Registry Merge

Question

How can I create a registry merge file?

Symptoms

N/A

Cause

You need to create a registry merge file to be used by Rgrregup.exe

Resolution

In order to create a registry merge file you first need to identify the registry keys that are going to be in the file. Once you have the appropriate keys you then create a new text file e.g. mergefile.txt and copy the registry keys into the file.

Instructions

Manual search for the keys

Say for example you wanted to identify the registry settings that controlled the users Internet Proxy settings. Within the web browser change the proxy settings to a unique value.

Then launch the registry editor and search for the unique value. The value will be contained in a registry key that can be exported. Export the key to file

Source registry file

Next open the merge file and copy the appropriate key, data and values into a new text file.

Target mergefile file


Note: You do not need to copy the "Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00" into the text file.

Using Package Builder to help identify the keys

If you are unsure how to search through the registry or you would like to confirm your have identified all the necessary keys then you can use Ranger Package Builder to help find the keys.

For instructions creating a package please refer to the manual.

The results of the package are stored in the Ranger/packages servername/ranger/packages/packagename (by default). The package includes all the changes found between the before and after snapshot, this includes program and system files and modified registry keys.

Because the Package builder uses a generic snapshot process it may have captured registry keys that are not needed for the mergefile.

To create a mergefile from the packages browse to the servername/ranger/packages/packagename folder and find the following files HKLM.reg and HKCU.reg. These files contain the local machine settings and current users settings respectively.

Open these files and search through the registry keys for the specific keys that relate to the program or setting you are interested in. Extract these settings by copying them key, data and value into a new text file. Save the file with an appropriate name.

Testing

Testing the mergefile using the start run

On a test machine logon as a high level user and locate the registry keys you wish to change with the mergefile. Change the settings to something other than what is stored in the mergefile so you can easily test if the keys get changed.

Copy the merge file into the Ranger directory. Then from the start - run option type the following;

server/ranger/rgrregup.exe server/ranger/mergefile.txt


If the merge was successfully then the registry key should have changed to the value stored in the mergefile. Press F5 to refresh the registry and confirm that the key has changed.