Windows XP Registry Files Differential

[binder]

Windows XP Registry Files Differential

I have an application that has written a value to the registry and is
preventing reinstallation of the app.
There is no support for it from the original company that provided it.

I want to move to a clean machine, backup the registry to a file, then
install the offending app and make another backup file from the
registry.
I then want to compare the two registry files to see what is the
difference in them and that should tell me what the offending app added
to the registry.

How can I do a compare to the two files and get the results in English?
A binary compare utility will show the byte differences, but how do I
translate that into something usable like the regedit utility would
show?

 

[Seahawk60B]

Use a file compare utility such as WinMerge to compare the two reg
files for differences.

 

[binder]

The results of a binary file compare will be binary data.
How do I interpret the results so I can understand the registry key
involved?
I won't be able to understand the pure binary data.

 

[John John]

Free RegShot: http://regshot.blog.googlepages.com/regshot.html or
here: http://www.majorgeeks.com/download965.html

Not free RegSnap: http://lastbit.com/regsnap/

Live (real-time) freeware registry monitor utility from Sysinternals:
http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/Regmon.html

John

 

[AJR]

Binder - just a thought here - there will probably be several differences
between registries of two computers other than entries by the application.

 

[John John]

He can just regsnap a before and after on the same computer, then he
will know which keys were added or changed by the software package.
That being said, there may be changes done on one pc but not on the
other, there are many factors that can affect what keys might be changed
when installing software.

John

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

A better way to solve this particular problem would be to use an
installation monitor. Inctrl is such a utility, it will record all changes
that an installation makes on the system, including registry entries.

Inctrl - An installation monitor:
http://www.devhood.com/tools/tool_details.aspx?tool_id=432

 

[binder]

It won't be between two different computers.
It will be the same computer before and after installing the app.
I hope the app's additions will be the only changes.