How to view hex contents in a registry file without importing it

Question

I have a registry file which I exported, and I need to retrieve the PATH from it, but I do not want to import it. When I open it via any text editor, PATH is in hex format, so unable to read it. Is there any way to see the contents without importing it, and without installing any third party tools ? For example, I can do a reg query in the full registry path, but it seems like I cannot do that to an exported registry file. Is it possible ? The exported registry is from a Windows Server 2008 R2.

Answer 1

Instead of importing it to the regular registry, import it into a registry hive that you load for the purpose. Then when you're done you can just delete the new hive.