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STATUS_NOT_REGISTRY_FILE
A text export, wrong file, or malformed binary image was supplied
Registry load and restore APIs expect a binary hive in the appropriate registry file format. A Registry Editor .reg export, an arbitrary configuration file, a compressed backup, or a truncated hive is not interchangeable with that format.
Confirm both provenance and intended API. RegLoadKey mounts a hive below HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE or HKEY_USERS, whereas RegRestoreKey replaces the contents below an already opened key. Passing the right file to the wrong workflow can be as damaging as passing an invalid file.
What to inspect
- Verify the file came from RegSaveKey, a system-state backup, or an equivalent trusted source.
- Do not rename a .reg export and treat it as a hive.
- Check file size, transfer integrity, and whether the backup was decompressed.
- Test restoration on an offline copy before touching a production hive.
References
- Microsoft Learn: Registry Files
- Microsoft Learn: RegLoadKey
- Microsoft Learn: RegRestoreKey
- Microsoft Open Specifications: NTSTATUS values
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