Windows – How to export the Putty configuration

Here is a method which involves some effort, but is much easier than recreating all 50 sessions.

Use with caution!

1. Make a copy of your current PuTTY settings:

   Start Menu > Run then enter the following:

   regedit /e putty.reg "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SimonTatham\PuTTY\Sessions"
   

   putty.reg is now saved in C:\Documents and Settings\{yourusername} (or C:\Windows\system32 in Windows 10) -- rename it to putty_older.reg, putty_backup.reg, whatever you prefer.

2. Using the PuTTY GUI, load one session (i.e. your first one), make all desired changes and save the session.

3. Repeat step #1 so you have a new copy of putty.reg.

4. (Optional, could be done manually) Open both files (putty.reg and putty_backup.reg) in WinMerge and you have a complete line-by-line record of all the changes you just made.

5. The changes will look something like this:

   "TermWidth"=dword:0000006e
   "TermHeight"=dword:0000002b
   

6. Use your favorite text editor to find/replace all for the old value. E.g.

   "TermWidth"=dword:'_default setting_'
   
   *(the original code)* - replace with:
   
   "TermWidth"=dword:0000006e
   
   *(the new setting)*
   

7. After saving the new version of putty.reg, double-click and confirm you want to import into the registry.

The above method was tested with five sessions and worked fine.

1. set up default settings, save them and copy it over on install

2. use task scheduler

3. save settings and move over to the new box. maybe use an SVN for logs...