Manipulate Registry from DOS Batch file?

Can you manipulate the windows registry from within a DOS Batch file running as a window? If so, how?

Reading a particular registry key (as a string) would be a great help.

Your first question, "Can you manipulate the windows registry from within a DOS Batch file running as a window" is yes. If you create a .reg type file and execute it, it will get integrated into the registry - many programs have used this approach.

Your second question, "reading a particular registry key (as a string)" I haven't seen anything about yet. One way would be to create and Traditional EXE that would except the Key as a parameter and when the EXE terminates the batch file could read it. I have done this before - it's been a while.

Of course, the "reg" file to write to the registry. Good one. Silly me, I've been using that technique to reset my visited url's.

Basically, I want to detect if a registry entry exists. If you find a way without requiring a custom exe, please let me know.