regshot.exe

What is regshot.exe?

regshot.exe is a Windows utility that captures a snapshot of the system registry at a moment in time and compares it with a later snapshot. It records keys and values from common hives (HKLM, HKCU, and HKCR) and highlights changes without modifying the registry itself.

regshot.exe enumerates registry hives (HKLM, HKCU, HKCR), dumps them to text files, then performs a diff to identify changes. It does not write back to registry and provides a concise report suitable for auditing software installs or policy shifts.

Types of Regshot Processes

• Baseline Snapshot: Initial scan of registry hives (HKLM, HKCU, HKCR)
• Comparison Snapshot: Second scan used to generate a diff report
• Report Generation: Produces a text or log output showing added/modified/removed keys

Is regshot.exe Safe?

Yes, regshot.exe is safe when obtained from trusted sources and used as intended to audit registry changes.

Is regshot.exe a Virus or Malware?

The real regshot.exe is NOT a virus. Malware may imitate names; verify the file path and signature to confirm authenticity.

How to Tell if regshot.exe is Legitimate or Malware

1. File Location: Must be in C:\Program Files\Regshot\regshot.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Regshot\regshot.exe. Any other path is suspicious.
2. Digital Signature: Right-click regshot.exe → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show a legitimate signer such as "Regshot Project".
3. Resource Usage: Baseline CPU near 0-2% and memory around 5-15 MB. Abnormally high sustained resource usage is suspicious.
4. Behavior: Regshot should only read and dump registry data. Any write activity or unauthorized network calls indicates malware.

Why Is regshot.exe Running on My PC?

regshot.exe runs when you manually start a registry snapshot or when another tool requires a baseline for auditing changes. It does not perform actions beyond reading and exporting registry data.

Reasons it's running:

• Manual Snapshot: You or an IT tool started a baseline capture to compare registry changes after an installation or update.
• Scheduled Audits: Automated security or system auditing tasks schedule regshot to collect registry data periodically.
• Post-Installation Validation: Regshot runs to document registry changes caused by new software before/after installation.
• Policy or Compliance Checks: Regshot is invoked by compliance tooling to verify registry state against a policy baseline.
• Logging and Debugging: Developers or admins run regshot to log registry states for troubleshooting or change tracking.

Can I Disable or Remove regshot.exe?

Yes, you can disable regshot.exe. If you don’t use it, you can stop it from running and uninstall if desired.

How to Stop regshot.exe

• End Current Run: If regshot is open, click the Close button or use Alt+F4 to exit.
• End Process: Open Task Manager, locate regshot.exe, right-click -> End Task
• Prevent Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable Regshot entry if present
• Check Scheduled Tasks: Open Task Scheduler and disable any tasks that run regshot routinely
• Remove Logs: Delete any generated log files from the Regshot folder to reclaim space

How to Uninstall Regshot

• ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Regshot → Uninstall
• ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Regshot → Uninstall
• ✔ Delete the Regshot installation directory if no uninstaller is provided

Common Problems: Registry Snapshot Fails or Produces Odd Output

If regshot.exe isn’t behaving as expected, consider these common scenarios and fixes related to registry snapshot tasks.

Common Causes & Solutions

• Empty or inaccessible registry hives: Run Regshot with elevated privileges (Run as Administrator) and ensure the user has access to HKLM and HKCU
• Insufficient permissions for write logs: Store logs in a writable path such as C:\Regshot\ and confirm write permissions
• Snapshot size too large: Filter or limit what hives are captured and divide long diffs into smaller runs
• Corrupted log file: Delete corrupted log, re-run snapshot, and verify integrity of saved outputs
• Incompatible Windows version: Ensure Regshot version supports your Windows build; check for a newer release if needed
• Anti-malware interference: Temporarily whitelist Regshot files in security software and re-run the snapshot

Related Processes