Registry Editor for people who intend not to change anything

The read-only bag of tricks

• Favorites menu = your audit landmarks — pin HKCU\…\Run, …\StartupApproved, Control Panel\Desktop once; return without typing.
• Find (Ctrl+F) with “Keys” ticked only — hunts for vendor residue without values-and-data noise; entire sessions can be spent in Find mode, zero writes possible.
• Address bar accepts absolute paths: paste HKCU\…\… from docs instead of click-walking and risk-dragging something.

Evidence moves for files that outlive you

File → Export on a selected key writes REG (text, reviewable). Export pre/post around any guided change lets diff tabs prove what moved. Regedit writes on export = none; view-risk = zero.

Rules of the careful

1. Double-clicking is the only write hazard; default on keys is never single-click edit. Set your habit: read via right-pane “Data” column, confirm via modify dialog cancel-not-ok.
2. If permission errors stop the read, the correct emotion is information: the key is protected for a reason. Log the boundary; don't conquer it.
3. Never merge .reg from the internet; in audit-roadmap terms, that's running code you didn't read.

ProofTune ProjectEngineering notes — every claim here names the bytes a real tool touches. Verify first, install second.