Cannot import edited Registry hive

Sebastian42 said:

It is obvious to me that re-installing Windows and then the driver would establish the validity of the driver. But I have no reason to doubt its validity. I have every reason to believe that some corruption in software (in the Registry ?) is preventing Device Manager from accepting the driver as adequate. The driver enables functioning in a x64 system - so it is OK; it NO LONGER works in x32, which is where I NEED it to work.

Then it sounds like you need a 32 bit driver, or 64 bit Windows. ^^

What's the make/model of the scanner?

Sebastian42 said:

the trial I want to do is to clear the registry of references to the optical, scanner; reinstall the original scanner and see if that now works.

Then either

1 Edit your copy of the Registry hive using the method you described earlier,
boot with a Windows installation disk, Macrium boot disk or any other boot disk that has a command prompt,
and copy the hive back into position as recorded at
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\hivelist
then reboot normally.

or

2 Boot with a Windows installation disk, Macrium boot disk or any other boot disk that has a command prompt,
Windows Tip Edit User Registry of other users - gHacks Tech News
Edit Classes-Registry of other users - Stack Overflow
my example of using an offline Registry hive in RegEdit - TenForums
Windows registry information for advanced users - MSSupport
The Registry hive list is at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\hivelist


Best of luck,
Denis

Sebastian42 said:

'Boot with a Windows Installation disk' - can a windows ten upgrade USB be used for that ?

You can use the Windows installation USB created by using the procedure in Create Bootable Installation USB - TenForumsTutorials
I have never heard of an "upgrade" USB and I do not think such a term exists.

Sebastian42 said:

Macrium boot disk - can I use a USB ?

Yes, just like everybody else does.
Macrium Reflect Boot disk - Fix Boot Problems - MacriumReflectKB
Use Macrium Reflect Rescue Media to Fix Windows Boot Issues - TenForumsTutorials


Denis

I never mentioned a 'Recovery USB'

Correct - but Google does prompt it, and I do not know the subtle differences.

My v22H2 upgrade USB DOES offer a Command Prompt after several appropriate steps.
Now the challenge of the TWO names - and using the correct one, to put back into the registry that requires editing.

- - - Updated - - -

The point has been made that I cannot 'import' a reg file into Registry, unless As Administrator, but HOW is that elevated level achieved in the Command Prompt offered by a USB stick ?

AND

I have put the edited .reg file on the root of the drive to which it is destined. HOW do I specify in the comnmand prompt where the .reg is ?