg file has been created
    if (Test-Path -Path $backupFile) {
        Write-Output "Backup for $key created successfully at $backupFile"
    }
    else {
        Write-Output "Failed to create backup for $key"
    }
}

Expand  

Save ^ as "BackupRegistryKeys.ps1".

Create a CSV file called "regkeys.csv", save it in X:\Backupregistry, copy and paste the below.

RegistryKey,
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mozilla,
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\J. River,

(or use Excel, save as .csv)

Open PowerShell, run the script, .\BackupRegistryKeys.ps1. Tada

When you want to add more registry keys, add them to the csv file. No need to hardcode paths in the script...

[grunger106]

Tidy little script that  -
(+Extra credit for commenting it properly👍)

Still surprises me there is no export-item functionality for the registry in PowerShell, you can do everything else - but for exports you still have to call reg.exe
 

[jupe]

Instead of adding number -01 etc index numbers, you could just use the date, if you did that you could have just a 1 liner, something like this:

reg export "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mozilla" "X:\backupregistry\%DATE:/=-%.reg" /y

Depending on your local date format you might need to change the format of the date variable to suit, or add the time variable too if you are doing multiple exports per day.

[drugo]

  On 22/04/2024 at 16:08, binaryzero said:

Save ^ as "BackupRegistryKeys.ps1".

Create a CSV file called "regkeys.csv", save it in X:\Backupregistry, copy and paste the below.

RegistryKey,
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mozilla,
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\J. River,

(or use Excel, save as .csv)

Open PowerShell, run the script, .\BackupRegistryKeys.ps1. Tada

When you want to add more registry keys, add them to the csv file. No need to hardcode paths in the script...

Expand  

hi

first i want to thank you so much

but i can't understand why under windows 11 pro 64bit , from the extension menu run with powershell it doesn't work

it's just handy

will the script save me many *.reg files , like backup.reg , backup1.reg , backup2.reg and so on

appreciate it a lot 

[binaryzero]

# Import CSV file
$csvData = Import-Csv -Path "X:\backupregistry\regkeys.csv"

# Backup directory
$backupDir = "X:\backupregistry"

# Check the backup directory exists
if (!(Test-Path -Path $backupDir)) {
    New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $backupDir | Out-Null
}

# Loop through each registry key in the CSV file
foreach ($row in $csvData) {
    $key = $row.RegistryKey

    # Get the current date and time
    $date = Get-Date -Format "yyyyMMdd_HHmmss"

    # Define the backup file path
    $backupFile = Join-Path -Path $backupDir -ChildPath ("$(($key -replace '\\', '_'))-$date.reg")

    # Export the registry key
    Invoke-Expression -Command "reg export `"$key`" `"$backupFile`""

    # Check if the .reg file has been created
    if (Test-Path -Path $backupFile) {
        Write-Output "Backup for $key created successfully at $backupFile"
    }
    else {
        Write-Output "Failed to create backup for $key"
    }
}

Added a line to append the date and time to the end of the filename; you can change the format yourself, https://lazyadmin.nl/powershell/get-date/.

You're going to need to run this in an elevated PowerShell (run as administrator) session if you're backing up HKLM keys.

If you want to create a shortcut, create BackupRegistryKeys.cmd and put "start %SystemRoot%\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe -Executionpolicy Bypass -Noninteractive -File "X:\backupregistry\BackupRegistryKeys.ps1". Right click, run as administrator.

Edited April 23, 2024 by binaryzero