Import a registry key from a hive file

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

To import a registry key from a hive file

Open Registry Editor.
Select the keys in which you want to restore the hive.
On the File menu, click Import.
In Look in, select the drive, folder, or network computer and folder in which the hive is located.
In Files of type, click Registry Hive Files.
Select the correct file name for the hive.
Click Open.

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.
A restored hive overwrites an existing registry key and becomes a permanent part of your configuration. For example, to perform maintenance on part of your system, you can use Export to save a hive to a disk. When you are ready, you can then use Import on the File menu to restore the saved key to your system.

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.