Title: Export registry from a nonbootable harddrive?
Tags: windows-vista;windows-registry;export
Question: I was wondering if there was a way to export the entire registry from a nonbootable hard drive, and import it into a new computer's registry?
I know you can import hives one by one using regedit, but I was wondering if there is an easier way.

Here is the accepted answer: If I understand your question right, you want to merge the entire registry from one computer into the registry of another? I can't say I've ever done this, or even know a guy who once met a guy who tried this but just thinking about it gives me an upset stomach.
That being said, RegFileExport by NirSoft can dump offline hive files to standard .reg files which can then be concatenated and imported using RegEdit.
Comment for this answer: Thanks! Exactly what I needed, hopefully this doesn't break the fresh install I have humming along ;)
Comment for this answer: It worked (for the most part).  I lost admin privileges (should fix that), and iTunes utterly died, but everything else transferred over pretty well.
Comment for this answer: fyi, anyone who wants to try this instead of reinstalling everything, I only transferred over the SOFTWARE hive, and each user's hive (look at the registry wiki page for their locations).  Also, DO NOT CHANGE THE NAME OF ANY OF THE ACCOUNTS; your computer will die a horrible bsod.
Comment for this answer: Here be dragons. I'd be interested in hearing if this wild scheme works ;)


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