Microsoft KB Archive/80393

= How to Rebuild the Default Windows REG.DAT File =

Article ID: 80393

Article Last Modified on 10/30/2006

-

APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows 3.1 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows 3.11 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.1
 * Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.11

-



This article was previously published under Q80393



SUMMARY
During installation of Microsoft Windows, the REG.DAT file is not copied from the original distribution disks. Instead, REG.DAT is built using the Windows Registration Information Editor (REGEDIT.EXE) and the SETUP.REG file (located in the Windows SYSTEM subdirectory) during Setup.

If the REG.DAT file is corrupted, one of the following error messages may be displayed:

File Manager cannot open or print the specified file. Start the application used to create this file, and open or print it from there.

There is no application associated with this file. Choose Associate from the File menu to create an association.

There is a problem with REG.DAT. Delete REG.DAT and restart Windows.

Setup had a problem with REG.DAT, SHELL.DLL or disk space.

Windows registration database program is not valid

OLE server initialization failed

Windows registration database is not valid

Unable to start the Quick Recorder as an OLE server.

If, for whatever reason, the REG.DAT file is corrupted or deleted, you can rebuild the file using the information below.



MORE INFORMATION
The REG.DAT file contains information about file associations and OLE objects. The Windows 3.1 Setup program calls the Registration Information Editor to add default associations (for Paintbrush, Notepad, and so on) and objects (Packager, Paintbrush, and Sound Recorder).

Rebuilding the REG.DAT File for Applications Included with Windows
You can manually create a new REG.DAT file or restore the defaults by following the steps below.

Rebuilding the REG.DAT File for Other Applications
For applications other than the Windows-based programs included with Windows 3.1, the technique varies for rebuilding REG.DAT. Some applications, such as Microsoft Word 2.0 for Windows, rebuild their entries every time the application is started. Other applications may register themselves only during their setup processes.

NOTE: If you are using Word 2.0 for Windows, make sure to include the path to the Word for Windows program directory and the WW20.REG file located there (for example, C:\WINWORD\WW20.REG) so that the registration database is updated.

If the application includes an .REG file, you can add that information to the registration database. To do so, use any of the following methods:
 * Choose Merge Registration File from the File menu in the Registration Information Editor. Then select the .REG file for the application to be added to the database and choose OK.

-or-
 * Use the same steps described above, substituting the name of the .REG file. Otherwise, consult the application's documentation or contact your vendor for more information about rebuilding the REG.DAT file.

-or-
 * Run Windows File Manager and double-click the application's .REG file.

If you need to rebuild the registration database for all your applications, use the following steps:
 * 1) From the File menu in File Manager, choose Search.
 * 2) Search for *.REG from C:\. Ensure that the Search All Subdirectories check box is selected before you choose OK.
 * 3) Run SETUP.REG by double-clicking the file icon or by highlighting it and then pressing ENTER.
 * 4) Run every other .REG file brought up by the File Manager search (just as you did in step 3). Remember to search each available hard disk for .REG files so that every program will be registered in the new REG.DAT file.

For instructions about registering Microsoft Office version 4.x applications, query on the following words in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ole and regedit and office

Additional information about Registration Information Editor is available in Windows 3.1 Help.

