SomarSoft DumpReg: Complete Guide to Features and Uses

SomarSoft DumpReg — Complete Guide to Features and Uses

What it is

SomarSoft DumpReg is a small, portable Windows utility (version 1.1, last distributed around 2007) that dumps Windows Registry hives to a readable list so you can search for keys and values containing a string. It’s intended for simple registry inspection and for finding recent changes.

Key features

• Registry dump: Export selected registry hives (local machine/user) to a readable listing.
• Search: Find keys and values containing a specified string.
• Sort by modification time: Option to sort entries in reverse last-modified order to spot recent changes.
• Portable / no install: Small executable/ZIP; runs without installation.
• Basic filters/reporting: Date filtering and simple report options (depends on release).
• Light footprint: Very small file size and minimal system requirements.

Typical uses

• Locate registry entries created or modified by recently installed software.
• Search for specific strings (program names, GUIDs, DLL names) across registry hives.
• Quick inspection when troubleshooting system or application issues.
• Forensics-style view to identify recently changed keys.

How to use (presumed workflow)

1. Download and unzip DumpReg (portable executable).
2. Run the program with administrator rights to access all hives.
3. Select one or more registry hives to dump (e.g., HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, HKEY_USERS).
4. Optionally set date filters or sort by last modified.
5. Enter a search string (or dump everything) and run.
6. Review results; export/save if the UI offers export (HTML/CSV/text depending on version).

Compatibility & requirements

• Developed for Windows (reported to run on XP through newer Windows versions).
• Very small disk footprint; usually no additional dependencies.
• Run as Administrator for full access to system hives.

Limitations & cautions

• Last official updates are old (circa 2007); not actively maintained—exercise caution on modern Windows releases.
• Feature set is basic compared with modern registry tools (no advanced analysis, remote management, or rich exports in some builds).
• Verify downloads from reputable archives (Softpedia or vendor) and scan with antivirus before running.
• Not a replacement for full registry editors/audit tools when making changes — DumpReg is for inspection only.

Alternatives

• Built-in regedit (search, export)
• Autoruns (Sysinternals) — for startup entries
• Registry Finder — searchable GUI with richer features
• RegScanner (NirSoft) — lightweight search and export
• SomarSoft DumpSec — a related SomarSoft tool focused on permissions/auditing

Practical tips

• Run as Administrator to see all hives.
• Use the modification-time sort to quickly identify recent installers/changes.
• Export results before making registry changes for backup and comparison.
• Combine with system restore or registry backup tools when investigating changes.

If you want, I can:

• provide direct download links from reputable archives,
• give step-by-step screenshots for running DumpReg on Windows ⁄₁₁,
• or suggest the best modern alternative tailored to your needs.