Short Version: I need a registry editor that I can specify where the registry files that I want to edit are, rather than just opening those files in the WINNT\system32\config folder.
Long Version: After 8 years of use, a hard drive on a "secondary" W2K computer crashed (it was interesting how the signs that it was going bad were there and I went with my gut to start backing up more frequently, but that's another story). The good news, I had complete backup and lost nothing!!!!

My backup was a file backup rather than an image so it was easier to reload the operating system (actually upgrade to XPPro) and then reload the apps that I use the most, and reload the all important, irreplaceable data files. For 1 or 2 of the apps, I didn't have the original disks or installation files so I just restored those program files from backup to their original directories. Now without registry entries, those programs aren't working quite right.
The registry backup was a file backup of the WINNT\system32\config folder so I have files called software, system, SAM, etc. now restored to "old registry" folder. I would like to get a registry editor that I can point to the "old registry" folder, and will read those files as "The Registry", and then export those few keys that I need and then load them into the real registry. Loading them in is no problem, getting them fom my old registry is the problem.
I see a lot of registry editors and I downloaded and tried 2 of them but so far neither can point to another directory. Rather than continuing this trial and error method, does anyone know of a registry editor that can point to a director of my choosing or alternatively another solution to my problem. Thanks.