DumpReg can save and restore an online registry hive to an offline hive file.

DumpReg has both a GUI and command-line versions included, however, we couldn't find any documentation on command-line switches. Both need to be run as Administrator and DumpReg.exe is the GUI version.

DumpReg is as straightforward as they come. You will be looking at the backup window on startup with the options of selecting which hives to backup. Choices are SAM, Software, Security, System, Default User, Current User, Components, Drivers, and All. Finally, you can select a folder to save to or use the default, C:RegDump.

Under the Restore tab, everything mentioned above is repeated, in reverse. Only one option is available and that is to UseRegReplaceKey.

As always, before you mess with your registry, be sure you have a backup, and in this case, you need to have knowledge on how to boot offline and restore your system files.

Obviously, DumpReg isn't for everyone, but if you need to backup, or restore your online registry to an offline registry, it doesn't get any easier. If you just want to backup your registry, you might try something like Tweaking.com Registry Backup.