OLE: SETUP.REG Can Be Used to Repair REG.DAT (82650)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows 3.11
This article was previously published under Q82650

SUMMARY

Some object-linking-and-embedding (OLE) servers may provide a text file called SETUP.REG, or a similarly-named file. This file contains information about the particular server application and can be used to repair an application's entry in the Windows REG.DAT file. This is necessary only if you think the entry is incorrect or the REG.DAT file is corrupted.

MORE INFORMATION

The REG.DAT file is the registration database. The database is a source of information about server applications in a binary format. Information in REG.DAT includes:

  1. Class name - This describes the type of information contained within an object.
  2. The path to the server
  3. Any verbs supported by the server - This includes actions the server can take on the object.
The information in REG.DAT is used when you open or print a file from File Manager. This information is also used by applications that support OLE. The registration database (REG.DAT) is set up and maintained by Windows and Windows applications. It is located in the WINDOWS directory. This file should not be moved or deleted. Doing so may result in loss of functionality in File Manager, Program Manager, and applications that support OLE.

SETUP.REG is a text file that contains the same information as REG.DAT except its format is ASCII instead of binary. SETUP.REG can be merged with an existing REG.DAT file to repair or update an individual entry in the REG.DAT file. If REG.DAT or OLESVR.DLL is damaged or corrupted you may get the following error message.
Failed to register server.

Sample SETUP.REG Entries for PaintBrush

Note: PaintBrush can only act as a server application. 
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.bmp = PBrush
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.msp = PBrush
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.pcx = PBrush
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PBrush = Paintbrush Picture
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PBrush\shell\print\command = PBRUSH.EXE /P %1
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PBrush\shell\open\command = PBRUSH.EXE %1
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PBrush\protocol\StdFileEditing\verb\0 = Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PBrush\protocol\StdFileEditing\server = PBRUSH.EXE
Steps to repair REG.DAT with an application's SETUP.REG file:

  1. Open Program Manager. From the File menu, choose Run.
  2. Type REGEDIT.
  3. Choose the OK button.
  4. From the File menu, choose Merge Registration File.
  5. Select the .REG file that needs to be merged into the existing REG.DAT file.
The Merge Registration File command merges the selected registration (SETUP.REG) file with the currently displayed database (REG.DAT). The merged information is not written to the REG.DAT file until you choose the Save Changes command.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/13/2003
Keywords:KB82650
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.