Seeking a free or very inexpensive utility that will give me registry
keys that change from time t1 to time t2.

There are several Windows and software settings (like modem volume,
default dir for an app, enable disable wireless), which it would be
much easier to reset programatically (even in a batch file), but it's
difficult to know which registry keys to reset, (and with what values)
without researching different vendors.

So for instance, I would like to be able to start the utility, make a
modification from within software (like changing Word's default dir,
or Excel's recalc mode, or disabling my NIC), then toggle over
(perhaps after exiting the app or dialogs) so I can see the registry
mods (ideally the before and after values as well as any additions
subsequent to new app installation).  Then subsequently I would create
an app, or even a batch file to modify that key (using reg files) as
necessary.  I am not looking for specific keys (I already know the
ones I used in the example).

Seems like one of those things that should have been out there forever
but I can't find anything.

Thank you.

I use Windows XP Pro.

Thank you.

---

Clarification of Question by wschloss-ga on 15 Sep 2004 13:09 PDT

Note, I realize there are free utils for "tweeking" specific values
but that's not what I'm looking for.  Nor do I wish to reaload
archived registry backups to get this info.  Thank you.

Here's a highly rated one with a free demo:
http://www.softpedia.com/public/cat/12/5/12-5-10.shtml

If you google "windows registry snapshot" there are also some free ones.

Thank you, not really what I'm looking for.  These programs would
provide the sought information but since they're "snapshot" oriented,
they are cumbersome to use.  E.g.  I can always change settings using
menus and dialogs, I'm looking for something quicker and cleaner, more
"on the fly."

What I'm looking for would be "event/action" oriented.

The SysInternals utility called Regmon is excellent for this and works
with most windows platforms, including XP as you need. What's more,
it's FREE!

http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/source/regmon.shtml

Regmon monitors the registry and lets you know which processes are
accessing it and what they're doing to it.

Simply start regmon at time t1, perform your operations, stop it at
time t2, and you have a log of all the keys and their values as they
were accessed and changed.

You can filter the logs by type of access (e.g. read, write etc.) and
also by wildcard string, both to include, exclude log entries. So, you
would be interested in read and write for the excel.exe process in the
above example. This filtering can be done in real time, or applied at
a later stage to a saved log.

You're right, it has been out there forever, just one of those handy
utilities that can be slippery to find.

Good luck!

Thank you, regmon gives me exactly what I was looking for.  Beside
giving me the keys I need, it also gives one a very good look inside
the working of Windows which is something I was also interested in.

The registry contains many more keys, that change much more frequently
than I had realized.

Thank you for the information, I wish I could give you something
material for helping, and I hope the next time you need some info,
someone like you is there to provide it unselfishly.

Best regards, and thanks for a nice little utility.