Change a Registry Value, then Run an Application, by Using a Batch File

Question

I want to change a registry value (a REG_DWORD), then run an application, by using a batch file, that is located in the same folder as the application. I tried the lines below, but that does not work:

reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\A User Name\An Application Name" /v A value name_h3981298716 /d "99" /t REG_DWORD /f

START %~dp0AnApplicationName.exe

The "START ..." will work without the "reg add ..." code. The batch file can run an application, but it cannot change a registry value of REG_DWORD type.

How to do the sequence below correctly with a batch file?

First, change a registry value of REG_DWORD type.
Then run an application.

Try surrounding %~dp0AnApplicationName.exe with double quotes. Whenever a batch file "does not work" place as many useful echoes in there and start it using a command prompt. With that you can check at what point the file failed. — geisterfurz007
– geisterfurz007, Commented Nov 29, 2016 at 13:05
The "START ..." will work without the "reg add ..." code. The batch file can run an application, but it cannot change a registry value of REG_DWORD type. — Bayu
– Bayu, Commented Nov 29, 2016 at 13:20

JosefZ · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-29 13:54:52Z

1

reg add "HKCU\A User Name\An Application Name" /v "A value name_h3981298716" /d "99" /t REG_DWORD /f

Note that if a value name contains a space then it should be surrounded with double quotes. Keep doing that even if a value name does not contain any space.

Example, with another key name:

==> reg query "HKCU\Software\Test Key" /t reg_dword

End of search: 0 match(es) found.

==> reg add "HKCU\Software\Test Key" /v A value name_h3981298716 /d "99" /t REG_DWORD /f
ERROR: Invalid syntax.
Type "REG ADD /?" for usage.

==> reg add "HKCU\Software\Test Key" /v "A value name_h3981298716" /d "99" /t REG_DWORD /f
The operation completed successfully.

==> reg query "HKCU\Software\Test Key" /t reg_dword

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Test Key
    A value name_h3981298716    REG_DWORD    0x63

End of search: 1 match(es) found.

answered Nov 29, 2016 at 13:54

JosefZ

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7 Comments

Bayu Over a year ago

I have surrounded the value name with double quotes, then run the batch file, but the value still does not change.

JosefZ Over a year ago

@Bayu If the value does not change then you should get an error message. Add a pause command immediately below reg add … to see the result. Check success using reg query … in the same way I did in my example.

Bayu Over a year ago

There was a message after I added "pause" below the "reg add ...":

Bayu Over a year ago

The message is : "The operation completed successfully". But the value still does not change in the Registry Editor...

JosefZ Over a year ago

In an open registry editor, you need F5 refresh (seen also in the View menu) to see changes made from another process…

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