Export a registry key to a hive file

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

To export a registry key to a hive file

Open Registry Editor.
Select the key that you want to save as a file.
On the File menu, click Export.
In the Export Registry File dialog box, in Save in, click the drive, folder, or network computer and folder where you want to save the hive.
In File name, enter a name for the hive.
In Save as type, click Registry Hive Files.
Click Save.

Caution

Incorrectly editing the registry may severely damage your system. Before making changes to the registry, you should back up any valued data on your computer.

Notes

To open Registry Editor, click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrators group on the local computer, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. If the computer is joined to a domain, members of the Domain Admins group might be able to perform this procedure. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure. If your computer is connected to a network, network policy settings might also prevent you from completing this procedure.
Registry Editor provides a number of commands that are designed primarily for the maintenance of your system. For example, Load Hive and Unload Hive allow a part of your system to be temporarily downloaded onto another computer for maintenance. Before a hive can be loaded or restored, it must be saved as a key, either to a floppy disk or to your hard disk.

Your server might function differently based on the version and edition of the operating system that is installed, your account permissions, and your menu settings. For more information, see Viewing Help on the Web.