File Menu: There is a standard menu at the top left of the Registry Editor window with File, Edit, View, Favorites, and Help options. The File Menu contains the Import and Export controls and you can use these to back up and restore individual keys, settings for whole applications or devices, or the entire Registry.
Backups of the Registry are saved with the registration file (.reg) extension, which are plain text and can be opened with Notepad, as shown in Figure 2-3. This means that it is always advisable to store your .reg backup files in a secure and encrypted location, as any plain-text file in the workplace that might be susceptible to theft by an individual or through the use of malware might reveal sensitive data, such as domain information, that you would not wish revealed.