Advanced Registry Editor

Everything that runs on your PC is more or less connected to a specific registry key, or even an entire hive. Windows gives you the possibility to check out these registries and even edit them as you see fit, given you know what you’re doing. For more options, alternatives like Advanced Registry Editor let you view registry keys better, and make management easier.

A neat advantage is that the application doesn’t even require installation for proper functioning, which means registries are not modified. It can be stored on an USB flash drive and even used on other computers as well.

In terms of visuals, the set of features is stored in a classic window frame, with no element that make it stand out from the crowd. The main window is split into two panels, one of them providing a preview of registry hives, structured in a different manner than the Windows Registry Editor displays them. The other panel is used to show elements, along with data like name and function values.

You’re free to create new items or remove existing ones, but that’s not really recommended unless you don’t know what you’re doing. Luckily, the application lets you create backups of hives and registry items just in case something goes wrong.

Unlike the default system registry editor, this one gives you the possibility to save items as favorites, and comes in handy if you plan on monitoring changes to specific areas. There’s also a built-in search engine that is capable of a bit more than taking you to a specific address in the registry tree, letting you also replace entries when they’re encountered.

Import options let you easily load existing REG files to apply and view changes to your system. The reverse process is possible, with an option to save all changes to a file and have them applied later on, or even on a different computer.

All things considered, we come to the conclusion that Advanced Registry Editor manages to live up to expectations and provide a bit more options than the editor Windows puts at your disposal. It can take a little getting used to, especially of the different display method of keys and hives. However, it can be used on the go, grants extra editing options, and makes for a trustworthy editor in the end.