O&O RegEditor is a better alternative of Windows Registry Editor

The correct functioning of Windows systems relies strongly on information saved in the registry database. Incorrect information in this database can cause the total crash of a Windows system. If you are a power user, you must have done lots of editing in Windows Registry for tweaking and customizing things in Windows. Even if you are not that techie, you might be fond of following online tips and have carefully played around Windows Registry Editor. Whatever it is Windows Registry Editor is a thing, which if properly and carefully used, can help you to explore lots of hidden features in Windows and also help you defeat malware infections.

Windows Registry Editor, inbuilt in Windows, although very powerful and easy to use, has a few annoying disadvantages.

• It's search function is not good. If you search for a keyword it doesn't list all results at once. Rather brings results one by one. So, if you want to browse through all the search results and edit some entries after that, you need to go back and forth in that search process. This process is pretty laborious.
• Malware programs can easily disable disable Windows Registry Editor by manipulating group policy.

O&O RegEditor from O&O Software GmbH on the other hand has neither of such disadvantages and is very decent in look and ease.
Features

• System Requirement
  · System with an Intel® Pentium III or equivalent processor
  · 256 MB RAM
  · VGA graphics card with 800x600 resolution at 256 colors
  · Keyboard and Mouse
  · Windows Operating System: Windows® 7, 2008, 2008 (R2), Vista, Server 2003, XP, 2000 (32 Bit, 64 Bit).
  · Windows File System: FAT12/FAT16/FAT32/NTFS4/NTFS5
   
• Installer (8.51Mb) is the same for both 32 and 64 bit. It detects the platform automatically and extracts appropriate executable and associated files in the same folder as the installer. In my 64 bit PC it extracts four files, OORegEdtor64.exe, OORegEdtor.DLL, OORegEdt.INI and OORegEdtor.CHM. It do not write in registry and it means that those four files together constitutes a portable version of the software.
• Installer is digitally signed by O&O Software GmbH but the extracted executable is not.
• Upon launching it asks if you would like to make this program to launch .REG files by default.
• Clean interface. It can search and list all results at once. So, it makes easier to check each entry and edit. You can also search in a particular hive by just selecting that hive.

Searching for a Keyword

Search Result and Editing an Entry

• Unlike Windows Registry Editor it features a quick access toolbar. You can customize the way it looks.

Quick Access Toolbar

Customize Toolbar

• It also features an address bar, where you can type registry address to quickly navigate to your desired registry.

Address Bar

• Other than adding and removing keys in favorite, a feature present in Windows Registry Editor, it can also export and print favorites.
• It Uses frequently needed keys as preset Favorites.

Preset Favorites

• It also has a help file that describes everything clearly.
• The O&O RegEditor is also an integral component of O&O BlueCon. So, you can see an advertisement of that software which you can set to hide permanently.

My Verdict

I am liking it and using it as an alternative to Windows Task Manager.

Not much more to expect from it but I wish they would ask to choose a folder to extract those files or at-least mention that it will extract those files in the same directory as the downloaded installer. Normally we have a crowded desktop and when we keep a downloaded file there, every chance is there to lost those extracted files. They can also prefer to use temp directory.

Please bear in mind that you need to use Administrative rights to use any Registry Editor and so is O&O RegEditor.

Editing Registry may be dangerous and so make a system restore point or backup your system registry before proceeding any further.

Download

download the latest version from any of the following links

http://dl5.oo-software.com/files/ooregeditor1/10/OORegEdtor.exe
ftp://forumdownload.oo-software.de/forum/oolabs/ooregedit/OORegEdit_7_1_1_871_multi.exe

Cheers !!